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Rethinking Healthcare for Adults With Autism And/or Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)
For many adults with autism and/or I/DD, receiving healthcare can involve more than making an appointment and seeing a doctor. There is getting to the appointment, navigating insurance, waiting in an unfamiliar or overwhelming environment, communicating symptoms and concerns, understanding what...
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Financial Independence Starts With Daily Living Skills
When families think about financial independence, the conversation often begins with money—budgeting, saving, earning a paycheck, opening a bank account, and learning how to pay bills. These are important skills, but for many autistic individuals, the foundation for financial independence begins...
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She Isn’t Misbehaving – She May Be in Pain: Menstruation and Emotional Communication in Autistic Girls
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition. Autistic people may experience differences in communication, sensory processing, and their responses to change. These differences can affect how an autistic girl experiences menstruation and how she communicates pain or...
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I Was 63 When I Learned I Was Autistic. Suddenly, My Entire Life Made Sense
When I was a little girl, I often played alone. While other children instinctively understood the social dance of the playground, I hovered at the edges, unsure of the rules. Teachers described me as bright but socially awkward. Report cards noted that I did not always "play well with peers." I...
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Designing for the Gap, Not the Child: What Changes When Assistive Technology Asks the Adult to Learn
My younger cousin was six when I understood the problem I would spend the next two years working on. He was upset about something that had happened in the next room, and the adults who loved him most — his parents and me — stood around him running a checklist. Was he hungry. Was he tired. Was...
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Why Swimming and Autism Fit Together: How Water Can Become a Sanctuary, a Skill Builder, and a Source of Strength for Autistic Teens
Brooks is a fictional composite based on experiences described by autistic swimmers and their families. For this thirteen-year-old, the moment he dives into the pool, the world above the surface seems to disappear. The noise, the confusion, the pressure — all replaced by rhythm and calm....
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Life Through an Autistic Lens: No Turning Back
There is an order to all things I do. To how things must be done. I start at the beginning and end at the end. I move in one direction. For instance, when you go somewhere, you must go straight there. Backtracking is not permitted. Detours are not permitted. They break the law. If you...
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Wired to Deliver Part 1: Why Many Autistic Professionals Excel in Project Management
Today, approximately one in 31 eight-year-old children in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder, according to the CDC’s 2025 Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network report (Shaw, K. A., et al., 2025). As this generation enters the workforce,...
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How Adaptive Dance Can Help Autistic Adolescents Build Confidence and Connection
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2025), about 1 in 31 (3.2%) children aged 8 years have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Adolescents with autism often have difficulties with social communication and interactions with peers, characterized by a...
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A 30-Year Journey From Skepticism to Acceptance: Reconsidering the Authenticity of Assisted Communication of Nonspeakers
My introduction to assisted communication (AC) for nonspeaking and minimally speaking individuals was in reference to facilitated communication (FC). During July of 1991 at the Autism Society of America's annual conference, I was asked to participate on a panel that was hastily organized to have an...
