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Beyond Accommodations: Building Belonging for Autistic College Students
For many autistic students, receiving a college acceptance letter is not the end of the journey; it is the beginning of a new set of opportunities and challenges. While conversations surrounding autism often focus on early intervention and K–12 education, far less attention is given to what...
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Rethinking College Inclusion: Advancing Whole-Person Support in Higher Education
Congratulations to the Class of 2026, along with the families, caregivers, mentors, faculty, and support systems who helped make it happen, often through sacrifice, stress, and some very real sticker shock. (Yes, I have a son in higher education and have seen enough tuition statements to feel the...
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Special Interests are the Key to Autistic Success, Employment, and Satisfaction
It is now widely accepted that special interests, for autistics, can serve as a powerful motivational tool, and in many cases present the only opportunity they have for future employment and independent living. This has been recognized by such prominent autistics as Temple Grandin and Stephen...
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Beyond Barriers: Making Mathematics Accessible for Autistic Students
Why Math Instruction Matters for Students with Autism Mathematics is often perceived as a discipline marked by abstraction and complexity, frequently associated with low academic performance among students in general. For students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), these challenges may be...
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The Performing Arts: More Than Access to Recreation for Autistic Children and Adults
The school district I attended between 4th and 9th grades included a professionally managed theater arts program. In fifth grade, my class was treated to a live performance of Pippi Longstocking. The following year, I was cast in a small, non-speaking role in Tom Sawyer. My parents enrolled me in...
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Modern Autism Care Requires a New Approach to Education: Catalight Academy’s Model for Clinician Training
Autism care has evolved dramatically over the past decade but, in many cases, our training systems have not. Those of us committed to truly personalized, evidence-based care believe we owe families more – care that is delivered efficiently, collaboration that is thoughtful and outcomes that...
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Why Lived Neurodivergence is Reshaping My College Teaching — and Why Educators Should Take Notice
At the beginning of my eighteenth year in teaching, I found myself reflecting deeply on what contributes to effective educational practice. I questioned not only whether I was good at what I do, but also how I could meaningfully evaluate my own professional competence. After the birth of my...
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Brilliance in Motion: How Autistic Students Navigate Unpredictable School Environments
The high school where I worked operated without the basic structures most people associate with education. There were no bells, no traditional classes, no grades. Students moved between community internships and loosely defined independent projects, navigating spaces filled with noise, movement,...
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“Autism Class”: Teaching Students in K-12 Autism Schools About Who They Are
The new student looks understandably full of questions. "Hi!" I say, intentionally gregarious. "What's your name?" Which we exchange...I then give them a sly facial expression and tone—we autistics are bad at reading non-verbal communication, but we usually live long enough to learn a thing...
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Vocational Skill Building Improves Transition Outcomes for Young Adults with Autism and Low Vision
For many young adults, the transition from school to adulthood is a time filled with excitement and new experiences. For those with disabilities, it can also present unique challenges. Moving from a supported educational environment and accessing adult services is a big leap. What predicts greater...
