Autism Pride
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The Importance of Legacy
This past year, I’ve been giving more thought to legacy and how we are remembered after we’re gone. It might be because I turned thirty this year, or it might be because I’ve attended more funerals this year than I have in my entire life. My grandmother didn’t want to have a service, and we…
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Public Speaking Growth: My Journey at the Autism Symposium
I recently presented for the third time at the adult autism symposium in Chattanooga. The first time I explained, I got very nervous. I started volunteering for public speaking opportunities at church, which helped me feel more comfortable in front of groups of people. It did feel better the second time, and I wasn’t nervous…
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Unraveling the Mystery of Roanoke’s Lost Colony
I was not older than 9 when I went to Roanoke, North Carolina, for the first time. Part of our homeschool history curriculum was traveling to places where history happened, and one of the first trips we took as a family was to Roanoke, North Carolina. I remember going to the museum, where they had…
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To the Newly Diagnosed Child
Hello, My Dear Child, You’ve officially been diagnosed with autism. I want this letter to read like a welcome to Hogwarts Letter. So I got diagnosed at the age of 23, and that was after many, many mental health struggles that I couldn’t understand. For me, my diagnosis was a relief, a source of empowerment.…
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Navigating Dating with Autism: Challenges and Insights
I was asked recently how having autism had affected my ability to date and find romantic partners. If you had asked me when I was recently diagnosed I would have told you that autism was going to be a defining challenge in my ability to find love and sustain a long-term relationship. I went through…
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The pressure to represent
The answer is yes! I often feel pressure to be on my best behavior so as not to reflect poorly on my demographic groups. I feel the most pressure to represent well when it comes to being a woman and an adult with autism. I feel pressure to represent the autistic community positively because I…
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Autistic Barbie?
This weekend, I finally saw the Barbie movie, and I have to say I was VERY impressed by the film’s sense of humor. I found myself laughing quite literally out loud a number of times in the theater. Beyond its laughs, it was also super creative in turning the Barbie brand into a living world…
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Understanding Autism: Breaking Stereotypes and Expectations
I’ve been meditating on how the standards for those with disabilities can be different than those without them. I didn’t get my diagnosis until I was well into adulthood, so I was just expected to achieve like my neurotypical siblings. I have to say, when I tell people I have level one, I’m met with…
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Autism is My Superpower
Autism is my superpower. I see patterns in the world others don’t. Where most see problems, I see opportunities and solutions. I welcome everyone because I know what it is not to be welcomed. When you give me the map of what you need, I’ll move the earth to make it happen. I know getting…
Living on the Spectrum 