Autism Interview #193 Part 2: Ettina Kitten on Approaches to Autism Therapy Continued

This is Part 2 of a two-part interview with Ettina Kitten. Ettina Kitten is a legal assistant, blogger, and mother-to-be from Canada. Ettina blogs at Abnormaldiversity on a variety of topics related to autism. Last week, Ettina shared her unique perspective as both a receiver and provider of autism therapy. This week she shared suggestions for how to find a therapist with an autism positive approach to therapy and challenges people to question their determination of “essential” life skills.

Autism Interview #141: Tara Campbell on Parenting, Ableism, and Autism Advocacy

Tara L. Campbell is a speculative fiction and creative nonfiction science writer with a professional background in technology. She enjoys writing at the intersection of science, technology, and disability. Stories about overlooked or misunderstood people and concepts are key aspects in her work. This week Tara shared her experiences as an Autistic advocate and parenting…

Common Ableist Terms You Might Be Using

Ableism (discrimination against disabled people) is unfortunately so prevalent in society that it has pervaded everyday language. People use this language without even thinking about its origins or the problem with its widespread use. I’ve compiled a list of some of the most common ableist words/phrases in an effort to both illustrate their prevalence and raise awareness for those interested in avoiding this language (and educating others!).

Thankful for Autistic Sharing and What the Autistic Community is Saying About Thanksgiving and the Holidays

I’d like say that I’m grateful for the many Autistic people I’ve corresponded with who have helped me to better understand autism, raise my son with a positive autistic identity, and shape my advocacy efforts for this community. This website is a platform for autistic voices and expertise, but only because so many Autistic individuals…

A Preview–What Your Child on the Spectrum Really Needs: Advice From 12 Autistic Adults

Stories That Need To Be Told

I love listening to stories. The idea for this book came from my passion for storytelling and a special interest in the authority of personal experience. I studied the personal essay in graduate school and have continued using the transformative power of storytelling in a variety of different ways. My interest in autistic storytelling comes from living alongside my autistic brother and son.

When my son was diagnosed with autism at four, my husband and I sought the advice of every “expert” we were recommended to: doctors, therapists, psychologists, etc. But there was one problem with these professionals that left a big gap in our pursuit for the best support for our son–they weren’t autistic. I grew tired of the media stories about what I should or should not be doing as a parent of an autistic child. Avoid milk! Extra doses of vitamins! Try this really expensive supplement! Don’t eat broccoli in your first trimester! So…the broccoli reprimand I haven’t actually heard yet, but you get the idea. When I first started this project, I wanted to find out what autistic people thought of the overwhelming amount of therapy, behavioral, and diet advice out there. I soon realized this is where I should have started.