Autism Pride
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Neighborliness, Inclusion, and the Everyday Work of Disability Advocacy
The story of the good Samaritan illustrates a core value in my faith tradition: the importance of caring for others regardless of closeness or personal bias. Often, the focus is on the Samaritan’s compassion, but I am most fascinated by the priest and Levite who passed by. Jesus intentionally made the victim and those who…
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Building a Supportive Community in Life
I joke that I’ve always been the same person. My opinions on certain topics have changed over the years, but when I reflect, so many things have stayed the same. I never liked wearing anything that showed a lot of skin. I don’t judge people with a more adventurous sense of style than I do;…
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Mindfulness and Rest: Keys to Productivity
Growing up, I joined egg hunts in the field behind the clubhouse, which hosted my early birthday parties and all the swim meets because it shared space with the pool. Each family contributed as many eggs as their children would collect. I always hoped to find the egg with the twenty-dollar bill hidden by HOA…
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Navigating Sibling Dynamics with Disabilities
As a young child, I visited a museum that told the story behind Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s founding of the Special Olympics and the inspiration her sister, Rosemary, was to the organization’s establishment. How wonderful, I marvelled to have a sister who loves you so much that they started a nonprofit that serves people around the…
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Easter Reflections: How Grief and Love Intertwine
When I was reading the seventh Harry Potter book, there was a quote from William Penn’s More Fruits of Solitude in the front of the book before you begin the actual book. The quote struck me as a child as absurd: “Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in…
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Choosing Values, Facing Consequences: Reflections on Character and True Crime
I enjoy reading a wide variety of books, and two months ago I read one that made the opposite arguments. The first was On Character by General Stanley McChrystal. I would encourage everyone to read the book, but I would summarize its premise as choosing your values deliberately and living by them consistently. The general’s…
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Finding Peace in Nature: A Personal Journey
I grew up in northeast Georgia, where climbing a tree in our yard revealed the foothills of the mountains. Digging in the yard turned up Georgia red clay that made gardening tough and stained clothes. My mom would joke that we lived within a few hours’ drive of both the beach and the mountains. I…
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Understanding Autism and Disability Support Services
In early 2019, shortly after my diagnosis, I first utilized vocational rehabilitation services. My mother played a key role; she was convinced they could find me a job with a supportive environment for my disability. After a lengthy intake process, I was assigned to a wonderful caseworker who greatly helped me with workplace social skills.…
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Life Lessons from Assisted Living Visits
I was often told growing up that people come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When a member of the book club I used to attend mentioned that her mother had recently transitioned from independent living to assisted living and could use visitors to cheer her up, I planned the…
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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…
Living on the Spectrum 