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What Is the Autistic Neurotype? Rethinking Autism Beyond the DSM
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines Autistic people through medicalized criteria that judge Autists from the outside; its diagnostic framework is constructed on allistic (nonautistic) observations, largely without Autistic input. As a result, the dominant...
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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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How to Choose the Right Career Path as an Autistic Adult
Choosing a career can be a challenging and exciting journey for anyone, but for autistic adults, the process often comes with unique considerations. Understanding personal strengths, challenges, and workplace needs is essential for finding a fulfilling career path. With the right strategies and...
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Supporting Neurodivergent Children in the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Healthcare
Families of neurodivergent children, such as those with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and learning differences, often find themselves having to fiercely advocate for every service they need across medical, behavioral health and...
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Coaching Through Career Transitions: Supporting Autistic Professionals Toward Clarity, Confidence, and Well-Being
Life transitions can feel disorienting for anyone, but for autistic adults – and especially those navigating workplaces that misunderstand their brilliance – the stakes are particularly high. Autistic professionals often carry the cumulative impact of masking, misinterpretation, chronic stress,...
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A Therapist’s Guide to Teaching Autistic Adults Self-Directed Living Skills
Supporting autistic adults in creating self-directed lives, guided by their own preferences, goals, and values—is one of the most meaningful roles a therapist can play. Whether you are a behavior specialist, psychotherapist, social worker, counselor, or life skills coach, fostering autonomy...
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From Dissertation to Destination: Navigating the Post-PhD Transition to Employment
Have you had a dream where you wake up and realize you’ve overslept and are missing your exam? Where you scramble to leave home, sprint to school, and futilely run down an empty corridor to an exam that’s done? That’s how I feel right now, but I’m not dreaming and, though the situation...
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Hiring Autistic College Graduates in STEM: A Best-Practices Model
Businesses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) can better employ autistic students. 85% of autistic college students after having graduated for 5 years are currently underemployed or unemployed in the industry (Advanced Autism Services, 2025). A model of best practices for...
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The Other Side of Autism: Intense World Theory
Social difficulties in autism are usually attributed to poor theory of mind. That’s not always the case. In my early thirties, I was diagnosed with what was then known as Asperger’s syndrome. Like many on the spectrum who receive a diagnosis late in life, this was something of a revelation,...
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At the Intersection of Autism and Gender Diversity: Supporting Neuro-Gender Queer Youth
Gender-diverse and neurodiverse youth share more than just the word ‘diverse.’ These groups are not mutually exclusive populations but instead have considerable overlap. Estimates of the co-occurrence of neurodiversity and gender diversity vary. However, some research suggests that autistic...
