As I mentioned in a recent podcast, I\u2019m trying to engage more online and, once the pandemic passes, I hope to return to public speaking. (Virtual appearances are always an option, if your organization would like to hear my perspectives.)<\/p>\n
Some autistics are actively engaged in activism, with large numbers of social media followers.<\/p>\n
For years I wanted to focus on my other interests. I still care a lot about those interests. However, I realize that if I am not a self-advocate and an advocate for others, then nothing will change.<\/p>\n
My autistic traits disadvantaged me in school and at work. I blamed myself and I kept wanting to change. Year after year, I kept chasing my various goals and ambitions, only to be tripped up on The Autistic Me<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Nothing I have accomplished has been done alone.<\/strong> Susan, my wife, and many others have helped me when failure was imminent. Too often, failure proved unavoidable.<\/p>\n But, I never turned to other autistics for support or advocacy.<\/p>\n I am only loosely part of the \u201cautistic community\u201d in that I am a blogger an podcaster. I\u2019m not close to any autistic individuals, though many are acquaintances. As I\u2019ve written before, I\u2019m not close to many people, so it shouldn\u2019t be surprising that I\u2019ve rarely aligned myself with autistics.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, I haven\u2019t felt comfortable among autistics, online or in person. I feel alien among classmates and coworkers; I also feel alien among autistics.<\/p>\n The Autistic Me Podcast<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0has connected me more directly with other autistics. Those connections suggest to me that I can and should try to collaborate with more individuals in the autistic community.<\/p>\n I always fear rejection. Curiously enough, I fear rejection by the autistic community, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n Disagreements in the autism community are heated. I\u2019ve watched as online communities quickly turn on a person outside the orthodoxy. It\u2019s clear that I am often outside the orthodoxy.<\/p>\n Susan and I, as foster-adopt parents, had to follow the policies and procedures of various agencies. We received training on various therapeutic parenting techniques. Some (most) were absurd or potentially harmful. Others approaches seem potentially beneficial. Any discussion of therapies and parenting will offend someone.<\/p>\n Parenting also leads me to consider what the world is like versus how I wish it to be. I\u2019m old, and jaded. At 52, I have to function in the now, not how things might be in 25 years when in my late 70s.<\/p>\n Our girls have to survive now, too. They need to get through school as it is, while my wife and I do our best to advocate for changes in education.<\/p>\n The blog and podcast let me engage with others from the outside. It is often safer on the outside, or on the edge. I prefer to stand in a corner and observe people in a room. I\u2019m the same online. Watching and listening, you can learn a lot.<\/p>\n Since 2007, The Autistic Me<\/strong><\/em> has built a loyal blog readership\u00a0and social media following. I launched The Autistic Me Podcast<\/strong><\/em> in 2018 to reach\u00a0a larger audience. Episodes now appear on every major streaming and podcast\u00a0service.<\/p>\n In the last few weeks, the podcast has reached nearly 23,000 people. I realize that\u2019s a small audience for a podcast, yet it is the largest audience I\u2019m likely to have as an autism advocate.<\/p>\n The Autistic Me Podcast<\/strong><\/em> features Neurodiverse individuals\u00a0speaking about their experiences and their identities including and beyond\u00a0autism. Episodes focus on our voices, our experiences, and our identities as\u00a0individuals. The Autistic Me<\/strong><\/em> blog and podcast address the needs of all Neurodiverse\u00a0individuals. As the father of two young Neurodiverse daughters, I understand we It is going to take a lot of effort to reach out to other autistics, yet I need them as collaborators. I cannot make the podcast a success without their help. I admit that I need a community. We all do.<\/p>\n The Autistic Me<\/strong>:<\/p>\n As I mentioned in a recent podcast, I\u2019m trying to engage more online and, once the pandemic passes, I hope to return to public speaking. (Virtual appearances are always an option, if your organization would like to hear my perspectives.) Some autistics are actively engaged in activism, with large numbers…<\/p>\n
\nmust discuss the lived experiences and needs of all ages and all abilities.<\/p>\n\n