It’s Election Day!
It’s Election Day 2018, and I hope you have the opportunity to go vote. Here is a list of some voting-related resources offered by the autistic community and other disability advocacy organizations.
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Autism Interview #79 Part 2: Jo Farrell on Social Anxiety
Photo by Jo Farrell
This post is a continuation of last week’s interview with Jo Farrell. Jo is a British caucasian and UK-based mother (to an adult son), blogger, marketeer, amateur photographer, and practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism. Last week she shared some of her work experience, how mutism has affected her, and the benefits of practicing Buddhism. This week she revealed some of the nuances of her social anxiety and offered advice for parents of autistic children in similar situations.
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Autism Interview #77: Terra Vance on Functioning Labels, Employment, and Diversity
Terra Vance is an industrial and organizational psychology consultant and the proprietor of Acumen Consulting, LLC. She specializes in diversity, inclusion, multiculturalism, and poverty dynamics. She is also the author of the Unapologetically Aspie blog on PsychCentral.com and founder of The Aspergian, a collective for autistic voices, a showcase for autistic talent, and a directory of resources to assist NTs and NDs with navigating autism and thriving with it. This week she shared some autism advocacy tips as well as her experience leading diversity initiatives as a business consultant.
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Autism Interview #74: Austin Shinn on Advocacy in Childhood, College, and Beyond
Austin Shinn is an author, editor, film buff, husband, father, and advocate for individuals diagnosed with autism. Austin is diagnosed with Aspergers and blogs mostly about his life with perspectives on autism, disability, and advocacy at A Flickering Life. He is also the author of A Flickering Life: A Memoir of Autism, which chronicles his struggle to live life no different than anyone else. This week he shared some specific supports and advocacy strategies that resonated with him in childhood, his college years, and adulthood, and offered advocacy advice for parents and caregivers of other autistics. …
Autism Interview #71: Marie on Embracing and Supporting Autism
Marie is a published poet, writer, translator, puzzler, and artist who lives on the South Coast of Australia with her handsome cockatiel. She advocates for individuals on the spectrum, and believes she owes her creativity to having Asperger’s. This week she shared some of her advocacy work and how she finds ease in social situations.
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Autism Interview #70: Tom Iland on Law Enforcement, Self Discovery, and Advocacy
Diagnosed with autism at 13 years old, Thomas “Tom” Iland has worked hard to achieve his goals: learning to drive, living on his own, graduating from college, obtaining full-time employment and having a girlfriend. Tom recently left his career as a certified public accountant (CPA) to educate, inspire and motivate people affected by autism and other learning differences. One of only 4,000 Distinguished Toastmasters in the world and a member of the National Speakers Association, his mantra “Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself.” has been featured in keynote speeches in autism conferences around the country and is among the topics in his award-winning, bestselling book, “Come to Life! Your Guide to Self-Discovery.” This week Tom shared advice about advocacy and his background as a public speaker, including training individuals on how to interact with law enforcement.
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Autism Interview #69: Larkin Taylor-Parker on Autistic Community and Disability Rights
Larkin Taylor-Parker is an attorney practicing in North Carolina, a graduate of Agnes Scott College and the University of Georgia School of Law, and a proud member of the Autistic community. Larkin lives in Raleigh and enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing the tuba, and riding and maintaining a pair of vintage English three speed bicycles.
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Autism Interview #64: Russell Lehmann on Never Giving Up
Russell Lehmann is an award-winning and internationally recognized motivational speaker, poet, author and advocate who happens to have autism. His words have been featured in the USA Today, LA Times, NPR, Yahoo! News, Autism Speaks and archived in the Library of Congress.
Russell currently travels the country spreading hope, awareness, acceptance, belief and tolerance in a raw and dynamic fashion, while also setting his sights on erasing the stigma and stereotypes that come with having a disability. This week he shared some of his experiences as an autism advocate and poet.
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Autism Interview #61: Michael John Carley on the Current State of Autism
Michael John Carley is an internationally-recognized autistic author, speaker, and public advocate. He is the founder and first Executive Director of GRASP, the largest organization in the world comprised of adults on the autism spectrum. He’s also the former United Nations Representative of Veterans for Peace, Inc. He’s been featured in many national publications and media outlets and has written several books on autism. This week he shared his perspective on the current state of autism in America, some of the differences between his experiences and those of his autistic son, as well as advocacy tips for parents.
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Autism Interview #55: Haley Moss on Growing Up with a Positive Autistic Identity
Haley Moss is an artist, author, and autism advocate attending law school at the University of Miami. Her work is nationally recognized, and she is the author of “Middle School: The Stuff Nobody Tells You About” and “A Freshman Survival Guide for College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders.” This week she shared how she grew up with a positive autistic identity and offered suggestions of ways parents and family can improve autism acceptance and advocate for their loved ones on the spectrum.
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