A Neurodivergent Vision for the Future of Special Education

I just started graduate school in the special education field. As an autistic advocate and soon to be educator, my dream is to become a teacher who promotes acceptance of neurodiversity inside and outside of the classroom. Of course, I know that special education has its issues, many special education teachers can be ableist, and […]

Why We Should Stop Stim Suppression

Stim suppression, at first glance, may not look abusive. It comes in the form of “whole body listening,” or classroom posters that encourage students to listen with their whole bodies by making eye contact with the speaker, and using “quiet hands.” It looks respectful and it makes a teacher’s job easier when they know students […]

The Ableist History of Autism Speaks

If you live near the United States or Canada, there is a good chance you have heard of Autism Speaks (especially near April, during their “Light it Up Blue” campaign). Maybe there’s an “Autism Walk” near your area hosted by Autism Speaks. Maybe your local grocery store is raising money for Autism Speaks as a […]

Why the Autistic Community Prefers Identity First Language

I am autistic, and I am entering a full time special education master’s program in the fall. I remember sitting in my first special education class during my sophomore year of college. I was taking a class called, “Intro to Special Education and Inclusive Practices.” We as a class discussed the “proper” ways to address […]

A Look at Autism Speaks’ “100 Day Kit”

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) has recently cut ties with Sesame Street due to their partnership with Autism Speaks and Ad Council to promote early screenings of autism. They used Julia, an autistic muppet on Sesame Street that was created with input from ASAN, to promote Autism Speaks and encourage families to get an […]

Why Temple Grandin is Not My Hero

When I disclose being autistic, a common (and dreaded) question I receive is, “Have you heard of Temple Grandin?” For those of you who do not know Temple Grandin, she is an American animal science professor and public speaker and author, and is widely considered to be the “face” of autism. When many people think […]

How to Make Fireworks More Enjoyable for Autistic People

In the United States, Independence Day (July 4th) is coming up. But not everyone enjoys the loudness or brightness of holidays such as July 4th, New Years, and other holidays that involve the use of fireworks and explosives. Part of the fun of the 4th of July and other related holidays for many people is […]

Stop Saying Autistic People “Defeated” Autism When They Succeed

When an autistic person succeeds at anything, an ableist trope is too commonly used: that they were successful because they somehow overcame or “defeated” their autism. An example of this is with the first performance of a twenty-two year old autistic and blind musician, Kodi Lee on America’s Got Talent (AGT), who earned the “Golden […]

The Autism CARES Act Still Seeks to “Combat” Autism

The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014 (also known as the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act) provides the majority of funding that goes into autism research, services, and support activities in the United States. The Autism CARES Act, which provides $260 million of funding for autism, will expire on September 30, 2019 […]

What Should Autism Research Look Like?

The International Society of Autism Research (INSAR), which is the largest autism scientific conference, will be holding its annual session in Montreal, Canada from May 1st to May 4th in 2019. Because there is a more diverse audience this year, the INSAR organizers are having difficulty attempting to please both the neurotypical scientists and researchers […]