NorCal people: Does anyone know a home insurance broker who is good?

Beshear: Let me be clear. The president has both the funding and the authority to fund snap during a shutdown. In fact, every other president in every other shutdown has done so. People going hungry in this instance is a choice that this president has made.

Teen Vogue covered fashion and celebrity, but also took in-depth looks at politics and social justice issues. The union representing workers at Condé Nast said six staffers are losing their jobs. n.pr/47yP8Ct

Former vice president Dick Cheney has died, at 84, with the blood of millions on his hands. His legacy will far outlive him as the man responsible for wars that have killed and displaced millions abroad; and who worked diligently to lay the groundwork for fascist authoritarianism in the U.S.

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January 6, 2026, Noelle Cook’s ‘The Conspiracists: Women, Extremism, and the Lure of Belonging’ hits the stores! “Five years inside conspiracy culture — what draws people in, what it costs to leave…” Pre-order today at noellecook.com (new branding and design from yours truly) @noellecook.com

This is what I really worry about with #ProfoundAutism campaigns: "When parents believe 'profound' autism is a separate condition from “high functioning autism,” medical issues get overlooked, unaddressed—or written off as “behavior” or just “severe autism.” thinkingautismguide.com/2025/04/crea...

And as ever, please know that when we talk about best practices for being human, we are talking about towards ALL autistic people. My son may never work in an office, but he sure as hell knows when people are being mean or dismissive, even with "the little things." #autism #neurodiversity #autistic

And as ever, please know that when we talk about best practices for being human, we are talking about towards ALL autistic people. My son may never work in an office, but he sure as hell knows when people are being mean or dismissive, even with "the little things." #autism #neurodiversity #autistic

BREAKING: Judges order the federal government to use contingency funds for SNAP food aid payments during the shutdown.

#ProfoundAutism Grievance Parents: "Our autistic kids need to be separate and isolated! We need to prevent them from existing!" Autistic folks: "But your kids are here now? And we share traits with your kids. We can help you both? Grievance parents: "Nope, nope, we prefer to be miserable & angry."

I honestly believe that most parents who put their autistic kids in ABA therapy want to help their kids. But what they don't know (because how could most parents know?) is that they will be traumatizing their child by putting them in conversion therapy. SO PLEASE SHOUT IT LOUDER: #BetterWaysThanABA

What makes me saddest about autism grievance parents is why can't they just be kind about their autistic kids. Why can't they center their humanity. Why can't they focus on how unfair it is that there are so few & good supports for our kids to live good lives. Our kids deserve better—so much better.

Lia Smith, transgender student athlete at Middlebury College, died to suicide last week after being banned from participating in competition. A somber piece by @alyssaur.bsky.social describes how she's being remembered by her friends and family. www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...

When it comes to Halloween and autistic kids, parents need to be clear-headed, creative, and flexible, and prioritize our kids’ needs and stamina. So, if you’re in the market for Halloweening advice, let me dump some on your head, courtesy of personal experience, friends’ adventures, & the Internet.

Our families in the USA are more likely to be affected by the looming SNAP cuts, so please reply with your recommended local food banks or mutual aid societies so we can boost. (And/or donate to these places if you can, so they can use the funds to directly address specific needs.)

When it comes to Halloween and autistic kids, parents need to be clear-headed, creative, and flexible, and prioritize our kids’ needs and stamina. So, if you’re in the market for Halloweening advice, let me dump some on your head, courtesy of personal experience, friends’ adventures, & the Internet.

One of the many many reasons women like Trek is that women generally get to do things other than serve as window dressing!

😻😻😻CLEANSING THERMONUCLEAR FIRE IS CANCELED FOR THE EVENING! HUNGRY SQUEAKING KITTENS ARE FED AND LOVED AND WARM AND GOODNESS REMAINS IN THE WORLD!😻😻😻

What makes me saddest about autism grievance parents is why can't they just be kind about their autistic kids. Why can't they center their humanity. Why can't they focus on how unfair it is that there are so few & good supports for our kids to live good lives. Our kids deserve better—so much better.

I honestly believe that most parents who put their autistic kids in ABA therapy want to help their kids. But what they don't know (because how could most parents know?) is that they will be traumatizing their child by putting them in conversion therapy. SO PLEASE SHOUT IT LOUDER: #BetterWaysThanABA

No, ABA therapy is NOT the gold standard for supporting autistic children: “Those studies that report children making long-term gains in functioning are of middling scientific quality, casting doubt on the therapy’s status as an authoritative treatment.” thinkingautismguide.com/2025/03/when...

#ProfoundAutism Grievance Parents: "Our autistic kids need to be separate and isolated! We need to prevent them from existing!" Autistic folks: "But your kids are here now? And we share traits with your kids. We can help you both? Grievance parents: "Nope, nope, we prefer to be miserable & angry."

On burnout recovery: "If your autistic kid goes thru a bored-&-grumpy, then hyper-focused-on-screens/interests, then exhausted-from-doing-just-one-tiny-chore cycle post-stress, they may be way smarter & more tuned in to their neurological needs than I am, b/c it took me ~40 yrs to figure this out."

This is what I really worry about with #ProfoundAutism campaigns: "When parents believe 'profound' autism is a separate condition from “high functioning autism,” medical issues get overlooked, unaddressed—or written off as “behavior” or just “severe autism.” thinkingautismguide.com/2025/04/crea...

New fren at Palo Alto Baylands, where we saw ALL THE SHOREBIRDS today. We also saw a backhoe and a blimp!

Autism research already "suffered $31m in cuts to federal funding by May [2025], Gross said, and research on quality of life was already the most underfunded area of autism research." #autism #research #neurodiversity

"If you’re on BlueSky, consider calling on the admins to reinstate Łink. It’s petty and racist and racistly petty of them to ban this man while they let certain active bigots and parties guilty of actual felonies and war crimes maintain a presence there." @ejwillingham.bsky.social > TPGA newsletter.

On burnout recovery: "If your autistic kid goes thru a bored-&-grumpy, then hyper-focused-on-screens/interests, then exhausted-from-doing-just-one-tiny-chore cycle post-stress, they may be way smarter & more tuned in to their neurological needs than I am, b/c it took me ~40 yrs to figure this out."

New fren at Palo Alto Baylands, where we saw ALL THE SHOREBIRDS today. We also saw a backhoe and a blimp!

I find it amazing that many allistics who interact with Autistics regularly don't know that our behaviors are often due to sensory needs. When I was a kid, I would throw fits. Often they were due to my family playing loud music. I can't do loud music. But the focus was on my behavior, not theirs.

I've never seen a single skill taught to an autistic kid by an ABA therapist that required ABA therapy to be learned. Not one. I *have* seen many harms imposed upon autistic kids because ABA therapists considered autistic traits like sensory needs "behaviors," however. #BetterWaysThanABA #autism

Autistic-informed sex ed is ESPECIALLY important for autistic people with higher support needs. Anyone can learn to refuse actions and/or set boundaries, but too often people who need more support have their boundaries eroded or ignored, or framed as "behaviors." #autism #neurodiversity #autistic

"If you’re on BlueSky, consider calling on the admins to reinstate Łink. It’s petty and racist and racistly petty of them to ban this man while they let certain active bigots and parties guilty of actual felonies and war crimes maintain a presence there." @ejwillingham.bsky.social > TPGA newsletter.

Autism research already "suffered $31m in cuts to federal funding by May [2025], Gross said, and research on quality of life was already the most underfunded area of autism research." #autism #research #neurodiversity

I've never seen a single skill taught to an autistic kid by an ABA therapist that required ABA therapy to be learned. Not one. I *have* seen many harms imposed upon autistic kids because ABA therapists considered autistic traits like sensory needs "behaviors," however. #BetterWaysThanABA #autism

Parents need to understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their autistic child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them. www.squidalicious.com/2024/06/my-c... #autism #parenting #neurodiversity

Another bit from the same piece: Parents and caregivers of autistic children should be made clearly aware that the only thing pursuing an autism “cure” will do is make their families victims of a mercenary autism pseudoscience industry. #autism #neurodiversity

Parents need to understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their autistic child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them. www.squidalicious.com/2024/06/my-c... #autism #parenting #neurodiversity

Autistic-informed sex ed is ESPECIALLY important for autistic people with higher support needs. Anyone can learn to refuse actions and/or set boundaries, but too often people who need more support have their boundaries eroded or ignored, or framed as "behaviors." #autism #neurodiversity #autistic

Nobody ever wants to talk about or admit this but it happened.

"It’s essential that autistic people, regardless of age, have a way to communicate. Spoken words should not be valued above other methods, & AAC should never be taken away by parents, teachers, or caregivers. For many autistic people, using alternatives to speech is not a choice – it’s a lifeline."

To any pediatricians wondering how to encourage parents to vaccinate their kids, please start from the understanding that some parents have been scared sh**less by antivax media campaigns. So you need to be kind. You need to listen. Start there, and then you can still hold your ground. #VaccinesWork

"Maybe we can all just be a little weirder and relentless in our desire to authentically connect with each other. And maybe just that is enough to find our own meaning." #autism #neurodiversity #monotropism

"It’s essential that autistic people, regardless of age, have a way to communicate. Spoken words should not be valued above other methods, & AAC should never be taken away by parents, teachers, or caregivers. For many autistic people, using alternatives to speech is not a choice – it’s a lifeline."

"Maybe we can all just be a little weirder and relentless in our desire to authentically connect with each other. And maybe just that is enough to find our own meaning." #autism #neurodiversity #monotropism

"The man with the most power has expended enormous energy targeting those with the least." Grateful to Mamdani for speaking out specifically about trans rights and against the White House’s “scorched earth” hate campaign. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEvV... #TransRightsAreHumanRights

When she takes over CBS News, will Bari Weiss do what she has always done? Or will she do a totally different thing she has no expertise or interest in? www.vanityfair.com/news/story/b...

Special education isn't a "nice thing to have." It isn't "charity" or doing something to make us feel better. It is a right. The right to a Free Appropriate Public Education is codified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, signed by a Republican president.

Last call! Our "Reproduction Causes Autism" tees campaign ends tonight at midnight ET/9 PM PT. Thanks to all who have supported so far.