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Amid Increasingly Extreme Weather, Autistic Individuals Left Particularly Vulnerable to Climate Change Effects
Sherman Gillums Jr., the Federal Emergency Management Agency Director of Disability Integration and Coordination, remembers the event that made him realize emergency responses during natural disasters needed to be more autism-inclusive. In the throes of Hurricane Ian — the fifth strongest storm...
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Prospect Meadow Farm: Empowering Autistic Adults Through Vocational Training, Employment, and Community Building
Located in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farms provides vocational training and employment for more than 100 differently-abled adults aged 22 to 70, 20% of whom are on the autism spectrum. The original farm, located on 11 acres in Hatfield, was...
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Embracing Neurodiversity: A Social Revolution of Autism and New Perspectives
Over the past 25 years, I have noticed a movement that has been gaining momentum, aiming to reshape societal views and acceptance of autism and the broader community of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). If I could name this movement, I would call it Embracing...
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The Autism Theater Project’s “The Voice Inside”: Changing Lives and the Entertainment Industry
My name is Gena Sims. When I was 18 years old, God gave me this vision. I was in my room, thinking about how isolated families in the autism community can feel. I thought of my sister’s fears that the kids on the playground wouldn’t understand her. I saw my family’s struggles to celebrate...
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Vote the Spectrum: An Unprecedented Opportunity for All Voices to be Heard
The U.S. Surgeon General, considered “the nation’s doctor,” is charged with the overall health of the nation by providing Americans with the best scientific information available on how to reduce the risk of illness and injury. Historically, this has included issuing warnings on the dangers...
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A Collaborative Approach: Addressing Food Insecurity and Empowering Adults with Disabilities
New York City is experiencing unprecedented levels of food insecurity, with hunger impacting over 1.2 million New Yorkers in 2022.1 Visits to New York City food pantries and soup kitchens were up 75% in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels.2 Inflation costs soared along with the COVID-19 pandemic,...
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Zoning for Neuro-Inclusive Communities: Challenges, Foundations, and Lessons Learned
Across the United States, there’s a growing focus on making communities more inclusive for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. This shift reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that all residents, regardless of their needs, can find supportive and accessible living...
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Empowering Autistic Communities: The Role of Co-Creation in Research Partnerships
Participatory research is an approach that can empower autistic community members through the co-creation of knowledge, addressing power imbalances, and fostering meaningful collaboration between autistic community members and academic researchers (Stack & McDonald, 2018). By actively involving...
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Tailored Professional Development for Licensed Care Staff to Support Community Living for Adults with Autism
Across the next decade, we can expect a 123% increase in the number of youth with autism transitioning out of school-based services (IACC, 2017). These increases have placed a growing demand on the service systems supporting transition-aged youth and adults and magnified the need for effective and...
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Challenges for Autistic Adults in Navigating the Labyrinth of Healthcare
As I was fortunate enough to have had employment with good healthcare benefits, I did not have to face many of the challenges in navigating the healthcare system that autistics regularly encounter. Nevertheless, because of my involvement with the autism community over the past quarter century, not...
