During the early stages of our childhood it was often hard for us to determine what our actions would do to others and their emotions, for parents this proves to be a challenging endeavor to teach children what emotions are and to treat others and themselves when they are feeling these emotions. How do you teach a child what “anxious” feels like? Or help them recognize when someone is “excited”?

The ability to receive and act upon constructive criticism is widely recognized as the bedrock of maturity and professional growth. True progression, however, is not solely dependent on the recipient's willingness to be humble; it also hinges on the giver's responsibility to deliver feedback with respect and intention. Too often, valuable input is poisoned by a derogatory tone, transforming potential guidance into needless cruelty. My life as an autistic person has been de

It is important to understand the complexities of the autism spectrum, as well as the unique ways in which autistic individuals navigate social situations. As an autistic person, I have often found it challenging to elaborate on my own experiences when faced with responses like, "Oh, I wouldn't have known," or "What is that?" Autism is a neurological condition where the brains of autistic people are wired differently, affecting their ability to engage in reciprocal social con

Another vital lesson was to avoid repetitive sharing with the same people in consecutive conversations. I once irritated a peer by doing so, who responded, "You told us..." as if I were being random or unnecessary. My intention, whether sharing repetitively or out of context, was never to be annoying. Instead, it was a combination of approval-seeking - a common autistic trait - and subconsciously gauging reactions from my neurotypical peers to assess their level of judgment. 

Inaccessible design in game development causes many potential players to be left out of the fun and connections games bring to people's lives. This causes problems like social exclusion in the game development community which is already struggling with inclusivity.

My childhood as an autistic individual presented unique complexities. Undiagnosed until the age of nine, my behaviors were often misconstrued and judged. Fortunately, I was blessed with an incredibly supportive family. Upon receiving my diagnosis of what was then known as Asperger’s, my parents proactively researched and adopted techniques to address the evolving needs brought on by my autism. A particularly challenging aspect of my formative years involved my mother, a truly

But what I didn’t realize was how damaging that mindset could be. I had nowhere safe to talk or release my stress. Over time, those bottled-up emotions built into an overwhelming storm. I found myself crying in private, breaking down after holding it all in for so long. At first, I didn’t recognize that I needed help. I thought I just had to push through, stay strong like I had always been told. But holding in all that stress was not healthy mentally, emotionally, or physical

As a neurodivergent individual on the autism spectrum, my journey has been marked by significant hurdles stemming from societal gaps in education, understanding, and the tailored skill development necessary to unlock my full potential. While autism presents lifelong challenges that can initially seem insurmountable, the unwavering support I've been fortunate to receive has been instrumental in reaching my present achievements. Early Intervention My early engagement with cruci

Imagine trying to fill out an online scholarship form but being unable to read the instructions, or wanting to register for a job portal but getting stuck on the homepage. For over 1.3 billion people globally who live with some form of disability, these aren’t hypothetical scenarios; they're daily realities.

The autism spectrum entails a variety of tendencies that could manifest as unexpected behaviors in social situations. These tendencies could include, but are not limited to: the autistic person dominating conversations about themselves and their specially-focused interests without asking about the other person, self-stimulating behaviors such as arm-flapping, rocking their bodies back and forth, hair-twirling, shouting out words and phrases repetitively, walking and pacing in

"To be disabled in Nigeria is to be undesirable, unwelcomed, and unaccepted. It’s a lonely, scary, and isolated place." These were the heartbreaking tweets 1  of Mr. Debola Daniel  on X (formerly called Twitter). Debola Daniel, the son of a prominent Nigerian politician made this tweet after he was denied entry into a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant popularly known as KFC at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The reason?   Wheelchairs were not allowed into the rest

My peers and teachers, unfortunately, did not recognize that I was deep in thought while looking at them and thought I was staring at them to be uncomfortable or atypical. My self-advocacy skills were not there in junior high, so it was a combination of my lack of situational awareness and the others' lack of understanding. Fortunately, after many instances of reprimand, I learned not to stare and those criticisms decreased.

The community of people living with autism spectrum disorder faces challenges daily, ranging from social communication barriers to unexpected behaviors and executive functioning issues. Executive functioning issues mean difficulties with completing basic daily tasks, such as household chores and or maintaining a budget. Since autism presents cognitive challenges, these executive functioning challenges can be taught and worked on, or the person with autism needs to be supporte

Growing up as an autistic child, my diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder became official as a child and going into my teen years, I was learning about myself as I went along. The education and resources regarding the autism spectrum were not as progressed as it is today, so my support at the time aligned with that level of knowledge. While I received very good support services in my various Special Education programs in school, such as social skills courses, which were calle

For many individuals living on the autism spectrum, from children to teens to adults, social communication and interaction presents daily challenges. The effects of autism spectrum disorder are mainly impairing to the way members of the autistic community understand reciprocal conversation skills and recognizing non-verbal social cues, such as facial expressions, body language, and maintaining appropriate eye contact in a conversation. The delays in learning these skills caus

When I was a young child in the mid-to-late 1990s into the early 2000s, the prevalence of the autism spectrum was not as widely recognized as it is in the present. Therefore, when I was a toddler, my family, specifically my parents, did not possess the knowledge or expertise that they would learn as I aged. In an interview I conducted with my mother regarding my autism and the behaviors that came as a result, my mother elaborated on her observations from my very young years,

[W]ith more awareness over time, people who are neurotypical and other autistic people will develop more understanding of the behaviors...

At 29 years old, my interests span across various genres of music, including rock, rap, alternative, dance, electronic, and classic songs. An avid fan of professional wrestling, I developed this passion due to one of the effects of being on the autism spectrum, often referred to as a specialized area of interest. The major professional wrestling companies, such as the WWE and several others, capture my attention, and my interests have expanded to include TV sitcoms, both clas

For any high school or college student with a diagnosis of autism, interacting with educators can seem harder than it needs to be. I had a good support system to advocate for my services prior to my senior year of high school. I remember the day I was able to participate in one of  my Individualized Education Plan meetings with my father, Special Education teacher and other teachers to discuss my progress and what my academic future held. In that meeting, I signed a document

April is a very special month for people on the autism spectrum, because it is the month where the challenges and stigmas that they cope with everyday are given a showcase for awareness. There are many support groups and organizations throughout the world designed to increase understanding about this very complicated developmental disability, but even with that in mind, there are many out there that do not understand it yet. Therefore, it is a blessing that society has dedica