by Daniel Antonsson If you would have asked me when I was young if I would ever be a father, then I would probably have said no. First of all, I felt that it would be difficult to find someone in this world that I could form such a strong bond with that parenting ever would be on the map. Also, I ne…

By Nils Skudra This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch Craig Gillespie’s Lars and the Real Girl, a heartwarming romantic comedy/drama about Lars Lindstrom, a socially awkward young man who orders a life-size female doll for companionship and treats it as a real person. The film provides an…

by Christian Berman I remember the smell of my Dad cooking old fashioned quick oats in a pot on the hot stove and making rye toast or Home Pride bread in the toaster with the burning smell, always with “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter”, creamy Skippy peanut butter & Pal…

By Kadin McElwain Society has a very poor way of treating people with Autism and approaching this topic. But there is a better way to approach Autism. Autism is a complicated disability. But these people are just as deserving of respect and human decency as any other person in society. But the probl…

By Ron Sandison Having autism has helped me write books, they are very detailed, they got crazy plotlines, and I am able to keep it all straight in my head and I know it’s because I am autistic. J.D. Barker J.D. Barker is an awarding-winning New York Times and international bestselling thriller wri…

by Amy Potter I’m tired of being invisible. I’m not talking about my invisible disability – I am happy with that and don’t want to part with it. No, what I’m tired of is Disability itself being invisible. Even when I am working among allies, all of whom I know are dedicated to Equity, Diversi…

by Daniel Antonsson When I was a child, I never walked around and thought that I was different. I was just me and people around me never consider that I could have a diagnosis of some kind. I was a calm and proper boy that always tried to be kind to people and behave well in school. I was a little a…

By Aaron Bouma For many years I’ve had this dream. To build a military museum. But it wasn’t until later in my younger years that it was realized it could be achievable. How do you focus on your dreams? Are you satisfied with how you are pushing toward achieving your goals? Autistic persons often ar…

By Sofia Mochon-Ciniglio Art education is a multifaceted and complicated endeavor. It involves the mastery of artistic and studio practice, yet also the maintenance of an integral mindset of patience, respect and (as I’ve come to realize in the course of my work with special needs children) boundari…

by John Testore I just celebrated my birthday and wish I could sink. I see no purpose in Celebrating birthdays by stereotypes: cake, blowing candles as reminders of age, clinging glasses, and countless dreaded pictures. The bad news is that birthdays are normally social events organized by friends …

By Ron Sandison “By understanding our emotions we are able to express and share them and this prevents us from being overwhelmed and controlled by them.” Ron Sandison Many people with Autism have difficulty expressing and sharing their emotions. Instead of managing our emotional level, we allow emot…

by Christian Berman Before I was diagnosed with Autism, this was how I related to my dear maternal Grandpa Jules. I had a few years with him, not even knowing that our time was limited. I was just coming into this big beautiful world full of love & My Grandpa Jules David Cohen had just 6 years…

By Nils Skudra This week I had the opportunity to watch “I Can”, a faith-based film based on the true story of Katelyn Pavey, a young girl born with only one fully formed arm who pursues her passion for softball in the face of adversity, with the encouragement of her parents. As a disabi…

By Kadin McElwain Picture this situation: you’re leaving the hospital after a checkup for some simple blood work. You fasted the day before and now you’re ready to head home, put your feet up, and have a lovely steak dinner. You earned it for having an amazing appointment, after all. As …