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Painful Conversations: Unconscious Neurodiversity Bias in Higher Education
NOTE: This article is an adaptation of a lecture given at Northeastern University on August 9, 2024. For the full, hour-long video of the presentation, please click here. A shorter version was co-hosted by Vanderbilt University and UCONN on December 13. When I was researching my last book (The...
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A Key Brain Difference Linked to Autism Is Found for the First Time in Living People
For decades, researchers have relied on animal models and post-mortem subjects to help unlock the key to certain social and communication differences that are hallmarks of autism. Now, a new study has uncovered a molecular difference in the brains of autistic people that is linked to the central...
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Voices from China: Psychology Students Reflect on Autism Awareness and Advocacy
Wenzhou-Kean University is one of three Sino-US universities, with Kean University being the only public university that has a campus in China (Stern, 2024). The mission of this alliance is to foster cooperation and encourage people, especially youth, to get to know each other better (Zhang, 2024)....
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Yes, We Can Socialize
Throughout my life as an autistic person, I have been fortunate to have experienced great moments where I have been able to socialize with others and gain long-lasting friendships. There were also times when, due to my misunderstanding of certain social situations and the anxiety that comes with...
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Enhancing Communication Skills in the Workplace: Strategies for Autistic Employees and Employers
Communication in the workplace is a vital key to increasing employee engagement and allowing new perspectives and voices to be heard. Once a work environment exists where all members of staff feel comfortable communicating, you are likely to see greater innovation, growth, and more effective teams...
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The Problem with Calling Neurominorities “Neurodiverse”
Calling individuals neurodiverse spreads neurodiversity lite. Neurodiversity lite is the pathology paradigm in disguise. The pathology paradigm marginalizes/medicalizes neurominorities. Using the word “neurodiverse” to refer to individual people spreads neurodiversity lite...
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What Neurodiversity Means to This Late-Identified Autistic Adult
I lived the first 40 years of my life as an autistic individual who didn’t know it yet. In a sense, lost because I lacked a complete picture of who I was. Confused because I faced too many questions as to why I was contending with challenges that were foreign to just about all of my peers, which...
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Expanding Horizons: Tips for Life-Changing Inclusive International Travel
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” - Gustave Flaubert Anyone who has traveled abroad knows the feelings of wonder and excitement that come with exploring new places. Experiencing other cultures, customs, landscapes, food, art, and architecture...
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Three Artists with Autism. Three Voices with Purpose: Laura Nadine, Blair Bunting, and Stuart Neilson
Artists invite their audiences into conversation. A piece of music, a photograph, a painting—each is a personal statement created to connect emotionally or intellectually with listeners and viewers. These expressions and the methods used to create them are shaped by lived experiences, some...
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Creating Autism-Friendly Environments for Workplace Inclusivity
In an increasingly diverse and inclusive world, creating autism-friendly environments in the workplace is not just a noble endeavor but a practical necessity. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects millions of people worldwide, and many of them possess unique skills and perspectives that can be...
