Autism Stories

"When the speech therapy didn't help, my family have always been an avid lover of books. We just have piles of them in shelves everywhere. It was obvious that I would feel more drawn to that, rather than speaking to somebody in person and face-to-face", says Alice Hack. Alice joins this episode to discuss her career working in a library, important LGBTQ+ of the past, and learning tha...

"Growing up, what I had come to learn was that my autistic identity was wrong; it was undesirable. People wanted me to be something else. I actually found that me as a drug user was more acceptable, me as an addict was more acceptable", says David Gray-Hammond. David joins this episode to discuss discuss autism and drug addiction, harmful stereotypes regarding schizophrenia, and how medi...

"Brevity is not my strong suite. I'm the kind of person who writes a lot. I'm hyperlexic, I'm hyperverbal. When I write, I can't just write a simple 500 word article to explain something. I have to write a dissertation every time.  For me, when I wrote this book, I had to force myself to be pretty short with it- to make sure that it was concise and easily accessible", say...

"For the longest time, I kind of used makeup to hide behind. Hide my face, and hide acne scars, and hide everything else. But then it developed from that into being a creative outlet. I've created elf looks and clown looks. I think it's a really cool way to become either a visual representation of what you feel on the inside or what your soul looks like, or it can be something to comp...

"I got on the show, but then I quickly realized, yes, I had done a great job preparing for the questions and the mental part. But I had done nothing to prepare for the emotional part. Suddenly, I'm there. You're in a studio, there's people 360 degrees around you... the studio's designed to make you nervous", says Ogi Ogas. Ogi joins this episode to discuss being a game sh...

"I have also learned from the neurodiversity movement, which reframes autism as differences in brain-wiring and it's natural variation in the diversity of human experience, as well as pride in our autistic strengths. It is the self-confidence and belief in ourselves to set high standards, to strive to reach our goals", says Tim Chan. Tim joins this episode to discuss finding connecti...

"I don't start my day with a to-do list or a task-list. I start my day deciding what I want to play with! Do I wanna play with nerdy stuff? Do I want to make something? Do I want to do arts and crafts? I float around playing with things. I also play with code", says Jamie Knight. Jamie joins this episode  to discuss the importance of play, digital accessibility, and the factors that...

"That's a lot of what I invoked in my character, Nick, in, 'The Brick Builder Challenge.' Nick very much wants to do it his way. Growing up for me too, it was always...it's not that I didn't want to cooperate with other people, but it was just so hard to just let go of my way. I'm still like that", says Jen Malia. To learn about Jen and The Infinity Rainbow Club S...

"Ironically, wanting to do stand up is the thing that got me into public speaking in the first place. Because of stand-up, I am a lot more sociable and more relaxed when meeting new people", says Rian Reyes. Rian joins this episode to discuss being a stand up comedian, voice acting, and neurodivergence in BIPOC communities. To learn more about Rian visit https://www.instagram.com/rianspe...

"The really nice thing about Buddhism, which only occurred to me very recently, was that it's so accepting of being solitary, being alone, being quiet, renunciation, and finding quiet spaces. Because that's part of the crucial practice of Buddhism that you need to find that time to reflect, and that suits us down to a tea", says Chris Jarrell. Chris joins this episode to discuss...

"That's what inspired me to write "Rainbow Girl" was I need to get this story out in the world. Because I need everyone who's going through this to know that they're not alone, and especially for them to know that there's hope and that full recovery from an eating disorder is possible", says Livia Sara. Livia joins this episode to discuss autism and eating disor...

"Many artists I cast in the show don't use the word disabled for themselves personally. A lot of that has to do with it being we live in a society that's not safe for Black, Indigenous, Latinae artists to be openly disabled. But the artists I cast who don't use the word disabled for themselves personally, know they are part of the disability canopy and that Disabled Delight is a s...

"As someone who's autistic and travels, there wasn't a lot of information online coming from someone who was autistic. I saw some from families and industry professionals. When I was able to get some messages from members of the autistic community who were saying that they found it and they were happy to get some information about different places, perspectives, tips and stuff, that&#...

"It has to be done on their terms and their choice. I cannot be imposing stuff onto them. From my perspective, how would I feel if somebody did this to me? It shouldn't be about doing stuff, it should be helping people and listening to them", says Ashley Jones. Ashley joins this episode to discuss supporting neurodivergent adults, playing the flute professionally, and self advocacy a...

"Having the party was another way of coming out in a sense of this is my brain and this is my life and there's no shame. I feel like my superpower isn't autism, but vulnerability that comes from being autistic", says Tree Lily Butcher. Tree joins this episode to discuss throwing a party after learning they were autistic, how everyone is born an artist, and the impact of collage o...

"There was no blueprint about how to run a business as a neurodivergent entrepreneur. All the resources, all the advice, everything is really targeted at neurotypicals and neurotypical standards- and that's fine. But there's no support and help really for someone to be like this is how my brain works, this is how my neurological condition affects my day to day and my business. How do...

"We've got a body of creative work, which expresses the lived experience of autistic menopause. And I'm really, really excited about that, because sometimes it's difficult to express oneself in traditional ways. Research can sometimes feel like we're sucking all the individuality out of something and ending up with just data, whereas this is very much alive", says Rose Ma...

"Self-identification and diagnosis can really help for an autistic, neurodivergent person, knowing that they are different and not broken. I'm very passionate about everyone knowing they've got value as well because, for me, that was key in order to advocate for myself", says The Autistic Teacher. The Autistic Teacher joins this episode to discuss self advocacy, facilitating a su...

"Can you imagine so much wanting to do something, but having to do it with someone who is not always available or interested? I think this has been the hardest life lesson for me, Not everyone cares enough to make the time to develop the skills needed to be a communication and regulation partner", says Graciela Lotharius. Graciela joins this episode to discuss learning to communicate wit...

"It's never assumed that we'll enter spaces with the 'cool kids.' It's never assumed that we'll be in with professional peers as out, as our authentic selves- flappy and happy and needing hearing protection, and these types of things that tend to attract attention. It's assumed that you'll mask, that you'll blend in to get in", says Jim Hoerricks. Jim...

"For me, I have the sacral authority, which means I have a gut reaction. If you say, "Hey, Michelle, do you want to go to the carnival tonight?" It's either going to be a heck yes or a heck no!  In finding out this part of myself, that plays in big with the autism, because if I don't want to do something, if I'm not lit up about it, I'm just gonna get to that burnout...

"To me, autistic joy is about authenticity and being able to express joy in a way that is comfortable and unique to oneself. But I think that there's also this added autism layer to it. Because everybody wants the opportunity to be authentically joyful in the way they would like to be, but I think the added autism layer to it is that the joy may present differently or the joy may be about...

" I personally am one of those people that's like I would rather put all the cards on the table. I'm not gonna be able to hide it. So, if you're going to judge me and discriminate against me and you're going to make things hard for me, you're going to do that whether I tell you or not. The difference is, if I tell you who I am, and then you choose to do that to me, that sa...

"For people to understand that it's not us that are preventing our success and inclusion in the workplace. It really is the systems, procedures, policies, and bias that come into play and prevent us from either entering the workforce or having a stable position for a long period of time. That's my biggest thing that I hope people take away", says Nicole Seaward. Nicole joins this...

"Honestly, I feel like they know I'm not trying to just keep them coming back to therapy or keep them dependent on me. I want them to have a whole slate of autistic people in your friendship circle. Even if I'm the first autistic person you ever sat down and talked to about your life or medical history, I don't want that to be the case six months from now. I want them to have an o...