Autism Interview #147: Bernard Grant on Writing and Autism Acceptance

Bernard Grant’s writing has appeared in Crab Orchard Review, New Delta Review, The South Carolina Review, Third Coast, and Craft, among other online and print publications. Bernard serves as an Associate Fiction Editor of Tahoma Literary Review and holds an MFA from The Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University where they were awarded the Carol Houck Smith Graduate Scholarship. They have also received scholarships to The Anderson Center, Sundress Academy for the Arts, and Fishtrap: Writing and the West, as well as fellowships from Vermont Studio Center, Jack Straw Cultural Center, Mineral School, and The University of Cincinnati, where they are a PhD candidate in Comparative Literature and Creative Writing, and are at work on a novel-in-stories that focuses on a mixed-raced family and features autistic characters. Bernard is also working on essays on autism and American racism, which they plan to collect and title Unmasking. This week Bernard discussed his life as an Autistic author and ways society can work towards autism acceptance.

Autism Interview #146: Dr. Mordehai Benhamou on Self Acceptance

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.

Autism Interview #145: Rosie Weldon on Autism Advocacy and Inclusion

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.

Autism Interview #132: Nick McAllister on Late Diagnosis and Autism Acceptance

Nick McAllister is an autism advocacy writer from Australia. He blogs at Autistic Nick about a variety of autism-related topics, including late diagnosis. He is also the author of Autism Reflections, a book of personal essays about navigating life as an adult on the spectrum. This week Nick discussed his journey to embracing his Autistic identity after years without a diagnosis.

Autism Interview #121: Autistic Soul on Late Diagnosis, Fantasy, and Autistic Identity

Autistic Soul is a 49-year-old wife and mother to three children (one also diagnosed Autistic) and the guardian of one flatulent, but lovable, lurcher. She lives in the UK and is passionate about film, tv, music, and literature. Her blog Autistic Soul is amusing and enlightening, and discusses autism, anxiety, fibromyalgia, menopause, and aging on the spectrum. This week she shared her experience growing up without a diagnosis and how she manages the physical limitations resulting from fibromyalgia. She also offers advice for families trying to balance escapism and reality.

Autism Interview #115: J.R. Reed on Late Diagnosis and Advocating for Adults on the Spectrum

J.R. Reed and Shannon Hughes, co-hosts of the podcast Not Weird, Just Autistic

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.