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WeBearish Blog

Perspectives on
acceptance.

Articles on autism acceptance, language, advocacy, and community, written for families, by people who care about getting it right.

Featured
Adults

Housing for Autistic Adults: A Parent's Guide to Supported and Independent Living

Housing for autistic adults is not one model. A parent's guide to supported living, shared and group homes, and independent living, how Medicaid waivers, SSI, housing vouchers, and ABLE accounts fit together, and how to plan early with your young adult at the center.

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Sensory

Sensory-Friendly Clothing for Babies and Toddlers

Some babies and toddlers feel every tag, seam, and waistband. What to look for in sensory-friendly b…

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Advocacy

What Is a BCBA? What Parents Should Know Before Saying Yes

A BCBA is often the first professional a family meets after an autism diagnosis. What the credential…

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Communication

What Partially Verbal Means for Autistic People

Partially verbal describes speech that is real but limited, unreliable, or situational: a few words …

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Wellbeing

Autism and the Daylight Saving Time Change: A Parent Guide

A gentle, practical guide to helping autistic kids and adults through the fall clock change on Novem…

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Understanding Autism

What Is AuDHD? When Autism and ADHD Occur Together

A clear, affirming explainer on AuDHD: what the term means, how common it is according to research, …

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Understanding Autism

What Is Autistic Masking, and Why Does It Matter?

A clear, respectful explainer on autistic masking: what it is, what it looks like day to day, why au…

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Diagnosis

The Complete Guide to a New Autism Diagnosis: A Parent's Roadmap

A calm, definitive roadmap for parents right after a new autism diagnosis: what the diagnosis actual…

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Understanding Autism

Autism Explained: Signs, Strengths, Myths, and How to Support Autistic Kids

A plain-language, definitive explainer on autism: what it actually is, the real signs across communi…

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Sensory

A Sensory-Friendly Guide to the Holiday Season

A warm, sense-by-sense guide to a sensory-friendly holiday season for autistic kids, covering light,…

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Wellbeing

Autistic Burnout After Back to School: How to Spot It Early

A practical, autistic-led guide to spotting autistic burnout early once the school year starts, how …

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Sensory

A Sensory-Friendly Halloween

A warm, practical guide to a sensory-friendly Halloween with autistic kids, covering costume comfort…

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Resources

How to Choose a Free AAC App or Device for a Nonspeaking Child

A practical, no-pressure guide to choosing a free AAC app or device for a nonspeaking or minimally s…

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Resources

Back to School, Autistic and Thriving: An IEP and Sensory-Prep Playbook

A concrete, autistic-led playbook for the new school year, covering how to get an IEP or 504 ready, …

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Advocacy

Why Autistic Voices Belong at the Center of Every Autism Conversation

Autism conversations have been led by everyone except autistic people for far too long. Here is why …

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Resources

Back to School With an Autistic Child: A Calm, Practical Prep Guide

A warm, parent-to-parent guide to preparing an autistic child for the new school year, with real ste…

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Wellbeing

Autistic Burnout: What It Actually Is, and How Recovery Really Works

Autistic burnout isn't ordinary tiredness, it's a real physiological state caused by years of maskin…

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Communication

Presuming Competence: Why Non-Speaking Autistic People Are Not Not-Thinking

Not speaking is not the same as not thinking. A look at AAC, motor planning, and what it really mean…

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Sensory

Interoception: The Hidden Sense That Explains So Much About Autism

Interoception, the sense of what's happening inside your own body, often works differently for autis…

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Understanding Autism

PDA: When Everyday Demands Feel Impossible (and What Actually Helps)

PDA isn't stubbornness, it's a nervous system that reads ordinary demands as threats. Here's why com…

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Resources

Autism-Friendly Holidays: Surviving Big Family Gatherings With Your Sanity Intact

Holiday gatherings strip away the structure autistic people rely on. A practical, honest guide to pl…

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Acceptance

Autistic Joy: The Part of the Story We Almost Never Tell

Autism content rarely talks about joy. This is the other half of the story, special interests, stimm…

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Adults

From Autistic Teen to Autistic Adult: Preparing for the Transition Nobody Prepares You For

Support often disappears right when an autistic teen becomes an autistic adult. Here's what the tran…

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Community

Explaining Your Child's Autism to Grandparents and Extended Family

How to explain your autistic child to grandparents and extended family in a way that replaces outdat…

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Autism Acceptance & Advocacy

Spring Break With an Autistic Child: What Works, What Doesn't, and What Nobody Tells You

Spring break is hard for a specific reason most parenting content never names: it's not a break from…

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Workplace

Neurodiversity at Work 2026: Reasonable Accommodations and Rights

What employees and employers need to know about accommodations, disclosure, and building inclusive w…

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Advocacy

Autism Acceptance Month 2026: What It Means and Why It Matters

April is Autism Acceptance Month in the US. Here is what that means and why the framing matters.…

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Advocacy

April Is Autism Acceptance Month. Not Awareness Month. Here Is Why It Matters.

The shift from awareness to acceptance is not just semantics. It changes what we are actually asking…

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Personal

What Getting a Late Autism Diagnosis Actually Feels Like

Thousands of adults are receiving autism diagnoses in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. Here is what that …

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Acceptance

Awareness Is Not Acceptance, And the Difference Matters More Than You Think

For years, the autism community has been given awareness. Blue lights. Awareness months. Puzzle piec…

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Community

What Happened at Bouncy World, And Why It Mattered

On April 7, 2024, WeBearish hosted an Autism Acceptance Week event. Here is what it looked like, and…

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Resources

The Words We Use Around Autism, What Helps and What Hurts

Language is not just communication. It shapes how we think. And the words most commonly used around …

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Advocacy

The ABA Debate: What Parents of Autistic Children Need to Know

Applied Behavior Analysis is the most widely covered autism therapy in the US. It is also one of the…

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Acceptance

What Is Neurodiversity, And Why It Changes Everything

Neurodiversity is not a buzzword. It is a framework that shifts autism from a disorder to be fixed i…

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Resources

Sensory Processing: What It Actually Feels Like From the Inside

Most people understand that autistic individuals can be sensitive to sensory input. Fewer understand…

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Advocacy

How to Talk to Your Child's School About Autism Acceptance

Navigating schools as an autism parent requires strategy, documentation, and knowing your rights. He…

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Resources

Stimming: What It Is, Why It Happens, and Why You Should Leave It Alone

Stimming is one of the most commonly misunderstood autistic behaviors. It is also one of the most im…

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Resources

Meltdowns vs. Tantrums: They Are Not the Same Thing

Parents of autistic children know the difference. But the rest of the world often does not, and the …

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Community

Finding Your Community as an Autism Parent

The isolation of raising an autistic child in a world that does not understand them is real. Finding…

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Acceptance

The History of Autism: From Pathology to Pride

The understanding of autism has changed dramatically over the last 80 years. Understanding that hist…

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Acceptance

What Autistic Adults Wish People Knew About Their Childhood

The most important voices in autism advocacy are often the quietest in the room: autistic adults ref…

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Resources

Sensory-Friendly Spaces: What They Are and How to Create Them

A sensory-friendly space is not a special room in a building. It is a set of choices about design, n…

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Acceptance

The Puzzle Piece Symbol: Why the Autism Community Moved On

The puzzle piece has been the symbol of autism for over 50 years. It is also one of the most contest…

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Advocacy

How Schools Are Getting Autism Wrong, And What Would Actually Help

Despite decades of inclusion policy, most public schools are still fundamentally designed for neurot…

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Resources

Why Your Autistic Child May Not Look Autistic to You

Many parents are told their child cannot be autistic because they make eye contact, or have friends,…

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Acceptance

Masking: The Hidden Cost of Fitting In

Masking, suppressing autistic traits to appear neurotypical, is one of the most damaging and least d…

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Resources

Co-occurring Conditions: Autism and ADHD, Anxiety, and More

Autism rarely arrives alone. Understanding the conditions that frequently co-occur with autism helps…

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Resources

Building a Sensory-Friendly Home Without Breaking the Bank

You do not need to renovate. Here are the practical, affordable changes that make a real difference …

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Acceptance

The Double Empathy Problem: Rethinking Social Difficulties in Autism

For decades, autism was defined by its social deficits. A 2012 theory turned that understanding insi…

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Advocacy

Why Autistic Girls Are Diagnosed Later, And Why That Matters

The diagnostic criteria for autism were developed primarily from studies of autistic boys. The resul…

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Acceptance

Special Interests: Not a Symptom, a Superpower

The intense, specific interests that many autistic people develop are often treated as something to …

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Community

How to Talk to Other Kids About a Sibling's Autism

Siblings of autistic children have their own set of experiences, questions, and needs. Here is how t…

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Resources

Navigating the Healthcare System as an Autism Family

From diagnosis to ongoing care, the healthcare system is difficult to navigate for autism families. …

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Resources

What Autism Looks Like at Different Ages

Autism does not look the same at two as it does at twelve or twenty-five. Understanding how autistic…

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Community

Building a Support Network When You Feel Completely Alone

The isolation of autism parenting is real. Here is how to build a network that actually sustains you…

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Community

The First Year After Diagnosis: What No One Tells You

Getting an autism diagnosis for your child is the beginning of a journey that is nothing like you ex…

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Resources

ABA Therapy: What Parents Need to Know Before Saying Yes

Applied Behavior Analysis is the most commonly recommended autism therapy, and the most contested. H…

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Acceptance

What Is Masking? The Invisible Work Autistic People Do Every Day

Masking is when autistic people suppress their natural behaviors to appear neurotypical. It works, u…

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Community

Getting Diagnosed With Autism as an Adult: What Happens Next

Thousands of people are diagnosed with autism as adults, in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. The rel…

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Resources

Sensory Overload: A Survival Guide for Parents and Autistic People

Sensory overload is not a tantrum. It is not a behavior problem. It is a neurological event. Here is…

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Resources

How to Walk Into an IEP Meeting and Not Get Steamrolled

The IEP process is designed to advocate for your child, but it only works if you know how it works. …

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Advocacy

Why Autism in Girls and Women Is Chronically Underdiagnosed

The diagnostic criteria for autism were developed studying white boys. Girls, women, and people assi…

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Advocacy

Parents Push for ABA Paraprofessionals at Clark County Schools, What It Means

A parent-driven bill aimed at adding ABA paraprofessionals at CCSD for students on the spectrum is a…

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Acceptance

The Neurodiversity Movement: Where It Came From and Where It Is Going

Neurodiversity is not a buzzword. It is a framework with a history, a community, and a body of resea…

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Acceptance

Acceptance vs. Awareness: What the Difference Actually Looks Like in Practice

Everyone talks about the difference between autism awareness and autism acceptance. Here is what tha…

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Acceptance

Stimming: What It Is, Why Autistic People Do It, and Why You Should Leave It Alone

Stimming, repetitive movements and sounds, is a natural self-regulatory behavior. Here is the scienc…

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Community

How to Find Your People: Building Community as a Parent of an Autistic Child

Parenting an autistic child can be isolating. The right community changes everything. Here is where …

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Advocacy

Autism in Black Families: The Diagnosis Gap No One Talks About Enough

Black children are diagnosed with autism later, less often, and with more misdiagnoses than white ch…

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Resources

Designing an Autism-Friendly Home: Small Changes, Real Difference

You do not need to renovate. You need to pay attention. Here are practical, affordable changes that …

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Wellbeing

Autistic Burnout: What It Is, What Causes It, and How Recovery Actually Works

Autistic burnout is not regular exhaustion. It is a collapse of the systems autistic people build to…

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Understanding Autism

PDA Autism Profile: What It Is and Why Standard Strategies Backfire

PDA is a nervous-system-driven need to avoid demands. Understanding it changes everything about how …

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School Rights

How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting and Actually Get What Your Child Needs

IEP meetings feel designed to overwhelm parents. They are not, but they are complex. Here is how to …

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Communication

AAC Does Not Prevent Speech Development. The Research Is Clear.

One of the most persistent myths in autism parenting: that using AAC will stop a child from developi…

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Family

How to Tell Family About an Autism Diagnosis

Telling family about an autism diagnosis is complicated. Different relationships, different reaction…

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Acceptance

The Neurodiversity Movement: What It Is, Where It Came From, and Why It Matters

Neurodiversity is not a buzzword. It is a paradigm shift in how we understand neurological differenc…

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Adults

Autism in the Workplace: Rights, Disclosure, and What Actually Helps

Autistic adults face significant employment barriers. ADA rights, disclosure decisions, accommodatio…

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Wellbeing

Autism and Anxiety: Why They Travel Together and What Helps

Anxiety is the most common co-occurring condition in autism. Understanding why helps parents and aut…

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Communication

What Is Echolalia and What Does It Mean for Your Child

Echolalia is not meaningless repetition. It is a form of communication that contains information, se…

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Understanding Autism

Why Autism Is Diagnosed Later in Girls, and What Gets Missed in the Meantime

Girls are diagnosed with autism years later than boys on average. Here is what gets missed, what the…

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School Rights

How to Talk to Your Child's Teacher About Autism

The start of each school year brings the same conversation. How to have it well, what to share, what…

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Wellbeing

Autism and Sleep: Why It's Hard and What Actually Helps

Sleep problems affect the majority of autistic people. The reasons are neurological, sensory, and re…

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Sensory

What Is a Sensory Diet and How Do You Build One

A sensory diet is not about food. It is a personalized schedule of sensory activities that help an a…

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Tools

Social Stories: What They Are and How to Use Them

Social stories are short, personalized narratives that prepare autistic people for specific situatio…

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School Rights

Teaching Self-Advocacy to Autistic Teenagers

Self-advocacy is the skill that connects everything else. How to build it, what it looks like in pra…

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Wellbeing

Autism and Selective Eating: What Parents Need to Know

Selective eating in autistic children is sensory-based, not behavioral. Understanding the difference…

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Diagnosis

Getting an Autism Diagnosis as an Adult: What to Expect

More adults are seeking autism diagnoses than ever. The path is not straightforward. Here is what to…

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Acceptance

Strengths-Based Autism: What It Means and Why It Is Not Just Positivity

Strengths-based approaches to autism are not about ignoring challenges. They are about building supp…

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Family

What Not to Say to Autism Parents (And What to Say Instead)

Well-meaning words can land badly. A direct guide to what helps and what does not, from parents who …

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Acceptance

Autism and Identity: How Autistic People Find and Build Self-Understanding

For many autistic people, autism is not something that happened to their identity. It is part of it.…

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School Rights

How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting: What to Bring, What to Ask, and How to Advocate Without Burning Bridges

IEP meetings can feel like a wall of professionals and jargon. Here is a practical, parent-focused g…

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Wellbeing

Sleep and Autism: Why So Many Autistic Children Struggle to Sleep and What Actually Helps

Sleep problems are among the most common challenges autistic families face. Here is what the researc…

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Community

Finding Your Community When You Feel Completely Alone: Online Spaces for Autistic People and Autism Families

The isolation that comes with being autistic, or raising an autistic child, is real and serious. Onl…

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Communication

What Is Echolalia and Why It Matters: Understanding This Form of Communication

Echolalia, repeating words and phrases from other sources, is one of the most misunderstood aspects …

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Acceptance

Why Identity-First Language Matters in Tech

How the tech industry's language around disability shapes hiring, product design, and workplace cult…

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Community

Building Sensory-Friendly Workspaces: A Practical Guide

Sensory-friendly workspace design goes far beyond quiet rooms. Here's a practical guide to systemic …

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Acceptance

Why Masking Harms Autistic Children (And Why Acceptance Matters)

The latest peer-reviewed research from 2024 and 2025 is clear: when autistic children suppress who t…

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Advocacy

Your Legal Rights Just Changed: How the 2025 Supreme Court Ruling Protects Your Autistic Child

In June 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that families can sue directly in federal court for ADA violat…

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Research

The FDA Said No to Leucovorin for Autism. Here Is Why That Matters.

Political officials claimed leucovorin could help hundreds of thousands of autistic children. The FD…

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Research

The Screen Time and Autism Myth: What the Research Actually Shows

For years, parents have been warned that screens cause autism. New research tells a different story.…

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Advocacy

Parents and Researchers in Pennsylvania Are Building Autism Science From the Ground Up

A new independent autism science committee in Pennsylvania puts families and community members at th…

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Resources

Sensory-Friendly Travel: How to Plan a Vacation Your Whole Family Can Enjoy

Travel with autistic family members is possible, enjoyable, and worth the planning it requires. Here…

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Wellbeing

The Autistic Experience of Burnout: What It Is and What Actually Helps

Autistic burnout is not regular exhaustion. Research now defines it clearly, and the autistic commun…

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Acceptance

Why Identity-First Language Matters: A Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Allies

Most guidance on autism language says 'person with autism.' Most autistic people prefer 'autistic pe…

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Advocacy

The Autism Research Wars: What Is Actually Happening and What Autistic People Need

Federal autism science is under political pressure. An independent research community is pushing bac…

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Autism Acceptance & Advocacy

Autism Acceptance vs. Autism Awareness: Why the Distinction Matters in 2026

Autism Awareness vs. Autism Acceptance, these aren't just different words. They represent different …

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Autism Acceptance & Advocacy

The Best Sensory-Friendly Clothing for Kids and Adults: What to Look For

Sensory-friendly clothing isn't a niche product, it's a real need for millions of autistic and senso…

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Autism Acceptance & Advocacy

How to Build a Neurodiverse-Inclusive Workplace: A Practical Guide for Employers

Building a neurodiverse-inclusive workplace goes beyond compliance. Here's the practical guide for e…

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Sensory

Stimming Is Not the Problem: Understanding Self-Regulation Through Movement and Sound

Stimming is a nervous system doing its job, not a behavior to correct. Here's what stimming actually…

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Communication

The Double Empathy Problem: Why 'Social Skills' Go Both Ways

The double empathy problem showed that social mismatch between autistic and neurotypical people runs…

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Community

Sensory-Friendly Spaces: Small Changes That Make the World More Livable

Most sensory-friendly design advice assumes a renovation budget. Here are the small, low-cost change…

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Acceptance

What Is Autism Acceptance compared to Autism Awareness?

A clear, affirming explainer of the difference between autism acceptance and autism awareness: what …

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