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Empowering Voices: The Importance of Self-Advocacy and Effective Communication for Autistic Individuals
Self-advocacy is a critical skill requiring communication for individuals on the autism spectrum, enabling them to express their needs, rights, and preferences effectively. It plays a significant role in their personal and academic lives, particularly as they transition into adulthood and face new...
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Active Listening and Multimodal Communication: Strategies for Understanding and Supporting Unique Needs
You’re going through your workday, and suddenly, the bottom of your foot starts to ache. You stop, untie your shoe, and take it off to see what’s happening. Relief washes over you when your supervisor appears because help has arrived! You start to peel your sock back to show them where you’re...
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Beyond Words: Overcoming Barriers to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for Autistic Individuals
Key Points: Speech-language pathologists work to enhance communication and independence in autistic individuals through the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) AAC tools. Challenges to using AAC include lack of knowledge, negative attitudes, financial and time...
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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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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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The Power of Person-Centered Planning in Supporting Autistic Adults
Everyone wants to be heard and supported in ways that truly resonate with them. For adults with autism, this means having a voice in how their lives are shaped, and person-centered planning is the key to making that happen. It’s a process that ensures individuals are at the heart of their own...
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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...
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Tapping Into Strengths: Empowering Autistic Individuals to Self-Advocate in the Workplace
Up to 85% of autistic individuals with a college degree are unemployed or underemployed (Autism Society). This often is attributed to a variety of factors, including differences in communication and challenges in reading social cues and making eye contact, all of which are an integral part of the...
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Building Self-Advocacy Skills in Autistic Young Adults
Adulthood is the time when teachers and parents can no longer advocate for their children the same way they could during the school-age years. Much of it becomes the responsibility of the adult. At the beginning of my career, I had the opportunity to develop an evidence-based curriculum in...
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The Complexities of Aging: Addressing the Unique Needs of Autistic Elders
Although there is little known about autism and aging, elders nonetheless need appropriate care now. Through learning about appropriate and intentional assessment and treatment, providers and allies can make a big difference, even in small ways. Although autistic traits are seen far back in...
