But a world that’s built only for certain types of people can be isolating even with decent accommodations. People deserve more than the right to participate. They deserve to decide what they do and don’t participate in. They deserve to have spaces that are ready for them in their entirety. They deserve respect.

Though it remains imperfect, access is an essential component of neurodiversity. In a world full of opportunities, legislation such as the IDEA and ADA provides opportunities for neurodivergent people to access the recreational, educational, social, and career activities available to people with typical neurologies.  Though access is a crucial component of the neurodiversity movement, accessRead more about Neurodiversity is Access[…]

“Home” conjures a montage of imagery: “We’re home, home, home on the range.” “Go big or go home.” “Honey, I’m home!” “Go home, Alexander!”   It’s interesting how much home’s connotation depends on freedom. When home is a place to which a person looks forward to going, it can be a welcome escape from pressureRead more about Autism and the Concept of Home[…]

CW: Sexual harrassment   For the purposes of this article, we will be using the real names of body parts and discussing sexual behaviors. We will be focusing on autistic children with penes specifically, but obviously this applies to any person.   One commonly asked question from parents, therapists and behavior analysts when talking toRead more about Responding to Sexual Behavior[…]

Life is full of variety. Through it all, sensory needs are often a constant for neurodivergent people. Being prepared to meet a variety of sensory needs in a variety of settings can increase opportunities to engage in enjoyable activities while preserving energy to actually enjoy the activities!   Auditory stimuli are a constant presence forRead more about Meeting Sensory Needs On-the-Go[…]

Professionals have a duty to learn the most current, relevant, and nuanced information to support those they serve. Furthermore, their duty of beneficence implies a responsibility to support parents in acquiring the knowledge needed to better serve their children. Below are some ways to embody that responsibility.   To provide appropriate information to support parentsRead more about On Supporting Informed Parental Consent[…]

There are, perhaps, few children for whom goals are made and discussed as explicitly as they are for children with disabilities. We have touched on this concept in previous articles in relation to goals that promote empowerment, self-advocacy, and the double standards for compliance between disabled and non-disabled people. These goals also seem to lendRead more about Factors of Parental Consent[…]

  Our last article covered areas of psychological healthcare that can currently be inaccessible to autistic people and other neurodivergent people. This article offers some key indicators of accessibility to look for in psychological healthcare services and professionals. As with all professionals who serve the public, psychological healthcare professionals should approach the professional relationship asRead more about Keys to Accessible Psychological Healthcare[…]

Trigger warning: mentions of self harm, forced hosptalization, and suicide   It has been said that we don’t know what autism looks like on its own – only what autism plus trauma looks like. As long as we live in a world that is is set up to face forced neurotypical behavior, existing as aRead more about Autism and (the Many Barriers to) Psychological Healthcare[…]

It has been said that if you are not allowed to get up in the middle of the night and microwave a burrito, there’s a good chance you’re living in an institution. The “burrito test,” as it’s often called, is about more than just a midnight snack. It’s about the right to self-determination. At theRead more about Self Determination: A Lifelong Practice[…]