As my 6-year-old was getting ready for his first day of school, he shared that he wants to grow up to be a fundraiser like mom and help people with autism. He loves everyone and that is one of the things I love most about him. His comment prompted us to talk further about being…
WNC Run/Walk is ‘Autism Community Day’
Daniel Landry knows firsthand what a difference employment supports can make. Landry, a 33-year-old who is on the autism spectrum, faced some challenges at his first jobs. He was capable of doing the work but needed a different way to learn the tasks. “A lot of times the employer doesn’t understand autism or why you’re…
Seek First Responders with CIT Training
If you or a loved one with autism experiences a crisis involving law enforcement, firefighters, or EMTs, what should you know? The first thing that you need to know is to ask for someone who has CIT training. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is an intensive mental-health training provided to first responders. CIT training is…
Finding My Purpose in Teaching Youth on the Spectrum
As a person with high-functioning autism, I have been blessed with the amazing opportunity to work with youth on the spectrum. I have worked for about 20 years as a teacher, if my volunteer teaching is included. I have worked as a regular education teacher in high schools, as a community college instructor for filmmaking,…
Workplaces Should Offer Autism Trainings and Accommodations
Autism awareness is not prevalent enough in the working world. A high percentage of adults with autism are unable to find work or work enough to support themselves. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 20% of adults with disabilities were working or looking for work in 2014. People with mild forms of…
What It’s Like to Have a Severe Autism Meltdown
One of the biggest fears a person can have is loss of control of self. The other is fear of the unknown. For many with autism, the unknown can trigger a loss of control. One great fear leads to another. There are many sources out there that will tell you why we do what we…
Autism Awareness is for YOU, Autistic Person! Yes, You!
While autism awareness may appear to focus on teaching non-autistics about autism, it is also about us! The ones WITH the autism! It is very important for a non-autistic (a neurotypical) to treat another person with autism with patience and understanding. However, it is much more important for an autistic person to treat themselves with…