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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...
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The Profound Impact of Holistic Wellness on Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Individuals with autism and developmental disabilities face unique challenges in maintaining their physical and emotional well-being. Sensory sensitivities, communication barriers, and co-occurring conditions often contribute to heightened stress, anxiety, and sedentary lifestyles. These challenges...
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Empowering Safety: A Foundation for Physical Health and Emotional Wellness for Autistic Individuals
Safety is often seen as a way to avoid harm, but it is much more than that. Safety is a cornerstone of physical health and emotional wellness, especially for people on the autism spectrum. It provides the foundation needed to navigate life’s challenges, build independence, and maintain a sense of...
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Yes, We Can Socialize
Throughout my life as an autistic person, I have been fortunate to have experienced great moments where I have been able to socialize with others and gain long-lasting friendships. There were also times when, due to my misunderstanding of certain social situations and the anxiety that comes with...
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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,...
