Autistic Blog

Image credit: Freepik Communication is something many of us experience every day without giving it much thought. We talk with our families, share our feelings with friends, and express what we need throughout the day. But what happens when speaking isn't the easiest way to communicate? For many autistic individuals, communication can look different, and that difference deserves to be understood and celebrated. October gives us an opportunity to recognize Autism and Augmentati

Image credit: Freepik Inclusive employment opportunities can make starting a job a more positive experience for autistic and neurodivergent people. Beginning a new job can bring excitement about earning money, becoming more independent, meeting coworkers, and having the opportunity to use skills that have been developed over time. At the same time, unfamiliar routines, unexpected changes, social interactions, and unclear workplace expectations can make the transition feel ove

Employment can mean so much more than simply receiving a paycheck. For many neurodivergent adults, having a job can bring confidence, independence, purpose, connection, and the feeling of knowing, “I can do this.” Yet there can still be barriers that make finding and maintaining employment harder than it needs to be. Sometimes those barriers come from workplaces that do not understand neurodivergent people. Other times, they come from assumptions about what someone can or can

For families of neurodivergent students, hearing terms like IEP and 504 Plan can sometimes bring a mix of questions and emotions. There may be meetings, paperwork, accommodations, goals, and conversations about what a child needs at school. It can all feel like a lot to take in, especially when you are simply trying to make sure your child feels supported and understood. But behind every IEP or 504 Plan is a student with a personality, strengths, challenges, interests, and dr

Image credit: Freepik Why Transition Planning Matters For an autistic or neurodivergent student, transitioning from one school, classroom, grade level, or stage of life to another can feel like stepping onto unfamiliar ground. What looks like a simple change to someone else may involve new people, expectations, routines, sensory experiences, transportation, communication demands, and responsibilities. That is why stronger transition supports can make such an important differe

Building independence with autism can be an important part of thriving in life, but everyone’s journey will look different. For some people, independence may mean living alone, working, managing money, or taking care of a home. For others, thriving may mean having the right support while still making their own choices. Independence is not about doing everything completely by yourself. It is about having responsibility, making decisions, growing your confidence, and creating a

September can feel like a fresh start. Summer is winding down, school is back in session, and little signs of fall begin showing up everywhere. For many autistic people, though, September can also mean adjusting to a lot of new sensory experiences at once. The temperature changes. The days slowly become shorter. Different clothes come out of the closet. School becomes busier. Even the smells and sounds around us can feel different. These changes may seem small to someone else

Image credit: Freepik For families of autistic and neurodivergent children, the early years can bring so many emotions. There may be excitement, questions, uncertainty, and sometimes fear about what the future will look like. Parents may notice that their child communicates differently, experiences sensory input in their own way, or develops certain skills on a different timeline. It can be difficult to know where to begin, but seeking support early can open doors to learning

Image credit: Freepik Rethinking Behavior Support Matters Every autistic and neurodivergent child wants to feel safe, understood, and accepted. For autistic individuals, those needs are no different. Yet for many years, behavior support has often centered on correcting actions that adults viewed as challenging instead of understanding the reasons behind them. Today, more therapists, professionals, educators, and families are rethinking that mindset. Rather than asking, "How c

Image credit: Freepik Summertime Looks Different for Every Family When most people think about summertime, they picture carefree vacations, fun road trips, and long sunny days filled with adventure. And while that sounds wonderful, many families with autistic or neurodivergent loved ones know that summer can feel a little more complicated than that. I’ve come to realize that summertime isn’t always restful; It takes more energy than people expect here and there. Sometimes it

Image credit: Freepik In many states, including in Florida, August marks the beginning of a new school year. While some families are busy buying backpacks, labeling notebooks, and preparing lunch boxes, many autistic individuals and their families are preparing for something far more complicated: steeling themselves for transitions that require more than organization, but deep emotional strength and a brave heart to face the unknown. They are preparing for transition. And tra

For many autistic and neurodivergent children, moving from elementary school to middle school, or from middle school to high school, can feel like stepping into a giant new world. New teachers, bigger buildings, changing routines, and increased expectations can create excitement, but they can also bring anxiety. For autistic students, these transitions may feel even more giant due to the challenges that often accompany changes in routine and environment. The good news is that

Daniel Durany A dedicated, autistic advocacy adult, Daniel Durany is a 2006 graduate of Texas Christian University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, and a 2020 graduate of Texas A&M Commerce with a Master of Science in Accounting.. A passionate autism advocate, Daniel has dedicated much of his life to advancing autism awareness, acceptance, and advocacy. In 2013, he served on the Texas Council on Autism and PDD, helping shape initiatives that su

There's this thing that happens before the day fully arrives. The alarm hasn't gone off. Nobody needs anything from you yet. And then, without asking, without knocking: sunlight finds the gap in your curtains and lands somewhere on the bed, or the wall, or the back of your hand. And your whole body just… exhales. If you've built a small ritual around that moment; If you guard it like something precious good. You should. Not because some productivity article told you morning

Image credit: Freepik Have you ever sat in a conversation and felt the moment pass before your thoughts were ready? Someone asks a question, people laugh, decisions happen instantly, and your brain is still carefully connecting the dots. Many autistic people like myself know this feeling deeply. It can hurt. It can feel isolating. Sometimes it even makes you question your intelligence. But here’s something gentle and important to hear: needing more time does not mean you’re l

Graduation should feel like a victory. Caps fly, cameras flash, and families celebrate years of hard work. I experienced that nearly 10 years ago when I graduated from high school in New Jersey. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed; Those ten years truly flew by in what feels like the blink of an eye. Yet many parents of autistic students describe a quiet fear hiding behind the smiles. Something suddenly feels missing. The structured world that supported their chi

There is something undeniably urgent happening inside modern workplaces. Employees are no longer quietly tolerating systems that exhaust them. Conversations about burnout, inclusion, and psychological safety are no longer side discussions—they are front and center. For years, organizations approached workplace struggles by asking individuals to adapt, toughen up, or improve resilience. The urgent reality emerging in 2026 is that people were never failing work; work was failin

Image credit: Freepik Spring break is often imagined as a carefree escape—sunshine, travel, laughter, and a temporary break from responsibilities. For many families, it represents pure freedom. But for families navigating autism, spring break can carry a more complex emotional landscape. The excitement of new places and experiences is real, yet so is the uncertainty that comes when familiar routines disappear. Autistic individuals often rely on predictable patterns to feel se

Image Credit: Freepik Spring brings brighter days, longer evenings, and the promise of warmth—but for many autistic individuals, the shift of the clock jumping forward can feel like the world is moving too fast. That lost hour may seem small to some, but it can create deep, tangible struggles for autistic people, their families, educators, and professionals who support them daily. Sensory sensitivities, reliance on routines, and a need for predictability mean that even minor

Image credit: Freepik Something meaningful has shifted in 2026. We are no longer asking, “How do I make this stop?” when a meltdown erupts. We are asking, “What does this person need right now?” That question changes everything. It moves us away from control and toward connection. For years, big emotions were treated like problems to eliminate in homes, school, and community. Autistic and neurodivergent children were told to calm down. Adults were told to toughen up. But supp