When it was time for cake at my second birthday party, I sat at a table surrounded by smiling grown-ups. One of the grown-ups asked me a question. I don’t remember the question itself, but I remember my answer: “Actually, it’s crooked.” Actually and crooked were two of my favorite words as a toddler. Whether […]
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network Statement on #FamiliesBelongTogether
In May 2018 the United States, under the administration of Donald Trump, implemented a policy to forcibly seize minor children from their parents when undocumented families are apprehended crossing the border. When these families, who cross the border to enter the US in hopes of seeking asylum, are caught, officials charge the parents with a […]
My Right to Communicate Does Not Depend On Your Bigotry
From time to time typed communication, and people like me who use typing as our chosen method of communication, are attacked and disrespected under the guise of “protecting our human rights”. Actually, the attacks never stop, they spike from time to time. Now is one of those times. I am talking about Facilitated Communication (FC) […]
AWN Statement on the Santa Fe Texas High School Shooting
For the students, teachers, and staff of Houston-area Santa Fe High School, their morning began like any other day, but it ended in tragedy as 10 individuals (9 students and 1 teacher) were murdered by a shooter and several others were injured and/or traumatized. The alleged perpetrator is currently in police custody and several individuals […]
12 People On What It Felt Like To Discover Autism
After decades of oversight, autistic women, non-binary and transgender people are coming out of the shadows. For years researchers focused their studies on white middle-class boys and blinded the world to the unique ways autism expresses in different groups of people. But that’s rapidly changing as researchers, therapists, and journalists learn how autism interacts with […]
Dear Former Therapist, I Wish You Knew
If you were my therapist when I was seventeen to twenty years old, this letter is for you. In the beginning, I trusted you. I was eager to get help for my anxiety, which had become so severe that I was barely eating or sleeping. I was also glad there was finally a therapist in […]
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
For years, Autism Women’s Network has been a tremendous source of support and of community outreach run for and by actually autistic people. I am so excited to announce that effective July 1, Autism Women’s Network’s new name will be “Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network”. As a person who is both non binary and autistic, […]
Beyond Awareness: A Rallying Cry for Acceptance and Inclusion
April is a busy month in the Autistic community. What started out many years ago as an awareness campaign led by parents has now turned its focus towards what matters to actually Autistic people. Calling now for acceptance, community supports, and intersectional activism, our community stakeholders come together for a month-long rally of elevating an Autistic-led […]
Deej: Film Review
“Deej” is a remarkable film about autism, family, the presumption of competence and the right of each individual to access communication and to be included in our schools and communities. Directed by Robert Rooy, the film follows DJ Savarese, who is autistic and nonspeaking. When we first meet DJ, he is a student attending mainstream […]
Justice for DJ
For DJ, an 8 year old autistic boy, being yelled at and having his iPad taken away triggered a meltdown. But what started as a meltdown ended as a criminal battery charge for DJ when he hit his special education teacher. While DJ knows hitting is wrong, he is just an 8 year old boy […]