Open Society

Social and economic integration are not experienced equally by all. For autistic people in particular, there are barriers that actively…

Trusting my instincts and facing my fear of time revealed what every autistic person needs to know.

Background: Literature indicates that mental health of autistic individuals is substantially poorer than that of the general population. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, which contribute to high suicide rates, feature prominently in research. Few studies, however, have considered the lived experience of mental health across the lifespan, which includes the experience of positive mental health. This research investigated the lived experience of mental health of autistic adults. Method: We used reflexive thematic analysis, underpinned by a coproduction framework, to explore mental health experiences. Through coproduction with a steering group of autistic adults to inform the questions, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 Australian autistic adults, diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood. Results: The thematic analysis identified four main themes, including discovering autistic identity, body and mind, connections to family and community, and choice and control. Participants reported highly heterogenous life experiences, with intense experiences of mental health, both positive and negative. All participants experienced mental health challenges, and most had experienced a diagnosed mental illness. Protective factors that mitigated against mental illness included supportive environments, relationships, and positive societal attitudes. Conclusion: While some of the themes are universal, some of the subthemes, such as the significance of sensory input and adaptive morphing to hide autistic traits, do not feature in non-autistic mental health literature. These factors, which frequently interrelate, may be overlooked by mental health care providers. The findings of this research emphasize that in order to support positive mental health outcomes, there is a strong need for therapies and disability supports to be targeted and tailor-made to the individual.

In this article, I critique media narratives about ‘ADHD superpowers’ that have become particularly prominent in recent times as awareness-raising activities have gained traction in social as well ...

Many teachers believe that analyzing student assessment data can improve performance, but the research suggests otherwise, writes Heather C. Hill.

The search engine that kept up at the speed of blogging created a “search war” with Google. But eventually, the speed of blogging just wasn’t fast enough.

Posts about enshittification written by Karl Bode and Mike Masnick

These days, everyone hates big tech, and that’s often for very good reasons. You shouldn’t trust giant centralized companies that have collected a ridiculous amount of data on you. There are few re…

'I no longer try to mask my autism; I now work to support my autism'It is a myth that autistic children grow into 'less autistic' adults. In fact, many autistic adults feel more overwhelmed as they age as the stresses of social demands such as relationships, parenting, or the work environment increase.Niamh Garvey offe

This massive sensory processing disorder checklist breaks down sensory behaviors as over-reactions or under-reactions to sensory input.

The following list includes a sampling of assorted occupational therapy sensory-related assessment tools and checklists appropriate for use with adolescent and adult populations. Please note that therapeutic assessments, informational handouts, and worksheets sometimes need to be adapted for an individual’s cognitive ability, otherwise frustration and/or misinterpretation may occur. The following are several examples of some of the different types of sensory-related tools available for use with adolescents and adults: Catana Brown, PhD, OTR, FAOTA and Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA developed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile. This valuable standardized assessment tool is most appropriate for use with individuals functioning within the Allen Cognitive Level 5 ranges. It is available through Pearson. The Sensory Integration Inventory – Revised, for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities is a screening tool developed by Judith E. Reisman, PhD, OTR, FAOTA and Bonnie Hanschu, OTR. This Inventory is categorized into four areas: tactile, vestibular, proprioception, and general reactions. This […]

I hate that the "social media is bad for teens" myth will not die. In this little rant, I tackle one part of this puzzle: the obsession with "harms" (thanks lawyers) and the implications of not thinking through how to respond coherently to risks.

The Greek word “apokalypsis” (ἀποκάλυψις), which we tend to translate “apocalypse,” literally means an unveiling or a revealing—hence why we call the last book of the New Testament “Revelation” in English.

"I harbored guilt over not being happy about growing up in the end times."

A high school social studies teacher describes a classroom simulation where students experience the effects of decades of racist federal housing policies.

First graders learn about accessibility and empathy through constructing emergency signals.

Finding ways to engage AAC learners is important to professionals across disciplines and service delivery settings. In today’s post, we feature guest author Kate McLaughlin, who is an SLP ser…

My feeling is that we have been thinking neurodivergence all wrong. We see that there are these differences in cognitive style, differences defined in terms of attention and competence. We vacillate between ability and disability, personal strengths and societal weakness. We wonder: why the overl

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TLDR; Energy The super short story: A written walk-through of all the Autism Level UP! tools and ways of thinking about supporting regulation for yourself or others. Designed with Autistic and Neurodivergent people in mind, but perfectly suitable for all neurotypes! A bit more:The term “regulation” is tossed around a lot today (and maybe regulation likes or requires that kind of sensory input…), especially in the form of “emotional regulation.” How does Autism Level UP! conceptualize regulation? We think about ENERGY and energy regulation. Where is your energy right now? Where do you want it to be for whatever it is you are doing (reading a manual, perhaps)? Do those two answers line up? If so, you are well regulated. Are those two answers different? You might be dysregulated and need some kind of tool or strategy to make a match. We find this to be a more realistic, authentic and affirming method for thinking about regulation than tying it to socially constructed emotions. This manual will teach you how we think about ENERGY, and how you can use it for yourself or to support others through the introduction of our tools, worksheets and ways of thinking. We offer ideas on how to introduce the concept to people with wide ranging neurotypes and communication profiles as well as how to ensure a fair and equitable partnership develops in which the burden of change and growth is on both the person and the partner. We hope you enjoy this choose your own adventure journey and where ever you end up, you have taken another step in leveling UP!

A pdf of the book ABA: The troubling history & legacy of today's most popular autism therapy. Not configured for e-readers. Contains hyperlinks to all references. E-book also available on this site.

A written walk-through of all the Autism Level UP! tools and ways of thinking about supporting regulation for yourself or others. Designed with Autistic and Neurodivergent people in mind, but perfectly suitable for all neurotypes!

Discussing AAC in its broadest terms and how it can support both non-speaking and speaking autistics.

Explore millions of resources from scholarly journals, books, newspapers, videos and more, on the ProQuest Platform.

Week in and week out, there are a litany of stories that, if I were paying attention to education technology, would prompt me to say “I told you so.” Why look, just in the last few days: coding boo...

This paper offers an overview of the philosophical work on epistemic injustices as it relates to psychiatry. After describing the development of epistemic injustice studies, we survey the existing...

Autistic voices lead a global cultural revolution in understanding and inclusivity at the Cultural Autism Studies at Yale.

Autistic and ADHD people are more likely to be monotropic than the rest of the population. This means they focus more energy and resources on fewer interests/tasks/ sensory input at any one time compared to non-autistic polytropic people.