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Autistic Personal Philosophy: Why Breaking Up the Autism Spectrum Would Be a Bad Idea
Though the autism spectrum is as widely diversified as any group of people could possibly be, I view us as a single community. Any one segment of the population, however it may be defined, embodies both commonalities and differences, and ours is no exception. Every way in which diversity...
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Creating Space Where Possibility Thrives: Recreation, Belonging, and Purpose at WJCS Shelanu/Supper Club
In my experience, after high school, services taper off, structured opportunities for recreation and social engagement often diminish dramatically and isolation begins with many adults on the spectrum. Research consistently shows that autistic adults are significantly more likely to experience...
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Navigating Change on the Autism Spectrum: My Journey to Grad School
When you live life on the autism spectrum, it’s easy to become so used to your own patterns that you miss the problems those patterns cause. You fail to see the obstacles that keep tripping you up, and why. I want to share a story of my own pitfalls when it comes to the autistic aversion to...
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A Special Education Adventure to Autonomy
I was that kid who couldn’t always focus well in class, and not mildly so, but in a way that interfered with my ability to blend in with society in a school setting. I would frequently miss instructions, not pick up on various learning cues and have difficulty processing many parts of concepts...
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“Just Let Me Try”: Autistic Self-Advocates Redefine Independence
For decades, conversations about autism and adulthood have been centered on building independence through goals, interventions, and structured curricula (Bouck & Joshi, 2015). Yet when autistic self-advocates describe independence, they do not speak in terms of compliance, readiness checklists,...
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The Day I Learned That Stepping Away Isn’t Giving Up – It’s How Autistic Brains Navigate Change
Whenever I have had a big change coming, I tell myself "I can handle this." I have always been good at problem-solving, at figuring things out methodically. Moving away from home for the first time to live at a program for young adults with autism? No problem – I was prepared to learn everything...
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My Son Turns 21: Autism, Milestones, and Growing Up
The restaurant is busy. Someone at the table behind us laughs loudly. Outside, a spring drizzle falls from the sky. May. A fickle month in New England. Yellow sun one day, metallic clouds the next. My son Jack sits next to his father. He studies the menu, sliding his finger along the drink...
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A Roadmap to Wellness
“John” is a person with autism. And he was driven by a goal. John wanted to learn to drive a car, get his license, and have a greater level of independence in his life. For John, this was critical to his emotional wellness. Many had told John that driving would never be an option. But...
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Exploring Recreation Therapy for Individuals with Autism: Exercise to Improve Socialization, Self-confidence, and Independence
Key Points: Exercise is a proven, evidence-based intervention for individuals with autism, promoting development in social, emotional, and independent skills. Recreation therapy interventions, including exercise, have been effective in helping individuals with autism achieve their...
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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...
