#notable-autistic-figures
#notable-autistic-figures

NYC parents

ESPN Analyst's Son Brings Studio to Tears on World Autism Awareness Day

fromScary Mommy

Your Kid Can Be A More Inclusive Friend With Sesame Workshop's New Autism Resources

Sesame Workshop expands resources for Autism Awareness Month to promote inclusivity and kindness among children and families.

Social justice

1 day ago

Extending Awareness to Every Autistic Person

Autism awareness must encompass all autistic individuals, acknowledging their unseen struggles regardless of perceived high-functioning status.

fromTODAY.com

NYC parents

ESPN Analyst's Son Brings Studio to Tears on World Autism Awareness Day

fromScary Mommy

Your Kid Can Be A More Inclusive Friend With Sesame Workshop's New Autism Resources

Sesame Workshop expands resources for Autism Awareness Month to promote inclusivity and kindness among children and families.

more#autism-awareness

Rethinking Social Skills for Neurodivergent Kids

Neurodivergent kids seek connection through shared interests and authenticity, not traditional social norms.

Asking for a friend: 'My son has just been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. My husband also got tested and has ADHD. How will all this affect our relationship?'

Navigating the challenges of neurodiversity in a family can be overwhelming, especially with multiple diagnoses affecting communication and relationships.

Careers

How to help your neurodivergent employees thrive on the job

Engaging with neurodivergent employees requires curiosity, high standards, and high support to foster an effective work environment.

Psychology

Neurodivergent Mind: When Your Common Sense Is Not Common

Mental health

Why Neurodivergent People Can Be 'Canaries in Coal Mines'

Mental health

This new social network is designed specifically for neurodivergent adults

Education

6 hours ago

Rethinking Social Skills for Neurodivergent Kids

Neurodivergent kids seek connection through shared interests and authenticity, not traditional social norms.

Asking for a friend: 'My son has just been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. My husband also got tested and has ADHD. How will all this affect our relationship?'

Navigating the challenges of neurodiversity in a family can be overwhelming, especially with multiple diagnoses affecting communication and relationships.

Careers

How to help your neurodivergent employees thrive on the job

Engaging with neurodivergent employees requires curiosity, high standards, and high support to foster an effective work environment.

Psychology

Neurodivergent Mind: When Your Common Sense Is Not Common

Mental health

Why Neurodivergent People Can Be 'Canaries in Coal Mines'

Mental health

This new social network is designed specifically for neurodivergent adults

How to Stop Taking Things Personally When You Have ADHD

ADHD can intensify the tendency to take things personally due to emotional processing and past experiences.

The Late-Diagnosed Mind: ADHD and Autism in Adults

Undiagnosed ADHD and autism in adults lead to significant psychological costs, including high rates of anxiety and depression.

Mental health

The Shame of ADHD and Unfulfilled Potential

Mental health

'You Don't Outgrow ADHD and You Don't Outlast It'

Persistent ADHD into adulthood is associated with worse physical health outcomes: smoking, higher BMI, substance use, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and increased mortality.

Mental health

Why ADHD goes undiagnosed in girls

Girls with ADHD are underdiagnosed because symptoms are more inattentive, internalized, and masked, increasing risk of relationship problems, eating disorders, and self-harm.

How to Stop Taking Things Personally When You Have ADHD

ADHD can intensify the tendency to take things personally due to emotional processing and past experiences.

The Late-Diagnosed Mind: ADHD and Autism in Adults

Undiagnosed ADHD and autism in adults lead to significant psychological costs, including high rates of anxiety and depression.

Mental health

The Shame of ADHD and Unfulfilled Potential

Mental health

'You Don't Outgrow ADHD and You Don't Outlast It'

Mental health

Why ADHD goes undiagnosed in girls

This Theory Explains Why Neurodivergents Are Burning Out

Neurodivergent individuals experience higher burnout rates, necessitating accommodations to balance job demands and resources.

Psychology

Neurodivergent Identity Is Not About Being Special

Recognizing neurodivergence or giftedness aligns identity with natural cognitive needs rather than claiming superiority, promoting congruence and better mental wellbeing.

This Theory Explains Why Neurodivergents Are Burning Out

Neurodivergent individuals experience higher burnout rates, necessitating accommodations to balance job demands and resources.

Psychology

Neurodivergent Identity Is Not About Being Special

more#neurodivergence

#autism

Writing

I was in the pit of despair': Non-speaking autistic novelist Woody Brown on his journey from write-off to writer

Woody Brown, an autistic non-speaking author, shares poignant stories of misunderstood individuals in his novel 'Upward Bound' set in a care center.

5 days ago

Leading While Autistic

Autistic leaders thrive in organizations that embrace diverse talent, challenging stereotypes about autism and leadership.

Autism in Women: TikTok Diagnosis or Self-Correction?

Late-diagnosed autism is increasingly recognized in high masking women, raising debates about social media influence and historical treatment in mental health.

6 Ways Schools Undermine Autistic Students' Self-Advocacy

Autistic students face systemic barriers in self-advocacy at school, requiring structural solutions beyond individual efforts.

fromLGBTQ Nation

LGBT

Transphobes freak out over new autistic Barbie doll because she has an app to help with "pronouns" - LGBTQ Nation

fromBoston.com

Public health

As some people push to make profound autism its own diagnosis, this Ayer family is raising twins with it

Writing

I was in the pit of despair': Non-speaking autistic novelist Woody Brown on his journey from write-off to writer

Woody Brown, an autistic non-speaking author, shares poignant stories of misunderstood individuals in his novel 'Upward Bound' set in a care center.

5 days ago

Leading While Autistic

Autistic leaders thrive in organizations that embrace diverse talent, challenging stereotypes about autism and leadership.

Autism in Women: TikTok Diagnosis or Self-Correction?

Late-diagnosed autism is increasingly recognized in high masking women, raising debates about social media influence and historical treatment in mental health.

6 Ways Schools Undermine Autistic Students' Self-Advocacy

Autistic students face systemic barriers in self-advocacy at school, requiring structural solutions beyond individual efforts.

fromLGBTQ Nation

LGBT

Transphobes freak out over new autistic Barbie doll because she has an app to help with "pronouns" - LGBTQ Nation

fromBoston.com

Public health

As some people push to make profound autism its own diagnosis, this Ayer family is raising twins with it

Neuroinclusion Isn't Special Treatment

Workplace design often reflects unexamined assumptions about people, which can negatively impact neurodivergent employees and overall productivity.

fromwww.npr.org

New autism group meets to counter MAHA's 'ideological agenda'

We in the autism science and advocacy community were just appalled at the way he went about selecting members. The current committee has been hijacked by a narrow ideological agenda that does not reflect either the broad autism community or the state of autism science.

US news

Medicine

Autism in older adults: the health system must recognize its effects

Autism research neglects adults, yet older autistic individuals face higher rates of heart disease, Parkinson's-like symptoms, osteoporosis, and dementia, requiring systematic investigation and adapted healthcare pathways.

fromLos Angeles Times

Autistic people are more likely to experience suicidal crisis. 988 is changing to serve them better

The 988 Lifeline is a crucial resource for suicide prevention, but autistic individuals face unique challenges when using it.

The Erasure That Altered Who "Counts" as Autistic

In 1925, Sukhareva clearly described older boys who were writing for a school newspaper in a great literary style, playing musical instruments, creating art, connecting deeply with nature and select individuals, and holding on to their ethical principles. They also had sensory sensitivities, limited motor coordination, intense idiosyncratic interests, and difficulties with socializing.

Writing

What Gossip and Small Talk Means for the Neurodiverse

Gossip historically served social cohesion purposes but now primarily makes people feel better about themselves, while neurodivergent individuals who avoid gossip face vulnerability to bullying and social alienation.

Stop Telling Anxious People to Be Resilient

Resilience frameworks wrongly attribute anxiety to individual weakness rather than systemic issues, leading to harmful consequences for those affected.

#autism-representation

Film

Learning You review autism road trip drama is hard to bear

Mental health

Was Barbie Always Autistic?

Film

Learning You review autism road trip drama is hard to bear

more#autism-representation

Mental health

Was Barbie Always Autistic?

#invisible-disabilities

fromApaonline

Philosophy

Invisible Disabilities in Graduate School

Mental health

Living a Great Life With an Invisible Disability

Mental health

The Hidden Struggles of Invisible Disabilities

fromApaonline

Philosophy

Invisible Disabilities in Graduate School

Living a Great Life With an Invisible Disability

Invisible disabilities are medically real conditions affecting millions, requiring accommodation despite lacking visible signs, and deserve recognition without judgment or assumption of fraud.

more#invisible-disabilities

Mental health

The Hidden Struggles of Invisible Disabilities

Life with my autistic sons: How do you explain all the worries, the sleepless nights?'

A father balances caring for elderly parents with disabilities while raising autistic sons and maintaining a large social media presence documenting his family's experiences.

#adhd-diagnosis

Women in technology

My ADHD was missed until I was almost 40 women are struggling and underdiagnosed'

Mental health

How ADHD diagnosis helped my mental health | Letters

Women in technology

My ADHD was missed until I was almost 40 women are struggling and underdiagnosed'

Women and girls with ADHD remain severely underdiagnosed, with one woman receiving her diagnosis at 37 after struggling with exhaustion, relationship difficulties, and frequent accidents throughout her life.

How ADHD diagnosis helped my mental health | Letters

ADHD and autism are neurodevelopmental conditions with distinct neurological differences, not spectrum traits everyone possesses; diagnosis provides crucial self-understanding and validation rather than limiting labels.

Responding to a Partner's Neurodivergence With Understanding

Partners with different brain types can experience relationship strain through miscommunication, but understanding each other's perspectives and communication styles can resolve conflicts.

Epistemic Injustice: The Great Gaslighting of Autistic Lives

Autistic people face epistemic injustice when researchers and authorities dismiss their self-knowledge and lived experiences, treating them as unreliable narrators of their own lives.

fromBusiness Insider

When my daughter was diagnosed with autism at age 2, I never imagined she'd own a business and be a reality TV star

Parents of autistic children must prioritize practical life skills over traditional academics and set aside personal expectations to support their child's actual needs and potential.

#tourette-syndrome

Miscellaneous

Tourette's syndrome tests the limits of acceptance - I've struggled with it for 30 years | Leyland Cecco

Television

Catherine Prasifka: Reaction to Tourette's incident at Baftas has been disgusting - is there no empathy on the internet?

Film

'People need to be educated about Tourette's to understand what happened at the BAFTAs'

Miscellaneous

Tourette's syndrome tests the limits of acceptance - I've struggled with it for 30 years | Leyland Cecco

Television

Catherine Prasifka: Reaction to Tourette's incident at Baftas has been disgusting - is there no empathy on the internet?

Film

'People need to be educated about Tourette's to understand what happened at the BAFTAs'

more#tourette-syndrome

#profound-autism

Public health

New autism diagnosis under consideration by experts

Public health

A new diagnosis of profound autism' is under consideration. Here's what parents need to know

Public health

New autism diagnosis under consideration by experts

Public health

A new diagnosis of profound autism' is under consideration. Here's what parents need to know

When Autism and ADHD Travel Together

AuDHD—being both autistic and ADHD—affects 50-70% of autistic people and 20-65% of ADHD individuals, yet remains underdiagnosed due to diagnostic overshadowing and historical clinical restrictions.

Science

My mission to make life more user friendly for the disability community

Josh Miele is a blind scientist and adaptive-technology inventor who uses lived experience, activism, and rule-breaking to advance accessibility and inclusive design.

UK news

fromwww.bbc.com

Anger over Alton Towers changes for visitors who are autistic or have ADHD

Merlin Entertainments will restrict ride access passes for conditions such as autism, ADHD and anxiety, limiting use of the disability queuing system this February half-term.

Education

6 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Kid's First IEP Meeting

Schools must provide only 'adequate' education under IDEA; parents must proactively fight, use evaluations and advocates, and prepare early to secure better IEP outcomes.

#eamon-ryan

Miscellaneous

'He had a late-onset autism, when he was about four or five. He met most of his markers when he was a baby': Eamon Ryan on his son, Tommy

Miscellaneous

'You don't really have time for grief. And you don't have any choice. The day-to-day reality with Tommy is for us a very rich one.' Eamon Ryan on his son who has autism

Miscellaneous

'He had a late-onset autism, when he was about four or five. He met most of his markers when he was a baby': Eamon Ryan on his son, Tommy

fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News

Miscellaneous

'You don't really have time for grief. And you don't have any choice. The day-to-day reality with Tommy is for us a very rich one.' Eamon Ryan on his son who has autism

more#eamon-ryan

Design

Barbie's Autistic Doll Is a Design Masterclass in Inclusion - Yanko Design

Mattel released an autistic Barbie featuring intentional design choices mirroring autistic experiences: gaze, stimming articulation, sensory-friendly clothing, and adaptive communication and sensory accessories.

fromenglish.elpais.com

The incidence of autism is similar in boys and girls, although boys are diagnosed earlier

The findings of a study conducted on a sample of 2.7 million people in Sweden over a 35 year period, and published this Thursday in the medical journal BMJ, suggest that the male to female ratio of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has decreased over time. In early childhood, before the age of 10, the male to female ratio is 3:1 (the most widely accepted ratio a few years ago was 4:1).

Medicine

3 Green Flags of Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Evaluations

Neurodiversity-affirming autism assessments center the individual's lived experience through respectful, collaborative evaluation and avoid stereotype-based diagnoses.

The Science of Belonging for People With IDD

Developmental disabilities are actually quite common. In the United States, about 1 in 6 children has a developmental disability (CDC, 2024). Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions usually present at birth that affect the trajectory of a person's physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2021). Conditions such as Down Syndrome, Autism, Fragile X, Cerebral Palsy, and others are examples of intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Public health

Is It Time to See Dyslexia as a Superpower?

Dyslexia often reflects distinctive cognitive strengths under the MIND framework rather than only a reading disorder, enabling specialized learning styles and potential advantages.

fromenglish.elpais.com

ADHD overdiagnosis is harming gifted children

Gifted children's selective attention and rapid processing are often misdiagnosed as ADHD due to educational mismatches and insufficient teacher training.

The AuDHD Strength of Being Attuned

Attuned AuDHD individuals have heightened perceptual and emotional sensitivity that fosters deep empathy and insight while increasing risk of sensory and emotional overload.

Strengths That Autistic Adults Often Bring to Work and Life

Autistic adults often have strengths like hyperfocus, deep knowledge, and attention to detail that, when recognized, improve quality of life, careers, and relationships.

Why the ADHD brain is a perfect pairing for AI

In 2013, when Meredith O'Connor was 16, the music video for her debut single "Celebrity" went viral. Afterward, she channeled her own stardom into championing childhood mental health: As a hyperactive kid, O'Connor says she was often the subject of bullying, and when her music career gave her a platform, she was eager to use it to advocate on behalf of other victims. "I knew my fan base was younger, but I didn't know how many people would resonate with mental health challenges," she says. "I realized there were millions of gifted people that are being marginalized, and that's when I really wanted to start the mental health study."

Mental health