When Ari Ne’eman looks backs on the autism diagnosis he received at age twelve, he remembers it as “negative and frightening.” Though initially he had not viewed autism that way, interactions with the neurotypical individuals around him quickly distorted the way he viewed his diagnosis. As Ne’eman grew older, however, he began connecting with other autistic […]

While some advocate by lobbying their congressmen, or asking for meetings with industry-leading executives, one neurodiversity advocate has done so by an entire different means: the power of the pen. Through numerous essays, interviews, and an adamancy that neurodiverse individuals should be embraced from unique gifts, Steve Silberman has become one of the leading authors […]

As I scrolled through Instagram’s ‘explore’ feature earlier this year, I stumbled across a very special video. In it, a young child with special needs was being interviewed. The questions ranged from what he would like people to say when they meet him to what is the best part about being him. I was intrigued, […]

While the history of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treatment paints a grim picture, long gone are the days of implementing dieting and electroconvulsive shock therapy to “correct” the underlying neurological differences between neurotypical and neurodiverse people. Individuals with ASD were often shunned from society and institutionalized with other mentally and developmentally disabled individuals. However, as […]

Upon hearing the word “autism,” a variety of things may come to mind. You might think of someone you know who has autism, remember a TV show you’ve watched about a character with autism, or think of stereotypes about autism that you commonly hear. These “autism myths,” though sometimes based in a bit of truth, […]