Autistic Blog

November can be a beautiful time to slow down, celebrate individuality, and create meaningful memories with the people we love. For autistic and other neurodivergent individuals, fall activities can offer opportunities for connection, self-expression, sensory exploration, and family fun without the pressure to participate in traditional holiday celebrations. The best creative autism-friendly November activities are those that respect individual preferences, sensory needs, com

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

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

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 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

Image credit: Freepik Summer Feels Different for Autism and Neurodivergent Families Summer often feels like freedom. For many families, it means vacations, late mornings, and a break from school routines. But for families raising a child with Autism, summer can feel very different. Instead of relief, it can bring uncertainty, stress, and fear of losing hard-earned progress. This is why Extended School Year matters so deeply. When school ends, many children lose more than clas

Image credit: Freepik For many families, summer feels like a welcome break from packed schedules, school runs, and homework battles. But if you’re raising an autistic or neurodivergent child, summer can bring mixed emotions. Along with sunshine and vacations comes something many parents quietly worry about how to beat summer regression. You spend months celebrating progress. Maybe your child is finally communicating more clearly, handling transitions with less stress, or beco

Image credit: Freepik College Is a New Chapter—And It Can Feel Scary The word thrive may be a big word when you are stepping into college for the first time. For many autistic and neurodivergent students, college can feel like standing at the edge of a vast ocean. From far away, it looks exciting and full of possibility, but once you step in, the waves can hit hard and fast. New classes, unfamiliar faces, louder spaces, and constant expectations can quickly become overwhelmin

I graduated from high school on June 23rd, 2016 in New Jersey Today feels personal in a way I didn’t expect. Ten years ago, on this exact day, I graduated high school. It’s strange how memory works. I don’t remember every speech or every face in the crowd, but I remember the feeling. The caps. The gowns. The awkward photos. That weird mix of excitement and uncertainty that sat heavy in my chest. At eighteen, graduation felt like a finish line, like once I crossed that stage,

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

Image credit: Freepik Every human heart wants the same thing at its core: to feel accepted, valued, and understood. For many autistic people, that feeling does not always come easily. The world can sometimes feel loud, overwhelming, and painfully critical. Simple differences in communication, behavior, or emotional expression are often misunderstood by others. Over time, these misunderstandings can slowly chip away at a person’s confidence, leaving invisible emotional scars t

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

Image credit: Freepik The last month of school often feels like pure chaos. Hallways grow louder, routines shift without warning, teachers rush to finish lessons, and classmates buzz with excitement about summer. For many families, this countdown feels joyful. But for autistic children, that same energy can turn into overwhelming chaos inside their minds and bodies. What looks like celebration to others may feel like the ground constantly moving beneath their feet. When struc

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 Mission-critical talent has always existed in places workplaces failed to recognize. For decades, organizations quietly rewarded sameness. The ideal employee was expected to think fast, socialize effortlessly, multitask endlessly, and fit into systems designed for one type of mind. Anyone who processed information differently—whether autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or otherwise neurodivergent—was often labeled difficult, distracted, or “not a culture fit.” Yet

Image credit: Freepik Picture this: your child is surrounded by classmates, yet somehow feels completely alone. For many families navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder, that quiet isolation is painfully familiar. Social cues can feel like a foreign language. A simple “hello” can require enormous courage. Bright lights, loud noises, and unpredictable routines can make the world feel overwhelming. It’s never about not wanting to connect. Often, the desire is there: strong and ach