Financial Awareness for Autistic Individuals: A Practical Guide to Safer Digital Participation

Shortly before Christmas 2022, I needed extra cash. I owned a varsity football jacket that I seldom wore and posted it for sale on Facebook Marketplace. My ad received little attention, until December 24th when someone inquired about it. He needed a last-minute gift for a friend he was going...

Giving Voice to Non-Speakers: Language, Respect, and the Power of Naming

For the longest time, I used the term non-speaking synonymously with non-verbal, having been taught ‘non-verbal’ in graduate school. Since that time, new terms and definitions have emerged with the advent of a variety of disability rights movements. Person-First Language Person-first...

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...

Becoming an Autistic Mother: Navigating Pregnancy, Parenthood, and Support

Becoming a parent is an experience that reshapes people’s lives. For autistic mothers, it can bring joy but also create a unique set of challenges. Understanding of autistic women's experiences is increasing, but autistic women remain under-diagnosed and under-researched. Parenting information...