Schools are Failing Autistic Students – Here’s a big reason why

Autistic students regularly report experiencing trauma at school. Behaviorism is causing our schools to fail to meet the needs of autistic students.

The Problem with “Mental Age”

One unfortunate way that you'll often see people with developmental disabilities, including autistic people, described is with the concept of mental age. "Oh, they're a ten year old in the body of a twenty-one year old." "My daughter's eleven, but functions as a six year old." "My cousin's legally an adult but is mentally four." …

International Disability Day of Mourning 2021

March 1st has been designated the International Disability Day of Mourning. It is a day for the disability community to mourn the loss of disabled people who were murdered by their parents or caregivers, a heinous form of murder called filicide. Disabled people, especially people with developmental disabilities like autism, are significantly more likely to …

How to make the Holiday Season Less Stressful for Autistic People

"It's the most wonderful time of the yearWith the kids jingle bellingAnd everyone telling you be of good cheerIt's the most wonderful time of the year" Well, at least for some people. The "most wonderful time of the year" isn't wonderful and magical for everybody. For autistic people especially, the holidays can drive much more …

It’s my birthday! Plus, thinking about expectations

Today, Friday November 20th, 2020, is my 19th birthday. This doesn't feel right to me honestly, there's no way that I'm only a year away from turning 20. I said this last year too when I turned 18, there's no way I'm an "adult" now. I feel exactly the same way as I did when …