In recent years our society has grown more accepting of differences, whether those differences be in neurology, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Many individuals on the autism spectrum are diverse in more ways than one: research has shown autistic individuals are more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+.  In particular, “autistic adults and adolescents are approximately […]

Let's Go Dutch - By JC Mitchell - originally published on Demergent.org So being a parent of a child with special needs is hard to explain to a parent with a child that is typical (that is physically, neurologically, mentally, typical).   I will be the first to admit at times I have no idea how you deal […]

NEW DDD ELIGIBILITY POLICY AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, EPILEPSY AND OTHER CONDITIONS WHO WERE DENIED OR TERMINATED FROM DDD Effective April 16, 2012, the Division of Developmental Disabilities has a new Management Bulletin (MB) reinterpreting eligibility rules that affect DDD clients or applicants with autism, epilepsy, or other conditions similar to intellectual disability. In response […]

Thomas McKean is an autism self-advocate, a formerly institutionalized person, formerly on the board of the Autism Society of America, and currently serves in the board of the Autism Society of Ohio.  First diagnosed in 1980, he’s been engaging in public self-advocacy since 1992, and recent trends in the autism community have disturbed him enough […]