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Illuminating the Housing Crisis and Needs of Adults with Autism and I/DD
Access to safe, affordable and inclusive housing remains one of the most urgent challenges for adults with autism and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Recognizing this, a bold initiative from the First Place Global Leadership Institute (First Place Global) informs the...
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Broadening Employment Opportunities for Adults with Autism and/or Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD): A Call to Action
Every morning at First Place–Phoenix, a supportive housing property in Midtown Phoenix, Arizona for adults with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), residents head out with determination and hustle. Some volunteer. Some hold part-time or full-time jobs. Others are still...
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Fostering Safety and Stability for Autistic Adults During the Transition from College to Career
For many young adults, the shift from college to career is a time of excitement and possibility. But for autistic adults, it can also bring a unique set of challenges, especially when systems of support that existed in educational settings begin to fall away. Without intentional planning,...
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Research Meets Reality TV: How the Media Stigmatizes Autism and Why it Matters
Depictions of autism in the media—whether fictional or nonfictional—influence the wider public’s perception of autism, both positively and negatively. Two of the more well-known portrayals of autism are Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory as well Raymond Babbitt, the historically common...
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Autism and the Stigmas of Living with an Invisible Disability
Autism, at least for the less severely impaired, has been called an “invisible disability.” This is because the challenges faced by autistics are not as readily evident as those of other disabilities. A visually impaired person, or one using a wheelchair, is immediately seen as someone facing...
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Studying Us to Death: The Lethal Cost of Autism Research Without Autistic Investigators
I was formally diagnosed with autism and ADHD at the age of 44. I finally had an explanation for why so many things in my life seemed so much harder for me than for others. There was a reason I often felt like the people around me were having two conversations – one with words that I had full...
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Insights from Amy Gravino: Autism and Sexuality Awareness and Advocacy
For millennia, sexuality has remained one of the most stigmatized and overlooked topics in the autism community, particularly when it comes to autistic adults. This stigma largely stems from decades of misinformation and a lack of understanding. In this interview, I speak with leading autism...
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Celebrating Our “Dadvocates” on Father’s Day
On Father’s Day, we honor fathers, as well as the many paternal figures and mentors who make a meaningful difference in our families and our communities. It also feels like an opportune time to discuss fatherhood engagement in our systems of care, which can often feel like a hurdle to navigate...
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Neurodiverse Couples: Making Meaningful Moments of Every Day – Having A Good Evening
Every night there are countless opportunities to create small connecting moments to enhance intimacy in a relationship. Especially after a long day, when partners are tired and out of gas, evenings can be a time when it’s easy to forget to acknowledge each other. Be intentional about having a...
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A Wellness Incentive to Empower Health and Community
There is a plethora of research that has documented the importance of physical activity and wellness interventions specific to the neurodivergent population. A recent meta-analysis of 22 studies that included 763 young adults with ASD indicated that physical activity interventions improved the...
