Still working on your holiday shopping list? If you are looking for ways to support autistic individuals this year, consider spending some holiday dollars supporting autism employment! Support businesses run by people on the spectrum or organizations that help autistic people find meaningful work.
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Nera Birch is a self-advocate from Cleveland, OH with a passion for speaking and writing on topics related to autism advocacy. Birch blogs at I’m Not Drunk, I’m Autistic. This week Birch shared her experiences living with auditory processing disorder and how that can impact holiday gatherings.
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Fr. Matthew Schneider is a priest with the Legionaries of Christ ordained in 2013. He has over 50,000 followers between Twitter and Instagram. He is studying a doctorate in theology and lives in the Philadelphia area. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Fr. Matthew has worked throughout North America. This week Fr. Matthew discusses the intersection of autism and spirituality.
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Matt Dunford started his love of comics before he could even read and has attended every San Diego Comic-Con since 1994. This inspired him to pursue a career in comics, leading him to be an editor at Semantink Publishing, Senior Editor of Keyleaf Comics, and the President of Little Fish Comic Book Studio. In 2017, he was unanimously elected as Chairman of San Diego Comic Fest and continues to spearhead the convention. He has taken up an active role in the community with a focus on WWII history, serving as the PR & Marketing Director for the video game publisher Crytivo, and as a member of the Non-Profit organization, Creators Assemble! Matt’s passion for the comic book medium is only surpassed by his enthusiasm for sharing it with everyone. This week Matt shared how his love of comics helped him understand the world and make friends and how he now works with individuals on the spectrum who might also benefit from this medium.
…Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate this week. I hope your holiday is safe, healthy, rewarding, and warm. This Thanksgiving I’m especially thankful for family, friends, and that my husband has had a stable income throughout the pandemic. I’m also thankful for Autistic writers who are -open to sharing their personal experiences -willing to…
Teona Studemire is a 23-year-old writer and college student majoring in Library Sciences. Studemire is Autistic and ADHD, has Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and hyper-mobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and is an advocate for other multiply-disabled people. This week she shared some of her personal experiences related to the intersection of Blackness and disability.
James Shirley is a truck driver, ordained minister, and vlogger from Pennsylvania with an M.A. in Theology. He identifies as INFJ and is passionate about disability advocacy and is actively involved in many disability and human rights organizations, corresponds with elected officials to improve public policy, and is working on a film about disability experience. This week James shared this experience with the intersection of disability and religion and how he’s managed life throughout multiple abuses.
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Khali Raymond is a writer and musician from Newark, New Jersey. He could read at the age of two and his work ethic and love for words has led to a prolific writing career (with 163 books to date). Khali’s love for his city and community is extremely strong and is a primary influence for his work. This week Khali discussed his writing life, the stereotypes he encounters, and the direction of autism advocacy.
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Dr. Mordehai Benhamou is an author, lecturer, professional guitarist, and Algerian Jew from Israel. His recently published Autism, Falafel, and Rock and Roll: A journey to an atypical world is a scientific memoir that explores his journey of self acceptance. He grew up in Paris and had a tumultuous journey of self-discovery that left him homeless before eventually accepting his diagnosis and moving to Israel to lecture about his life. This week he shared some of his journey and the inspiration for his new book.
Rosie Weldon is an Autistic accountant living and working in the North West of England. She is also a prolific author and has her own blog about everyday Autistic life, including things like Autistic behaviors, mental health, advice for parenting Autistic children, and lots more. This week she shared her path to a diagnosis and the ways she advocates for inclusion and autism acceptance.
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