Autism Advocacy

Delaying diagnosis and services for African American children with autism could be a result of systemic racism. One in 31 children aged eight years old in the United States was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2022. While screening for ASD has increased and the disparity gaps have narrowed over the years, African American

Renowned autistic advocate, author, and international speaker, Thomas A. McKean, shares his views on how parents can navigate the increasingly challenging realm of autism advocacy on social media. You may have noticed that autism support has taken a dark and toxic turn on social media over the past few years. Whereas once many people with

The rate of autism spectrum disorder diagnoses continues to climb around the globe. The rising autism prevalence is also contributing to increased awareness and curiosity about the autism spectrum as a whole. And it raises the question, what country has the highest rate of autism? Autism rates seem to vary significantly from country to country.

Helping girls understand their strengths can improve mental health and self-esteem. Women are often empowered when they understand their strengths and challenges and are provided with the support needed to lead safe, meaningful, and successful lives.  Females with autism Women on the autism spectrum show differing social and behavioral profiles from men on the spectrum.

Often misdiagnosed, girls need early assessments and support. For every girl diagnosed with autism, there are still three to four boys receiving the same diagnosis. This gender gap isn’t just statistical—it’s deeply personal, and it comes at a cost. Girls with autism tend to mask their differences through natural and learned techniques. Because young girls

For some children with autism, it is not unusual to forego participating in classes or interactions with children outside of school. Many miss out on organized community events like carnivals or concerts. Some autistic children rarely participate in sports or physical activities, such as a team or a karate class.  Community participation is often considered

“The tribe has spoken!” That refrain near the end of almost every episode of “Survivor” tells viewers when someone has been voted out of the show. However, that phrase took on a new meaning for my family during the most recent season of the competition reality show. Eva Erickson made history on the 48th season

“Light it up, blue!” “Red instead!” “Go gold for autism!” These slogans, focused on autism colors, have raised awareness for the disorder. Each color helps represent autism, which is a spectrum, much like a rainbow. However, their connections to different organizations have led to different levels of recognition, support, and backlash among the autism community.

Many people may only see the challenges that autistic people face. However, autism strengths and weaknesses are often unique. The autistic brain presents a combination of abilities and challenges that can sometimes be unexpected. An autistic person may surprise you with strengths where you expect challenges and struggle in areas others find easy. This is

As parents of children with autism, we are our children’s fiercest advocates. We stand up for them when they don’t know they need to stand up for themselves. However, more importantly, we need to pass along self-advocacy skills. Whether in school or the workplace, teaching them how to self-advocate will help prepare them for the

When a child has been diagnosed with autism, it may feel like every behavior is being closely observed and documented. We track every move and follow the recommendations from the pediatrician and therapists, and it can be exhausting. Let’s take some time to focus on the strengths of autistic individuals. Here are the top five

April is Autism Acceptance Month. It began as Autism Awareness Month in the 1970s before transitioning to Autism Acceptance Month in 2021. It’s a time of year when autism spectrum disorder gets a stronger focus from the world at large. As part of this month, there are many autism awareness activities the community can participate

World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized annual event celebrated on April 2, encouraging Member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about individuals with autism throughout the world. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in council on November 1, 2007, and adopted on December 18, 2007. Let’s learn more about

We all know that the month of March celebrates the rights of women. It is a month that brings awareness to the need for equality and honoring women’s achievements throughout the world. Understanding and appreciating women on the spectrum is crucial for all of us. Their contributions in supporting others on the spectrum and enriching

For many parents, the autism advocacy journey often begins upon learning of their child’s autism diagnosis. After figuring out what is best for their child, one of the first thoughts is how to make the world a better place for others on the spectrum. In a way, autism parents are often the first and most

As you scroll through your social media, your algorithm is filled with autism advice and stories other parents and experts share. A couple of autism memes pop up, and you’re stuck in a dilemma: should you find them funny just because they’re relatable? These pictures highlighting a particular topic can be funny and offensive to

During a long-time friend and co-worker conversation, I described my son, Joey, as “neurodivergent.” That led to an interesting discussion about neurotypical vs neurodivergent regarding terms used to describe people with autism spectrum disorders. She asked about these terms, what they mean, and what it means to identify as a neurotypical person or neurodivergent. Her

Television characters with autism have come a long way over the years. When I was a kid, there was very little representation of children on the autism spectrum in movies and TV shows. Most autistic characters were resented as savants who could do almost anything.  While there is a broader representation today with more autistic

Neurodiversity is a term we hear everywhere—on TV, in magazines, and online. But what does it really mean, and how do common autism stereotypes impact the way we understand it? First introduced in 1998 by sociologist Judy Singer, neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in human brains and includes conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD),

For any parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it’s essential to keep up with some of the fantastic research findings connected to ASD. Much of it is innovative, and almost all of it is informative. Autism research has come a long way from when those in the autistic community were shunned. But

April is Autism Acceptance Month. It’s the time of year when we put an extra focus on Autism spectrum disorders and those affected by it. It helps bring the autism community together with walks and events that help autistic kids and their families get to know each other. But, most importantly, it helps put a

Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes gives an AUTISM Interview by asking six questions through each letter in the word AUTISM to give readers an insightful perspective from parents, experts, entrepreneurs, and other leaders in the field. Rose Morris is the founder and president of Abram’s Nation and a mother who was driven by the relentless pursuit

Owen sat in the school psychologist office, the remnants of a torrent of tears still on his face from his recent meltdown. Ms Field held up two corks, tucked them in between her thumbs and forefingers and said, “Owen, watch this.” She then turned her hands to the sides and switched the corks to the

What’s it like to have autism? I have often found myself wondering this when out and about with my children, watching them interact with the world. I am a parent of someone diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and have found myself watching videos by autistic people, and reading some books written by autistic people, to

Being autistic means experiencing the world in a unique way. For many, this includes sensory overload, social challenges, and the need for structure. Imagine being in a crowded, noisy room where everyone else is enjoying themselves, but you feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to communicate your distress. For an autistic person, these situations can lead

Meet Stephanie Smith, a woman driven by her passion to create change in the autism community through education. Stephanie Smith is the recently appointed Deputy Headteacher at The Cavendish School, a state-maintained special free school for young people with autism in the UK—and the world’s first International Baccalaureate (IB) special autism school. Stephanie has been

What do you picture in your mind when you hear the phrase “symbols for autism”? It might be the puzzle piece, the color blue, the infinity sign, or maybe the butterfly. This article will discuss some of these symbols, what they mean, and how autistic advocates feel about their usage.  When researching for this article,

For years documentaries have been used as an educational resource to teach about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but the number of titles have been limited. As the rate of autism diagnoses increases, more and more parents are looking to equip themselves with as much knowledge as possible. The thing is, there is now so much

Encouragement speaker Derrick Hayes gives an AUTISM Interview by asking six questions through each letter in the word AUTISM to offer readers an insightful perspective from parents, experts, entrepreneurs, and other leaders in the field. John Hale was born in Dallas, TX. He is 52 years old and has a wife and three kids, all