Did you know that most self-identifying autistic adults actually want a diagnosis? Diagnosis barriers(financial, waitlists, outdated criteria, diagnosis deserts) are the real issue. Yet another reason why scoffing at self-diagnosed autistic is an a**hole move. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

President Trump cannot erase us, no matter how hard he tries. We have always persisted and we always will.

I've avoided writing about The Telepathy Tapes. But with the recent appointment of 3 non-speakers to the IACC, it's time to take on facts & fallacies about autistic AAC users—and the nasty habit journalists have of questioning their communication, instead of the agendas ensnaring & tokenizing them.

For months, people have asked me about the popular Telepathy Tapes podcast, and its premise of non-speaking autistics reading minds. And I’m here to tell you: The Telepathy Tapes is a hot, complicated mess—but not for the reasons you may think. At TPGA: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/02/the-...

In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting Instagram accounts that enlighten and inform about the Black neurodivergent and disabled experience. From @ejwillingham.bsky.social, in the latest TPGA newsletter: buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autistic #neurodiversity #BlackHistory

Please: We need to help caregivers understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them. Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers #autism #parenting

"Being in crisis is not the same as being a failure. Nor is it a personal failure to admit you and your child need help. So we need to work past fear and misinformation, and get educated about what our support options are." At TPGA: thinkingautismguide.com/2019/05/pare... #autism #parenting

Today in Hell Yes, Research! A new study suggests NO link between Covid exposure during pregnancy and having an autistic child. This, and more Autism Information You Need to Know, from @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the latest TPGA newsletter: buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity

"I was carried face down […] by my cuffed arms and legs while yelling that I had a brain injury and was disabled. I now cannot lift my arms normally. I was never asked for ID. Never told I was under arrest. Never read my rights and never charged with a crime." -Aliya Rahman youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...

Medicaid matters because it "enables me to oversee my own caregivers—including friends and other people I trust. That control matters deeply. It means I am not just receiving care; I am directing my life." -Marisa Conners with @communicationfirst.bsky.social: communicationfirst.org/medicaid-the...

Autism, race, culture, and systemic bias: "The average age of diagnosis for individuals with autism remains about 4 years old. This is especially true for children from traditionally underserved communities, although this gap has narrowed in recent years." www.vanderbilt.edu/autismandinn... #autism

Today in Hell Yes, Research: It's not that there are fewer autistic girls/AFAB people/women. It's that they present differently than boys/AMAB peeps/men, so there's a "catch up" diagnosis increase/rebalancing during & after adolescence: www.independent.co.uk/news/health/... #autism #neurodiversity

How are you spending your Superb Owl afternoon? #superbowl [image: two men on a hilly green trail looking at a black cow and her calf.]

Have you ever caught yourself or someone else casually using the R-word? It might seem harmless, but it’s far from it. The R-word is loaded with hurt, discrimination, & a painful history. Here’s why it’s time we ditched it for good, from @thearcus.bsky.social: thearc.org/blog/the-r-w... #disability

"While leucovorin is generally well-tolerated when used for chemotherapy, it isn’t risk-free either. […] it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and alopecia. And there’s at least the possibility that it could have more serious complications when used long-term for autism." gizmodo.com/what-rfk-jr-...

How can we make schools more sensory-inclusive? Some ideas: Providing flexible access to low-sensory spaces, such as rooms or dens; improving lighting and sound absorption, plus "sensory-inclusive design should be considered when new schools are being built." theconversation.com/schools-aren...

"It’s as though Kennedy opened a long-sealed Pandora’s box labeled “Antivaxxers & other perils to autistic people” and released all of the little demons contained therein. Hope lies at the bottom, awaiting resuscitation, one presumes." From @ejwillingham.bsky.social: buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...

Autistic people often process information differently, and grief is no exception. We have tips for navigating grief as an autistic person, in a new article by @martinemussies.bsky.social on how she is handling the death of her cat, at TPGA. thinkingautismguide.com/2026/02/the-... #autism #grief

As we mourn the murders of autistic teens Otis and Leon Clune at the hands of their parents, we are forced to again state that however difficult it may be for families to support their disabled loved ones, murder is never excusable. There are always other options. Always. tinyurl.com/NoExcusesTPGA

Help us by accepting us. Help us by taking us seriously, however we communicate our needs and wants. #SeeUsAsWeAre #AutisticsAreFullHumanBeings

Please: We need to help caregivers understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them. Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers #autism #parenting

Today in Ableism Obstructing Autistic People's Health Care: "It’s become increasingly normal for health professionals to challenge my autism diagnosis, sometimes seconds after I’ve sat down in front of them." By @elsawilliams.bsky.social: medium.com/@elsalwillia... #autism #neurodiversity #autistic

Echolalia may help autistic & non-autistic kids learn language, & almost all autistic kids & youth may engage in it. But when people see echolalia as a repetitive behavior—not as communication—they may miss connection opportunities. By @drstevenkapp.bsky.social: www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...

Today in Hell Yes, Research! A new study suggests NO link between Covid exposure during pregnancy and having an autistic child. This, and more Autism Information You Need to Know, from @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the latest TPGA newsletter: buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity

This is an absolutely delightful story by @slooterman.bsky.social about the older gay hockey fans who love Heated Rivalry. 19thnews.org/2026/02/heat...

"I was carried face down […] by my cuffed arms and legs while yelling that I had a brain injury and was disabled. I now cannot lift my arms normally. I was never asked for ID. Never told I was under arrest. Never read my rights and never charged with a crime." -Aliya Rahman youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...

It’s not just that the cruelty is the point—it’s that cruelty towards children, disabled people, and the most vulnerable in society is the point. The point is to utterly destroy all social infrastructure and its moral underpinnings so that we have no one to turn to and can be more easily exploited.

Welcome to the premiere spot for public health, the United States of America, where measles is back, COVID never left, & they're trying to use lard as a cure for schizophrenia.

Black autistic women live at the intersection of racism and ableism. We don’t lack courage to unmask we lack safety. And that truth needs to be said out loud.

"People misread our joy, our discomfort, our boundaries, then demand our children perform 'clear communication' on command." @lovettejallow.bsky.social describes the specific pressures on Black non-speaking autistic children and their families. #autism #BlackAndAutistic #neurodiversity

"It is not rare for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder to intersect with autism or ADHD. […] Distinguishing between OCD, Autism, & ADHD isn’t just an academic exercise. It’s a vital step in providing the right support for each individual." -Dr. Megan Anna Neff: neurodivergentinsights.com/obsessive-co...

Today in Hell Yes, Research: It's not that there are fewer autistic girls/AFAB people/women. It's that they present differently than boys/AMAB peeps/men, so there's a "catch up" diagnosis increase/rebalancing during & after adolescence: www.independent.co.uk/news/health/... #autism #neurodiversity

"It’s as though Kennedy opened a long-sealed Pandora’s box labeled “Antivaxxers & other perils to autistic people” and released all of the little demons contained therein. Hope lies at the bottom, awaiting resuscitation, one presumes." From @ejwillingham.bsky.social: buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...

Have you ever caught yourself or someone else casually using the R-word? It might seem harmless, but it’s far from it. The R-word is loaded with hurt, discrimination, & a painful history. Here’s why it’s time we ditched it for good, from @thearcus.bsky.social: thearc.org/blog/the-r-w... #disability

As we mourn the murders of autistic teens Otis and Leon Clune at the hands of their parents, we are forced to again state that however difficult it may be for families to support their disabled loved ones, murder is never excusable. There are always other options. Always. tinyurl.com/NoExcusesTPGA

Happy Black History Month from ASAN! Take some time this month to learn about Black history, especially Black disabled history that is often erased.

"Es como si Kennedy hubiese abierto una caja de Pandora sellada hace tiempo con la etiqueta "antivacunas y otros riesgos para las personas autistas" y liberase todos los demonios contenidos en su interior. Uno presume que la esperanza yace en el fondo, esperando la reanimación."

Today in yet another absurd 'cause' of autism: "Do we not have eleventy billion actual reasons to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke without dragging autism into it? Yes, yes we do." From @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the latest TPGA newsletter: buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity

“Until we fix this injustice, IEP meetings are going to be contentious. Schools protect themselves, & parents protect their children. It is hard to get over that hump—even though a collaborative approach is what’s best for the child.” @katiepryal.bsky.social: katieroseguestpryal.com/2026/02/02/w...

Today in Ableism Obstructing Autistic People's Health Care: "It’s become increasingly normal for health professionals to challenge my autism diagnosis, sometimes seconds after I’ve sat down in front of them." By @elsawilliams.bsky.social: medium.com/@elsalwillia... #autism #neurodiversity #autistic

Echolalia may help autistic & non-autistic kids learn language, & almost all autistic kids & youth may engage in it. But when people see echolalia as a repetitive behavior—not as communication—they may miss connection opportunities. By @drstevenkapp.bsky.social: www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...

“This IACC is illegitimate and does not represent our community. We do not trust it. We think no one should trust it. ASAN @autisticadvocacy.org will work to hold the government accountable and spread accurate and science-backed information.” autisticadvocacy.org/2026/02/asan... #autism

One of autism's truths is that autistic people's support needs are all over the place—which is one of the many reasons why labels like "high-" and "low functioning" are not useful. For those seeking community, you may find it in spaces like Reddit's r/SpicyAutism: www.reddit.com/r/SpicyAutism/

"People misread our joy, our discomfort, our boundaries, then demand our children perform 'clear communication' on command." @lovettejallow.bsky.social describes the specific pressures on Black non-speaking autistic children and their families. #autism #BlackAndAutistic #neurodiversity

Another ABA therapy sticking point: "Conditioning a child to 'play right' may look harmless in the short term. But the message it sends is 'your way is wrong; our way is correct.' This becomes a lifelong wound." From @endseclusion.bsky.social: endseclusion.org/2025/10/31/t... #BetterWaysThanABA

Today in platforming grifters: Bari Weiss announced CBS's hiring of Dr. Mark Hyman, who has claimed that cod liver oil can treat autism—& that conditions like Alzheimer’s can be reversed with the kind of nutritional supplements he also sells at his online store. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

"It is not rare for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder to intersect with autism or ADHD. […] Distinguishing between OCD, Autism, & ADHD isn’t just an academic exercise. It’s a vital step in providing the right support for each individual." -Dr. Megan Anna Neff: neurodivergentinsights.com/obsessive-co...

Ableism is a real thing, but so is being so overly concerned about it that you flip back around to infantilizing and abandoning the people you purport to want to help. Reject the framing that if anything and everything is a "trigger", then the only acceptable action is to be passive

I paid for a private diagnosis “gold standard (ADI and ADOS)” with a thorough ‘psychiatric assessment’ I got a single interview with an MSc student whose report was riddled with errors (eg wrong medication and gender) - hearsay relied on by a GP with no psychiatric/autism expertise. Help!