Autism Interview #161 Leigh Spence on Ableism
Leigh Spence is an autism advocate and vlogger from the U.K. This week she shared her experiences with ableism as a late-diagnosed adult and offered advice for teaching ableism to younger ages.
Autism Interview #157: Alice Running on Bullying, Advocacy, and Creating an Autism-Friendly Environment
Alice Running is an Autistic author and mother of Autistic children from the U.K.. She writes and blogs about social justice, the Autistic experience, inclusivity, and elevating Autistic voices. This week she shared her experience as a late-diagnosed adult creating a safe environment for her Autistic children.
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 #142: Joey Murphy on Women on the Spectrum and Late Diagnosis
Joey Murphy is a freelance writer and writing coach. She teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and hosts a podcast targeting women on the spectrum who were diagnosed later in life. This week she shared how a late diagnosis helped her learn to listen to her needs after decades of trying to meet the expectations of others.
…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 #125 Christine M. Condo on Accommodations and Socialization Differences
Christine M. Condo is an Autism writer, consultant, and spokesperson. She blogs about her autistic experience and is pursuing a master’s degree in technical communication at George Mason University. This week she discussed the fatigue of masking and the importance of accommodations and being open to different styles of communication.
…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 #118: Jared Buck on Growing up Deaf on the Spectrum, Disability Advocacy, and Late Diagnosis
Jared Buck is a late-diagnosed college student studying History. He is also a member of the Deaf community and is passionate about disability advocacy. This week Jared discussed the lack of support he received growing up and how he has managed to find more helpful communities on the path to positive self identity and adult success.
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