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Thank you, Amber.

More than a third of Americans killed by police have a disability. It’s time to listen to black and disabled activists

Style, not substance, drives negative impressions of the social life of people on the autism spectrum

Dr Camilla Pang on why she created a guide to humans.

Autism is a major, peer-reviewed, international journal, published 8 times a year, publishing research of direct and practical relevance to help improve the quality of life for individuals with autism or autism-related disorders.

“Autistic people are at high risk of mental health problems, self-injury and suicidality. However, no studies have explored autistic peoples’ experiences of treatment and support for these difficulties. In partnership with a steering group of autistic adults, an online survey was developed to explore these individuals’ experiences of treatment and support for mental health problems, self-injury and suicidality for the first time.”

“Given the flaws in prevailing theories of autistic psychology, I believe we should encourage more qualitative, open-ended research that seeks input from autistic people and establishes a firmer basis for future studies. We could also seek their help in prioritizing treatment targets. Likewise, if biomedical researchers are going to get funding for studying autism, they must make more of an effort to engage with the autistic community and their wishes.”

Too many scientists fail to acknowledge autistic people's potential contributions to the field. This shortsightedness damages scientists' ab

“Doctors and therapists can help explain the science behind the spectrum, what to expect moving forward, and make appropriate, medically sound recommendations for your child. But if you want to know about lived experiences, there’s no better way than to listen to the people who have lived them.”

If you want to know about lived experiences, there’s no better way than to listen to the people who have lived them.

The vaccination controversy makes it harder for autistic people to embrace their identity.

“Many of us on the spectrum feel strongly that we do not need to be fixed or cured. Many of us do not want to be seen as “defeating the diagnosis” whenever we succeed at something. We own our differences. They are not medical symptoms. They are part of who we are.”

Pete Wharmby, a UK English teacher, shares twenty facts about autistic people that society often gets wrong.

Decades ago, few pediatricians had heard of autism. In 1975, 1 in 5,000 kids was estimated to have it. Today, 1 in 68 is on the autism spect

This open access book marks the first historical overview of the autism rights branch of the neurodiversity movement, describing the activities and rationales of key leaders in their own words since it organized into a unique community in 1992. Sandwiched by editorial chapters that include critical analysis, the book contains 19 chapters by 21 authors about the forming of the autistic community and neurodiversity movement, progress in their influence on the broader autism community and field, and their possible threshold of the advocacy establishment. The actions covered are legendary in the autistic community, including manifestos such as “Don’t Mourn for Us”, mailing lists, websites or webpages, conferences, issue campaigns, academic project and journal, a book, and advisory roles. These actions have shifted the landscape toward viewing autism in social terms of human rights and identity to accept, rather than as a medical collection of deficits and symptoms to cure.

Greta Thunberg, Chris Packham, Jack Monroe and others credit their Asperger’s with giving them the focus to get things done. Here, poet, wri

“And I can add from personal experience, that when you have to perform almost every time you interact, performing in front of 1,000 people isn’t very different to performing in front of three. To a non-autistic person, who finds conversation easy but public speaking unnerving, this may well look like a superpower.”

These adults can warn parents about avoidable mistakes, and they can counter our assumptions about what it means to live a good life — even

“Parents need to hear from people who have lives similar to what our children will experience. These adults can warn us about avoidable mistakes, and they can counter our assumptions about what it means to live a good life — even when that life is complicated.”

Employers often focus on neurodiverse candidates' perceived deficits. They underestimate the competitive advantages we bring to the table.

“Existing hiring practices tend to disadvantage neurodiverse people. According to a 2015 study, neurotypical people regularly misunderstand and misinterpret autistic people’s behaviors. This can be a huge barrier to employment, considering the importance of traditional job interviews, which can have rigid conventions around what constitutes a smooth or successful social interaction.”

Jon Adams explains how a Portsmouth-based project aims to become a national hub of excellence led by and for neurodivergent artists.

“It would normally be unacceptable to exclude a minority from a project aimed at that minority, but somehow it is considered acceptable for non-autistic people to determine autistic people’s involvement. Autistic culture should be led by, evolved and shared with wider audiences by autistic people. We need this to be more widely inclusive: there is a distinct lack of research and recognition of how neurodiversity operates across race, gender and sexuality. Autistic culture isn’t – and shouldn’t be presented as – white, male and privileged.”

Eight mental health conditions occur unusually often in autistic people, a new analysis suggests.

Neurodiversity, Neurodiversity Movement, functioning labels, autism, autistic, neurodivergent, disability, rights

The climate activist is facing sexist and ableist criticism. She’s not alone.

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