J.R. Reed is a late-diagnosed autistic blogger and advocate. J.R. currently co-hosts the podcast Not Weird, Just Autistic with fellow advocate Shannon Hughes where their goal is to promote autism acceptance by removing the barriers – practical, ideological, legal, and social – that marginalize and isolate those with autism. This week he shared some of the different facets of his advocacy work.
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Anita Lesko is the founder of the Global Autism Consulting Organization which aims to offer health care providers around the globe the knowledge and skills necessary to provide the best health care possible to their autistic patients. She and her husband Abraham assist small and large businesses in understanding their autistic employees and enabling them to incorporate people on the spectrum into their work team. Anita has an MS in Nurse Anesthesia and has been working as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for 26 years. She didn’t receive a diagnosis until the age of 50, but since then has become an internationally recognized autism advocate. She answered questions for us about her mission to help autistic patients and workers in the health care industry as well as her all-autistic wedding.
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The hospital environment is often overwhelming for individuals on the spectrum. The sounds and smells are all completely different from home, and it is difficult to control the routine. A lack of staff knowledge about autism can add to this stress, resulting in a terrifying experience for autistic children and their parents. Although it’s impossible to control everything and plan for every potential issue when preparing your autistic child for a hospital stay, the guidelines in this article are a good foundation for ensuring your child experiences minimal stress.
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