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www.ZoomAutism.org • www.SpectrumLife.org www.AutismEmpowerment.org 2 • www.zoomautism.org
On the Cover Neurodiverse adults around the world share autism stories from different countries. See Autism Around the World, page 10.
autism through many lenses ISSUE 20
Cover Design by Conner Cummings
Founders Sharon and Conner Cummings Publisher Autism Empowerment Guest Editor Dr. Stephen Shore Assistant to the Guest Editor Lydia Wayman Executive Editor Sharon Cummings Managing Editor and Photographer Conner Cummings Graphic Designer Dave Born Copy Editor and Content Manager Karen Krejcha Content Advisor Brian Tashima Project Coordinator John Krejcha
Issue 20 • 2023 Mailing address: Autism Empowerment P.O. Box 871676 Vancouver, WA 98687 zoom@autismempowerment.org Autism Empowerment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to promoting a culture of acceptance and empowerment for children, teens, adults, and families within autistic and neurodiverse communities. Autism Empowerment makes no warranty, guarantee, endorsement or promotion of any service providers or therapy options listed in this publication or our websites at AutismEmpowerment.org, SpectrumLife.org, and ZoomAutism.org. This is a free digital publication created as a courtesy and resource to the public. Autism Empowerment cannot be held liable for any action or decision based on information in this publication or our websites. Individuals are responsible for discussing any therapy or treatment option with their care team. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy and verify information; however, readers use this information at their own risk. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted without prior written consent from the publisher Autism Empowerment and SLC, Inc. © 2023 All Rights Reserved
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IN T HIS ISSUE: Issue Theme: Autism Around the World Guest Editor: Dr. Stephen Shore There is so much to learn about supporting autistic people to lead fulfilling and productive lives as the rule rather than the exception. None of us has all the answers. However, in collaboration with our international autism community, we can access many more of these answers than any one of us can do alone. ~ Dr. Stephen Shore Cover Feature: Global Perspectives and Storytelling In this issue of Zoom Autism Magazine, our vision is to bring together autistic adults, parents, and providers from different countries around the world to share stories, opinions, and perspectives about what autism support and services currently look like in their nation. Our guest editor, Dr. Stephen Shore, is a world-renowned autistic professor and author who has traveled to over 50 countries, presenting at autism conferences to thousands of people and sharing the knowledge he has gleaned along the way. He knows many of the storytellers you will hear from personally. Don’t forget to read his own story, and be sure to enjoy all our additional resources as well! Together, we can promote Autism Empowerment worldwide as Ambassadors for Acceptance of All Abilities.
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TA BL E O F CO NTENTS: Feature Articles
6 Cummings & Goings
20 PERU - Dr. Liliana Mayo
How Individuals with Autism in Peru Are Economically Supporting Their Families
Managing Editor Conner Cummings invites readers from every nation to learn from each other. It’s a Small World After All!
24 SERBIA / USA - Niko Boskovic
8 Letter from the Editor
26 UKRAINE - Iryna Sergiyenko
Guest Editor Dr. Stephen Shore reflects on traveling the world, learning from different cultures, and supporting autistic people worldwide. COVER STORY
10 AUTISM AROUND THE WORLD:
Global Perspectives and Storytelling
12 AZERBAIJAN - Bill Peters
Navigating with Niko while Navigating the World
Wake up. The war has started! An Autistic lens on the war in Ukraine.
30 UNITED STATES - Scott Campbell
Autism and Moving Around the World: A Military Parent’s Perspective
32 Resources for Military Families
Connections supporting exceptional and neurodiverse families domestically and overseas.
34 Amazing Autistic Artists Around the World
How Communities in Azerbaijan Include Their Neighbors with Disabilities
Connect with global talent from six continents.
14 BELGIUM - Mario Devis
48 Globetrotting Advice from
A Case for Autistic Mentorship: A Need for Advocacy
16 CANADA - Karen Simmons
How Autism Advocacy in Canada is Reaching the World
18 INDIA - Manish Samnani
How Autism Therapy Centers are Changing in India
Dr. Stephen Shore
Wisdom attained from visiting over 50 countries.
54 8 Additional Tips for Autistic Travelers
Things to keep in mind when traveling abroad.
56 Global Autism Organizations
An opportunity to connect with autism and autistic-led organizations in over 150 countries and territories worldwide. www.zoomautism.org • 55
Cummings ings + Goings It’s A Small World After All! By Conner Cummings
Attribution: Patrick Pelletier, CC BY-SA 3.0
4 • www.zoomautism.org 6
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It’s me, Conner. I’ve been to a few countries throughout my life, such as the highlands of Scotland, the royalties of England, the romance of France, the northern regions of Canada, and the Latin cultures of Mexico. I have always wondered what life is like and how to help those with autism and other disabilities in other countries in addition to the ones I’ve visited, including those at the World Showcase at Epcot, as well as those where some of our favorite Disney movies actually take place. Everyone in each country has a different but unique life with autism, but they do so many great things in so many different ways. Each of us has strengths to overcome obstacles in life. There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware. Together, we from every nation of the world can learn from each other. We can help each other and work as a team. Together, we can make the biggest community for people with disabilities ever. Though the mountains divide and the oceans are wide, it’s a small world after all. In this issue, you will learn more about my friend Dr. Stephen Shore, who travels and speaks more than anyone else I know. You will read stories from different countries as our writers describe their lives. This is one of my favorite issues. It is so interesting. Our cover is an idea from Epcot. I really like how it turned out. Join us as we travel to Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, India, Peru and Ukraine and feel the journey. It’s a Small World After All! Please and thank you, Conner. Conner Cummings is 31 years old and is proud to be an autistic advocate. Often recognized for wearing Mickey Mouse ears, Conner is an ambassador for acceptance. As the heart and soul of Zoom Autism Magazine, he has served as a Photographer/Coordinator for Zoom and designed the cover for Issues #19 & #20.Conner also serves on the Virginia Disability Commission. He facilitates disability forums to include presidential, federal, and state levels, advocating to ensure a sensory-friendly forum. Conner has won numerous awards, including 2015 Advocate of the Year by the Autism Society of America. He was also honored with a commendation from the state of Virginia House and Senate. He accomplished all this and more despite struggling with verbal communication. He instead utilizes his writing skills, organizational abilities, unique viewpoint and perspective to respect all sides. Email Conner
at zoomautism@gmail.com or find him on Facebook: ConquerForConner.
www.zoomautism.org • 7 57
LETTER
FROM
THE
EDITOR By
Dr.
Stephen
Shore
People often ask why I travel so much to consult and give workshops on autism. Some of the reasons include learning what people in other countries are doing to support autistic people, going to exciting new places, and finally, airplanes — they are a kind of large sensory integration device!
Before the pandemic, I traveled so much that I needed to renew my passport two years early because it was completely filled with visa stamps. After the pandemic, pent-up demand for information about autism provided in person resulted in my traveling to foreign countries about twice a month for about a year.
I find that no matter where I go, even in places with very little in terms of resources and knowledge, I often find pockets where communities excel in their support of autistic people. For example, during a trip to China, I found a small program that some parents put together, starting with a building made from plywood, duct tape, and nails. While the parents had very little formal knowledge about autism, their sheer research and determination clearly benefited the children they supported.
There is so much to learn about supporting autistic people to lead fulfilling and productive lives as the rule rather than the exception. None of us has all the answers. However, in collaboration with our international autism community, we can access many more of these answers than any one of us can do alone.
Sometimes, these very small centers grow to national and international stature. Some examples include Action for Autism, founded and directed by Merry Barua in India, and Child with Future in Ukraine, which was founded by Inna Sergiyenko and is now directed by her daughter and autistic advocate Iryna Sergiyenko. The common feature in all of these organizations and many others I have not mentioned is that they were started by a parent of an autistic person. Ever since I knew airplanes existed, I wanted to fly on one – a dream that came true in my early teens on a vacation trip from Massachusetts to Florida. My interest continued and branched out to route maps and seating, as well as the many security, customs, and other procedures needed for smooth travel through airports.
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In this issue of Zoom, you will find stories from autistic adults, parents, therapists, and professionals, each sharing from their unique lens what autism services and support are like in their country and what work is being done to improve daily lives. We talked to both native people and those who have moved to new cultures, asking what issues currently affect autistic people where they live. In India, Manish and his wife are the directors of a comprehensive therapy center that provides services to autistic people across the lifespan. They’re seeing big changes in how families access services. In Peru, Dr. Liliana Mayo founded a program that supports autistic people to gain skills that allow them to financially support themselves and their families. In a country without economic support for people with disabilities, her program has become a model.
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Bill is an autistic American who now lives in Azerbaijan. As the director of a foundation, he writes about the ways people are promoting inclusion in their communities, even without formal training. Karen, an American living in Canada as the director of a nonprofit, has big dreams for her foundation to promote autism acceptance not just in Canada but around the world. Mario, an autistic blogger from Belgium, advocates strongly for autistic-to-autistic mentorship. In his experience, he has learned the most about autism from other autistic adults.
enjoyment, including a showcase of impressive autistic artists from around the globe. In reading the stories of people living in other countries, we will find things we have in common as well as lessons in our differences. We might find ourselves feeling thankful for a form of support or service we can access easily that doesn’t exist somewhere else, or we might learn about a program that is working somewhere else and decide to bring it to our own communities. Learning from one another can help us improve the lives of autistic people everywhere.
Niko, a nonspeaking autistic advocate who uses a letterboard to communicate, talks about his love of traveling, which ties directly to the sensory experience of getting there. Favorite trips include those from the United States to his father’s homeland in Serbia. Scott, a retired U.S. Army officer and father of a son with autism, shares the unique challenges autism brings when a family has to relocate to a new and unfamiliar place every three years. Finally, you will hear from Iryna, who self-identifies as autistic and was living with her parents and younger autistic brother in Kyiv when Russia invaded on February 24, 2022. As the war dragged on, and her brother struggled to cope, they decided to take a risk and make an escape to the United Kingdom. After our stories, you will find additional resources and special features for further exploration and Dr. Stephen Shore is a full-time professor at Adelphi University and adjunct at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. His most recent book, College for Students with Disabilities, combines personal stories and research for promoting success in higher education. A current board member of Boston Higashi School, Autism Speaks, the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), president emeritus of the Asperger/Autism Network, and advisory board member of the Autism Society, Dr. Shore also serves on the boards of numerous other autism-related organizations. He combines personal, practical, and academic experiences to promote fulfilling and productive lives for autistic and otherwise neurodivergent individuals as the rule rather than the exception. www.zoomautism.org • 9 59
4 • •www.zoomautism.org 10 www.zoomautism.org
AZERBAIJAN
At ZOOM Autism Magazine, we see autism through many lenses. In each story that we share, every person that we highlight, our vision includes beauty, strength, and mighty potential.
BELGIUM
The spectrum is diverse, and so are we. In this feature, we invited autistic adults, parents and professionals from different countries to share perceptions, thoughts and stories about how autistic people are supported in the nation they are living in.
CANADA
We learned that some countries are more progressive in their policies than others. We learned that while some places have a long way to go in terms of Autism Acceptance and advocacy, there are still great people doing good things to lovingly support and empower autistic people everywhere.
INDIA
We hope you enjoy their stories as much as we did! BONUS! If you’d like to read other stories from around the world and continue the global conversation, we invite you to visit and participate in Autism Around the Globe. Autism Around the Globe is an interactive, web-based project that shares personal stories from autistic adults, family members, professionals and allies worldwide. As a global project of the Nancy Lurie Marks (NLM) Family Foundation in Wellesley, Massachusetts, they focus on raising public awareness of how autism affects those in different parts of the world.
PERU
SERBIA
UKRAINE
https://www.autismaroundtheglobe.org/ UNITED STATES
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How Communities in Azerbaijan Include Their Neighbors with Disabilities
I was born in the United States in Iowa and moved to Washington state when I was young. I was diagnosed with autism when I was two-and-a-half, in the late 1980s. My autism diagnosis changed as the understanding of autism changed, so I have gone through a lot of diagnoses. In addition to autism, I also have ataxic palsy, OCD and ADHD. I went through inclusive schooling from 2nd grade on and graduated from high school with a regular diploma. I was living in Ukraine for eight years until a week before the war. I worked with Ira Sergiyenko as an autistic consultant and mentor at Child With Future Foundation in Ukraine. (See our story from Iryna Sergiyenko on page 26.) Since the start of the war, I have been working in Azerbaijan with House of Dreams as its director. I still do consulting work as well. How do people in Azerbaijan support people with autism and other disabilities? In Azerbaijan, it depends on where you live and who you and your family know. There is an effort to educate the general public about disabilities and inclusion going on, and there has been some improvement, but as always, more work needs to be done. What do you wish Azerbaijan did differently for autistic people? What is something Azerbaijan does well? I wish there was better understanding and acceptance in Azerbaijan of autistics and people with all disabilities. I would like to see more inclusion in the community overall. There are great groups that help to educate the 4 • •www.zoomautism.org 12 www.zoomautism.org
They also hosted other speakers and groups like İnklüziv T hsil Az rbaycan/Inclusive Education Azerbaijan, who help professionals and the public understand people with disabilities. e
Hello Bill! Please tell us a little bit about yourself, where you are from and your connection to autism.
public and encourage more acceptance and support from society, such as Ferqli Ferdler Congress, where I spoke about life with autism. e
BILL PETERS - AZERBAIJAN
How Communities in Azerbaijan Include Their Neighbors with Disabilities Something I have discovered while living in Azerbaijan, as both someone who lives with multiple disabilities and works with others, is that some people are doing what we call inclusion without knowing what it is. I saw this when I took a trip to the region outside of Baku, where many of my friends live. In some of the towns and cities, even though people don’t fully understand people with disabilities, those who live in the immediate area around a disabled person go out of their way to help and make sure that person is included in activities and friendships. Sometimes this happens because people have gotten to know and like the individual with a disability and not because they know what inclusion is or have any formal training in it. Some schools in Azerbaijan do inclusion to the best of their ability, yet they are always looking for more ways to support disabled individuals. I find schools here have a grasp on inclusion that is similar to what we had in the United States in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Inclusion is part of the law here because Azerbaijan is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but there is a lot of room for growth. While I don’t have firsthand knowledge, I have been told that inclusion isn’t done at some schools here for minority languages.
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While there is still much stigma and misunderstanding of autism and other disabilities, there are also ongoing efforts to help bring the general public along. I find that public understanding varies — some people still have the attitude towards the disabled from the Soviet era, while others, especially the young, are more accepting. There are accommodations made in many places in society, but society still has a long way to go to catch up with what I saw while working in Ukraine or experienced while growing up in the USA. In my job, I even encounter people with autistic or disabled family members who don’t fully understand or accept them. My job is to help with this. Sometimes there are misunderstandings about whether the individual will grow out of their disability or not. Often people assume that someone who can mask their autistic traits should be able to meet expectations as if they aren’t still autistic. Family members often ask me how to help their disabled loved one live the fullest life possible. I am always willing to mentor such individuals so they can reach their fullest potential. I love Azerbaijan and her people and really want to help improve things for autistics, people with other disabilities and their families. I hope to build bridges between them and their communities and society around them. Resources: 1. House of Dreams: https://www.instagram.com/houseofdreamssic 2. Ferqli Ferdler Congress: https://www.facebook.com/ferqliferdlercongress 3. Child with Future Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/ChildwithfutureUkraine
Photos provided by Bill Peters
My name is Bill Peters. I am 41 years old and was born and raised in the United States. I grew up with cerebral palsy and am autistic. I have worked for myself in the United States, thanks to the help of many people, like my family and my mentor, Dr. Stephen Mark Shore. For eight years, I had the opportunity to work as an autistic consultant in Ukraine for Child With Future Foundation. While I still consult for them, I left Ukraine a week before the war for my new job as the director of House of Dreams in Baku, Azerbaijan. I am an extrovert with autism and enjoy being with extended family and friends, playing football (soccer) and video games. I also enjoy visiting the regions of Azerbaijan.
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A Case for Autistic Mentorship, A Need for Autism Advocacy
Mario Devis - Belgium Hello Mario! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Mario, a 36-year-old Belgian. I was diagnosed in 2017 at age 29, not long before I turned 30, after suspecting for years I might be autistic. It was suspected by a friend of mine, who flat out told me that I react differently to emotional things, and then I started looking up autism and it fit me. Still not fully believing it and doubting my own research, I went and took the steps to be diagnosed. I knew I was autistic, but I never suspected I might have ADHD as well, because that was told to me at the end of the diagnostic process when they tell you your diagnosis. So, I’m lucky to have both ADHD and autism. It’s a weird combo and probably the reason why I was diagnosed so late, as both autism and ADHD mask each other so well. How do people in Belgium support people who are autistic and how does this compare to other disabilities? In Belgium, it’s a bit of a weird mix. Autism is known but vaguely understood. They know the stereotypes. They don’t know the complex tapestry that is the autism spectrum. Most still know the outdated diagnosis. The care facilities are nicely out of society, so they don’t bother people. People with disabilities are rarely seen in public. People with visible disabilities are rarely hired for a well-paying job if they have mental disabilities as well. For them, some workplaces care more, but pay minimum wage, if it’s even that. It depends on how disabled you are in how you are treated. If you can function properly in society, people won’t disrespect you, but they will not fully respect you 4 14• •www.zoomautism.org www.zoomautism.org
either. You might be skipped over to be hired a lot of the time. So finding employment is difficult. The only way people with Down syndrome can be hired, for example, is in special workplaces. Don’t expect to see them in a regular supermarket at all. The sad thing about support in Belgium is that most of the support is cut off once you turn 18. There are also tiers of support. Visible disabled people get more and longer support and will be treated differently than those with an invisible disability. For higher education, for example, if you can’t come to school because of depression or phobias... tough luck. No support whatsoever. Meanwhile, during the heaviest part of the COVID pandemic for the general public, all the things that would make an education work were put into place easily but taken away the moment the general public didn’t need them anymore. There is support for when you are past 18 as an autistic, but it’s not much. If you are diagnosed at a later date, like me, or like my dad would’ve been (we have the same traits, but he never found out during his life), there is nothing they give you. You have to read up on autism yourself, while if you are diagnosed early, you get all the information spoon-fed. How do you promote autism advocacy in your daily life? I am one of those autistic people that doesn’t hide that they are autistic. When I talk to people, I bring it up. It’s also a non-issue in my friend group. All know I’m autistic and I’m not treated differently. I always mention that I’m autistic when I can, especially during job interviews, so people get a different view about autism. Most people know the stereotypes or the bad performances such as The Good Doctor from TV, but most don’t know a real-life autistic, and I want to remedy that by telling people as early as I can that I am autistic.
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Yes, this might set me up for weird questions or lose me out on job opportunities, but it will make it easier for later generations. Later generations won’t have to play walking zoo exhibit quite as often anymore. I want people to be able to ask the questions (and I have gotten some weird ones, especially by professionals, as I did give presentations before groups of pros). What I love about advocacy is that more and more books by autistics are written and read, and those by so-called autism researchers aren’t emphasized that much anymore. I learned the most from autistics themselves. My go-to resource when someone asks me about autism is a YouTube series. My own blog can help as well, as I have (before I knew how problematic the Harry Potter writer would turn out to be) written some analogies using Harry Potter as a parallel to the autistic experience.
Mario’s View on Education My view on education about autism is that it should be done by autistics and autistics alone. Professionals can make assumptions, but they don’t know what it’s like to be autistic. They can only ever come to close approximations of what it’s like, never knowing what it’s like fully. I can only guess what it’s like to be neurotypical, but will never fully know. The same goes for the other way as well. The best way for future generations of autistics to grow up would be to be mentored by older autistics. Older autistics have been through it already, knowing better how to navigate life and what to do in certain situations. They can teach tips and tricks suited best to the person in question.
For me, getting my autism diagnosis was liberating. I always felt weird and out of place. Being bullied for seemingly no reason all my life, I started thinking about why quite early. I remember at age 6, in some corner of the play area, thinking about why I was different and why I was being bullied. During my teens, my interest in philosophy, thanks to the Matrix movies, only sped up my inquisitive nature and thinking. The internet is a wonderful place (and not only because of the cat videos). My interest in magic (the theatre kind) and the psychology behind it made me look deep into psychology, and it got me interested in human nature. Why do we do what we do when we do it? What motivates us... all the good stuff. I always love learning more, like Sherlock. (The best representation for an autistic/ADHD character is the Sherlock from Elementary, the TV series.)
Photos provided by Mario Devis
Mario Devis is an autistic ADHDer that got diagnosed at 29 after suspecting being
autistic at 21. They blog over at talesbytheunexpected.be about their life and experiences.
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How Autism Advocacy in Canada is Reaching the World
Karen Simmons - Canada Hello Karen! Please tell us about yourself, where you are from and your connection to autism. A gemologist by trade, I came to the autism world through my son who was diagnosed at the age of two-and-a-half. At the time I heard the news that he would be supposedly institutionalized, I was not going to have any part of it. I immediately set out on a path to change things for him, his peers, family, and those that surrounded him. I was born in the United States and now live in Edmonton, Canada. I was in the U.S. Air Force, so you might say determination was my middle name. I traveled from the time I was a youngster, since my mom worked for Pan Am and made fast friends in every country. My dad was an aeronautical engineer who jumped from job to job, including companies like Lockheed, Boeing, Sweringen Aviation, and Piper Aircraft. I raised my family of seven children. Two are neurodistinct and one happens to be autistic, so that’s what brings me to the autism world after spending two decades in the jewelry industry. How do people in Canada support autistic people? Loved ones accept their autistic family members as a general rule. Cultures sometimes throw a curveball into this, as autism may not be accepted in some cultures as an okay way to be. People outside the family unit may be a different story depending upon belief systems, cultural beliefs, and older patterns of being. The needle of understanding and acceptance is finally beginning to move in a positive direction, though it has a long way to go before we see the paradigm shift we need to see, especially with the influx of other people coming into our country. 4 16• •www.zoomautism.org www.zoomautism.org
What do you wish Canada did differently for people with autism? I wish we could create a fair system for all provinces so that people didn’t feel the need to move interprovincially because their province doesn’t support them. It would be amazing if people could communicate their needs, wants, and desires and be able to have their needs met where they are situated. If the country could place more of a fiscal priority on those with autism and neurodivergence instead of trite, insignificant expenditures that don’t improve the fabric of humanity, we could be proactive and reduce unnecessary costs to society as a whole. How Autism Advocacy in Canada is Reaching the World Not long before COVID, the Autism Today Foundation was planning a conference for those with autism and neurodivergence covering topics related to employment. We had ministers, employers, autistic and neurodivergent individuals, agencies, and others talking about issues facing employers and employees on the spectrum. As COVID hit during the conference preparation, we were unable to host the in-person event so had to pivot and move everything online. During this time we learned a lot about creating online trainings. Events at the conference included interviews and workshops with tips – what to say and what not to say in job interviews, how to act appropriately and follow rules at work, and how to focus on what they do best rather than going for a job that is not going to suit their skill set. We also created “Keen on Enforcement,” a set of scenarios designed to help law enforcement officers identify people on the spectrum. Oftentimes, people on the spectrum are incarcerated inappropriately as the
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officers just don’t recognize the signs of autism. We are now endeavoring to bring resources to the communities to teach the officers simple and easy ways to recognize autism. Shortly after the event, Autism Today was approached by a large, globally-known music school to create a program for their teachers, as they have been inundated by a large number of applicants with autism or some type of neurodivergence. Stephen Shore, who is a fellow board member, and I subsequently created “Notes for the Music Room,” an instructional program which teaches strategies to help with sensory, social, communication, and behavioral challenges in the classroom. At the time of this writing, we were preparing for a big initiative at the end of September 2023 – the World Autism Summit. This virtual event hosted global leaders in the autism and neurodiversity world, such as Temple Grandin, Stephen Shore, and Louise Sattler, on an unbiased platform for people with autism and by people on the autism spectrum. There was loads of information and loads of fun, too, with movies and games galore. The Summit launched from the USA and Canada as we represent both Autism Today Foundation Canada and Autism Today Foundation, Inc. – quite simply, the mission and vision is too big to be contained. We want to move the needle of understanding and success for autism and neurodivergence in the fastest way possible, globally. It is a big mission and big vision, and it has to be done – for everyone. If we don’t do it, then who else will? Photos provided by Karen Simmons
Karen Simmons, a mother of seven, founded Autism Today in 1998, the first online
global autism resource center, winning the Internet Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001 from Multiple Streams of Income. Featured on PBS, ABC & Woman’s World, she has hosted 72 conferences across North America. Karen is a Chicken Soup for the Soul, Children with Special Needs co-author and author of 14 books, including the gold-medal winning book, The Official Autism 101 Manual. Karen now lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She is transitioning Autism Today into a non-profit, Autism Today Foundation, with her partner Vincent dela Luna. They plan to share information through a Channel, ARTS network, and Learning & Education Division. This will easily and affordably provide resources that are needed for the autism world and beyond. Autism Today Foundation: www.autismtoday.ca World Autism Summit: www.worldautismsummit.org
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How Autism Therapy Centers are Changing in India
Manish Samnani - INDIA Hello Manish! Please tell us about yourself, where you are from, and your connection to autism. I am a qualified occupational therapist by profession. Along with my wife Malvika, who is also an occupational therapist, I have run a multidisciplinary center for children with autism and other developmental challenges for the last 15 years in the city of Gurgaon, very close to the capital of India, New Delhi. We work directly with children through a professional team, and we have developed our own training modules, which we disseminate through workshops and training programs. As directors of our institute, called SOCH (https://sochindia.org/), our vision is to work with a lifespan perspective across different age groups. Our mission is to provide coordinated, holistic, and quality therapy services for children and empowerment of parents. How do people in India support people with autism? Support for people with autism is getting better and better. In terms of access to professionals who can screen, identify, and diagnose, there are trained professionals available in urban and metropolitan cities. The semi-urban and rural population travels to nearby cities for medical intervention and for autismrelated services. Early intervention is readily available in urban and semi-urban areas, but the same cannot be said for school-age children. Services are even less common for adolescents and adults. A majority of urban private and upscale schools are open to provide inclusive education, but the same cannot be said about all schools in urban areas, and inclusion is less common in semi-urban schools. 4 18• •www.zoomautism.org www.zoomautism.org
What do you wish India did differently for people with autism? What is something India does well? Autism is now better understood. There is a lot of awareness in terms of screening and early identification. There used to be a mindset, promoted by elders who had never come across children with developmental delay or autism, that families should take a “wait and watch” approach. This has changed immensely, and now parents do seek out help for children as they may be the first to identify any signs. I wish that the country had a protocol or a fixed critical pathway of screening, identification, and referral. At the moment, this process is being mediated by a purely medical model. Children may or may not get access to therapy despite it being available in the community as the medical professional and the therapy services do not have any coordination. It is up to the parents to look for medical professionals and therapy by engaging with other parents. There is a lack of formal structure to the holistic model of service from the red flags stage to therapy and mainstreaming. How Autism Therapy Centers are Changing in India Historically, parents in India faced a system of therapy services that was unorganized, inaccessible, and unevenly distributed. Services were provided in individual centers by single professionals. Access to therapy depended on many factors: time, finances, caregiver support, and self-training. Some parents started their own centers or institutes in partnerships or collaboration with professionals. The increase in awareness and diagnosis in recent times is leading to an increase in demand from young parents in urban areas. This has become a booming market and business opportunity for start-ups, capitalists, and technologists.
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On one hand, there are the centers and clinics from the older system: professionals, trained for years, who are carrying out young entrepreneurial ventures to provide therapy services while keeping the core professional training in the center. Parents invest their time, resources and emotional energy into running their own centers and clinics while collaborating with one or more professionals. On the other hand, there is a new model: marketing companies and technologists who want to deliver therapy “products,” with a core goal of profiting from care. Such companies operate by converting personalized therapy into a product. The goal is to scale the product to a wider audience, quicker and faster, in order to retain profits. However, during the process of “productification,” the quality of therapy gets diluted. The individual connection with each child and family is reduced to a call or click, and the result is that the individual is taken out of the question and replaced by a product. One has to stop and ponder deeply on the ethics of these practices. The field of special needs in India is already reeling under poor quality of formal education. What the marketing company does is wrap their product in nice external packaging – a website, social media activities, and call center engagement.
do. As professionals, we understand that even if we are playing a small role of entrepreneur, our priority is always to provide quality therapy, deep connection, and support to the parents and uplift the community by spreading the right kind of awareness. The corporate organizations, on the other hand, are only creating a culture of fear and urgency: If you do not take our product, your child is surely missing out on something amazing! The concern is whether these corporate centers are following ethical principles as closely as a clinical professional will and whether unethical practices will lead parents to distrust the advice of therapists. Where there is demand, there will be an increase in business opportunity. Young professionals with small-yet-fully-breathing entrepreneurial clinics and centers not only lose their goodwill under the pressure of a giant body but also faith in their own professional skill set. They crumble under the pressure of start-ups and corporations that have more investors and financial backing. The therapist becomes secondary to the person with the MBA. It all leads to diluted and poor therapy in the form of poor quality products under the glitter of shiny paper.
Under this model, the number of sessions at each center is projected and planned with “sales targets” being set for each therapist. Each parent is considered a sales lead that is planned to be “converted” into “business.” The “conversions” are counted, and therapists are given ratings based on the percentage. Ethical therapists and therapy centers should not aspire to become multinational companies and huge business entities, as that is not what our profession sets out to
Photos provided by Manish Samnani
Manish Samnani lives in Gurgaon, India, where he is the clinical director of SOCH, a holistic center that offers multidisciplinary services for children with special needs. He has completed a doctorate in occupational therapy and has a master’s in pediatric occupational therapy, with 23 years of experience in the field. Manish has published research and presented at national and international conferences; developed training modules for caregivers, therapists, and teachers; and conducted hands-on training programs and parent empowerment programs in India and abroad. He is the president of the Haryana Chapter of All India Occupational Therapists Association and Asia Region Lead for data collection under a project of Thomas Jefferson University. He was awarded the Professional Excellence Award by All India Occupational Therapists Association.
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How Individuals with Autism in Peru Are Economically Supporting Their Families
Liliana Mayo, Ph.D - PERU
How do people in Peru support people with autism?
Hello Liliana! Please tell us about yourself, where you are from and your connection to autism.
The government offers no assistance to families with children having autism or other developmental disabilities. However, both private and government sectors are increasingly seeking education on how to treat individuals with autism just like any other clients in their business. This growing openness reflects the country’s willingness to provide support to people with autism and other developmental disabilities.
As a psychologist during my 1970s hospital internship, my curiosity led to an unexpected opportunity. Known for my inquisitive nature and penchant for asking numerous questions, I found myself assigned a threemonth “punishment” at a center for special education. I was introduced to my first student, a 5-year-old girl named Patty, who had been diagnosed with autism. My knowledge about autism was virtually non-existent at that time. However, as I began working with Patty, I was struck by her ability to learn and adapt quickly. Witnessing her progress proved to me that these children possessed incredible potential for growth and development. Observing the distressing conditions that children with autism endured elsewhere deeply moved me. Gandhi’s words echoed in my mind: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Inspired by this powerful philosophy, I set forth to establish what would become known as the Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru (CASP). The institution was named in honor of Ann Sullivan, renowned for her work with Helen Keller. This dream took its first steps in the modest confines of my parents’ garage. Fueled by the memory of Patty’s remarkable progress, I was committed to creating a Center that would not only provide education but also honor the dignity and potential of children with autism. CASP began in 1979 with just eight students, supported by parents and colleagues. Today, CASP is globally acclaimed for its research, education, and demonstration programs.
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What do you wish Peru did differently for people with autism? While Peru has enacted inclusion laws, effective teacher training is imperative to accommodate students with autism in regular classrooms. Government support is crucial to emphasize the value of individuals with autism and create opportunities for them. Addressing these concerns, Peruvian leadership could foster empathy and awareness, promoting inclusive policies and a more comprehensive societal understanding. How Individuals with Autism in Peru are Economically Supporting Their Families In Peru, the journey to empower individuals with autism has been characterized by the dedication and collaboration of families and professionals. Over the past 44 years, the Centro Ann Sullivan of Peru has been educating Peruvian society about the potential of individuals with autism when their abilities are nurtured and opportunities are provided. Twenty-seven years ago, we initiated our supported employment program in our country, resulting in people with autism securing positions in some of the best companies in Peru. These employees receive equal pay and benefits for comparable work, and they actively participate in all social activities within their workplaces. They
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contribute to their families’ economic well-being by covering costs such as water, electricity, medication for their parents, transportation, and even initiating the construction of their own homes. CASP students/workers receive the same government benefits as all Peruvian workers. Some may face challenges in reading, writing, or speaking, but they have learned to excel in their work. Poverty compels us to foster independence among our students. As the government offers no assistance to families of children diagnosed with autism or other developmental disabilities, we focus on teaching families to become active partners in their children’s education and to collaborate with professionals as a team. For 44 years, CASP has aided over 40,000 families and students worldwide with diverse abilities, implementing an internationally recognized educational model. The CASP Model revolves around three pivotal strategies: 1. “Treat Me as a Person”: CASP sets high expectations for students, encouraging their independence, productivity, and happiness. 2. “Prepare Them for Life”: CASP employs a curriculum that equips students with practical skills, enabling active participation in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. 3. “The Power of Two”: The collaboration between families and professionals lies at the core of CASP’s success. In 1979, alongside the founding of CASP, I also established the first School of Families in Peru — a world-renowned initiative where over 400 families engage in monthly training sessions. The journey of Juan Carlos, a CASP student, exemplifies the transformative influence of these strategies. Diagnosed with severe autism at three years old, Juan Carlos initially faced substantial challenges. Through CASP’s training and support and his mother’s unwavering commitment, Juan Carlos defied the odds and achieved significant progress. Elevated expectations, the functional natural curriculum, and collaborative efforts enabled him to communicate, travel independently, and secure employment. Now 28 years old, Juan Carlos is a
financial contributor to his family and an advocate for autism awareness. His story mirrors the potential for growth and self-sufficiency among individuals with autism in Peru. Juan Carlos’s narrative mirrors that of over 100 of our student-workers who hold real jobs with genuine salaries and benefits in Peru. These examples showcase the possibilities when abilities are recognized and cultivated. Our students work across private and government sectors, even within the Congress of our country. While some may not read, write, or speak, they excel in their work. Three aspects internationally commend the work of our autistic workers in Peru: their enduring tenure, role as financial providers for their families, and their caregiving contributions when their family members face illness or accidents. CASP’s approach and success stories underscore the transformative potential of personalized education and family involvement. The organization’s commitment to inclusion and empowerment continues to reshape perceptions and opportunities for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities in Peru. As the nation advances, a growing realization emerges that embracing diversity and providing meaningful support can pave the way for a brighter future for all individuals, regardless of their abilities.
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Photos provided by Dr. Liliana Mayo
Dr. Liliana Mayo is the Executive Director and Founder of the Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru (CASP) in Lima, Peru, which serves more than 400 students with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families. www.en.annsullivanperu.org Dr. Mayo is an Adjunct Faculty member of the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas, where she obtained her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees and also a Faculty member at the University Cayetano Heredia in Peru. Dr. Mayo has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions in the field of Special Education. She has given lectures and seminars in more than 30 countries about topics related to the CASP curriculum and the active involvement of parents in their children’s education. Dr. Mayo counts the success of the students and families in CASP as her greatest award and she recognizes that it takes a team of professionals and parents to make this success happen.
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T he world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page . Saint Augustine
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Navigating with Niko while Navigating the World: Travel Adventures and Sensory Experiences
NIKO BOSKOVIC - SERBIA via USA Perhaps it’s a shock to hear, but I love to travel. Most autistics prefer to remain in familiar settings where they have learned where the “hot spots” are and can prepare for them. For me, there are places in both my parents’ houses where the electrical outlets hum annoyingly. Before, when I was very little, I used to be really bothered by it and couldn’t understand why the noise didn’t bother anyone else. Over time, I got better at tuning out the hot spots and could do that in more places that weren’t as familiar. My love of traveling is directly tied to the sensory experience of getting there. Whether it’s a long car ride or an international flight, the overwhelming force of moving through space at a high speed brings a background soundscape which kills pretty much most of the sensory streams in my vicinity. I am lucky that I have been flying since I was a baby and got to experience the sensation and white noise that flying offers. Some might think that it’s preposterous that a small child can remember the joy of flying, but when the world is spewing sensory streams at you unendingly, you remember the times when it’s turned down. In any case, an airplane is predictable to some degree. For example, the seats are very similar across airlines, and when you get settled, it sort of becomes a little universe for a few hours. You are hopefully undisturbed for most of the flight and the air is smooth with little turbulence. There are movies to stare at and food to be eaten. Flying has always been one of my favorite ways to escape an incredibly noisy world. Several years ago, my life became more public after I was denied my award to take part in the International Order of Odd Fellows annual pilgrimage for youth because I was autistic. After some assistance from Disability Rights Oregon on my behalf, I was permitted to take part in the July trip which involved several flights and nearly three weeks of bus travel. 4 24• •www.zoomautism.org www.zoomautism.org
One would think that an autistic person would be opposed to so many changes in their environment, but the overwhelming attraction of being in transit coupled with my love of history motivated me through any barriers my anxiety presented. I think that trip cemented the belief that traveling was something I loved and held dear. A lot of my trips have been to the same place, i.e., my father’s homeland of Serbia. It is as familiar to me as my childhood home, and I have loved visiting every year. The food, the late evening walks for ice cream, and going to swim at the local pond are such sweet memories of summer. It is also an insight into my father’s childhood and absolute devotion to his hometown, and I have formed that connection too. In fact, that is travel’s quality: it opens one’s world to new adventures and perspectives that only come from visiting places where life goes by on its own clock. If you visit such a place enough times, you get to know its rhythm and pulse as well as your own. If someone offered me a trip to a brand-new destination - someplace I’ve never been - I would say yes, but in my experience, there is nothing like being somewhere with someone who is equally happy to be there. Whether it was my mother geeking out in the Benjamin Franklin house or my father shedding eleven months of stress and anxiety at the threshold of his childhood home, traveling with each of them is like being their accomplice on a memory-gathering mission. After all, we are just bits of neurons and carbon that look to our surroundings for self-definition, and what brings us comfort is each other, regardless of which continent is under our feet.
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Photos provided by Loreta Skucas
Niko Boskovic is a 22-year-old autistic adult from North Portland, Oregon who uses a
letterboard to communicate, advocate and share his passions and ideas. He graduated in 2019 with an Oregon high school diploma and currently takes classes at Portland Community College in writing and history. Niko is passionate about poetry, nature, family, and disability justice and is very pleased to be able to share his thoughts and experiences with youth, adults and families in autism communities through his monthly blog, Navigating with Niko. Navigating with Niko is part of a regular autistic adult advocacy series published at Autism Empowerment and Spectrum Life Magazine. To read Niko’s past and future articles, visit www.spectrumlife.org/navigatingwithniko. Facebook: @NikoBoskovicPDX
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Wake up! The war has started. An Autistic Lens on the War in Ukraine
Iryna SergiYenko - UKRAINE My younger brother Misha is diagnosed autistic, while I am peer-reviewed autistic. I am also the director of Child With Future Foundation. We advocate for autistic rights and run a number of projects in Ukraine. Before the full-scale invasion, my brother and I were staying at our parents’ house. With COVID, it was easier to stay together on the outskirts of Kyiv rather than in the city center in an apartment. By that point, Russian troops had been loitering near Ukrainian borders for months. Most of us did not believe anything would happen. It was just a scare tactic, we hoped. News for me came with my mom bursting into my bedroom with the words, “Ira, wake up! The war has started.” Honestly, my mind was blank. I couldn’t process the news. It was too unreal. Misha immediately started packing his backpack. I just went downstairs to figure out what the plan was for our family. We watched the news and searched the internet for answers. What was going on? What was going to happen? Some channels claimed everything would be over in two to three days. Or two to three weeks... Soon, in any case. We decided that we had enough food in the fridges and could store some extra in the basement. The roads would be busy anyway, and in traffic, we’d become an easy target. And we could hide out in the basement in case of a bombing. Misha was quite happy with that — everyone would be spending time together and we could play games all day! He has a whole collection of tabletop games and quite a few PC ones.
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As for myself, I was... I think I packed away my emotions that day. There were things to get done, calls to answer, panicking families reaching out for help. My phone was red with calls from parents fleeing the war and organizations offering to shelter Ukrainians across the world, to send help any way they could. It kept me busy, but it was too much for one person to deal with. So, I organized a Facebook group where both parents and organizations could exchange information. It helps people to this day. When the war began, I don’t think I really processed it. Despite Russia already invading us twice, it seemed unreal that they would actually start a full-scale war. How does one process the people that claimed to be your “brother nation” starting a genocidal war against you? Everything was uncertain except the fact that our family was standing together. I stayed busy helping my parents acquire fuel, water, food, and electricity. Entry to the shops was limited, so I stood in a long line with everyone else, carefully ignoring Kyiv air defenses going off a few streets over. Casual conversation included figuring out the types of missiles flying over our heads. I did not want to process it — just wanted to go on, focus on surviving and not falling apart. I had little energy for other things. Meanwhile, I watched Misha lose his spark. Nothing about staying home together went like he imagined. We barely had the energy to keep him company in the basement and watch him play solo games. He missed a birthday party he was invited to before the invasion. We were all concerned about food. There was a long list of worries and anxieties. Having friends is very important to Misha. He loves being social. COVID restrictions were hard on him,
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and the war just made it worse. That birthday party was the first one he was personally invited to, rather than a parent-to-parent invitation, and he was really looking forward to it. The war also scattered his friends across the globe, and he was worried for all of them. And for himself, too. With us being worried about food, Misha started to ration it. He would take very small portions, and we would have to remind him that we had enough, that we were doing okay, that he could eat. And still none of us could answer the main question: when will it be over? We all scoured the news every day, trying to understand, predict and plan... until the Bucha Massacre was discovered. We lived a ten-minute drive away from Bucha. We would’ve been next. Our parents made the decision to send us out of the country. We disagreed, of course. Staying together was the only point of stability we had. Not to mention the fear of leaving our parents in the warzone, or the anxiety of leaving without a plan, or... We agreed, in the end. Dad had a talk with both of us, telling us the rules to follow while we were driving to the border: Keep track of hiding places, towns and villages we drive past, so that we know where to go by foot. If our driver is wounded, leave him and get the hell out — wounded allies are a trap. If we have to walk on the road, walk in the middle because it is less likely to get mined. Don’t take off shoes or clothes during the 8-hour drive so you can escape fast. Ensure you have clear ways to get out of the car. Misha was told to follow my lead, and I was shown how to pull Misha along in case he froze up. It was brutal, having to have that kind of farewell. Misha didn’t know if he’d see either of our parents again. I was more focused on safely getting us to our destination. I don’t think anyone can fully understand what we went through unless they were there. And I am glad of that fact. I don’t want people to suffer this much. Misha heavily dissociated the whole trip. And after we were in France and safe, it still took him time to get out of that state. After that, he was lonely and had food anxiety on top of worrying about our parents being okay, having friends, and all the other stuff.
For me, I was struggling. Not only was my world turned upside-down, but I also had full responsibility for my brother. And I was constantly either in burnout, or on the edge of it. That summer...I am still not sure where I found the energy to do what needed to be done: taking care of my brother, doing my job with the foundation, giving interviews, lectures, finding us a place to rent, and a school to attend for Misha. Misha was working hard, too. He had to learn a lot of independence skills. I am not our mom, and I can’t cook all the time like she does on top of doing her job and all the other stuff. So I had to teach Misha how to plan meals, shop, and cook. Misha had to learn how to budget and what a reasonable and unreasonable expense is. He had to learn to navigate a new area — I was really lost when he couldn’t remember a simple route, but the autistic community came through for me. I posted a question and they offered ways to work around it. With Google Maps, Misha learned to navigate new cities and eventually travel by himself across the United Kingdom. I was annoyed at him a lot, and writing to the autistic group helped with that, too. It turned out that I was expecting him to be a roommate and have the appropriate skills while he was a teenager without said skills. Lowering my expectations helped. My friends had good advice. Talking to a psychologist helped. When I rented a flat, I cried. After I sent Misha to school, I think I spent a week just laying on the floor. I was that exhausted. It took me until Christmas to start finding my balance again. And still, I have plenty of days where I am exhausted and falling asleep. When mom came over to the U.K., we all cried. Misha was relieved because now he knew that he’d “have at least one parent.” It wasn’t easy. It was very hard, and I still wonder how in the world I managed to pull it off. How I didn’t break. I am still torn between wanting things to go back to the way they were before and accepting that things have irrevocably changed and I must make my path anew. And yet, I look forward with hope, counting down the square miles our army takes back from the Russian invaders.
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Iryna Sergiyenko is the director of Child With Future (www.cwf.com.ua), an international organization that advocates for the rights of autistic people in Ukraine. The organization was founded in 2010 by Iryna’s mother, Inna Sergiyenko. At the time, Ukraine did not have the required services or specialists, so her brother Michael was diagnosed in Israel, where the family also learned how to help communicate, grow, and develop. This blossomed into helping thousands of families with autistic children in Ukraine. As director, Iryna participates in various international events and platforms, such as International Autism Conferences and educational events at Stanford University. Iryna has worked as an interpreter from English to Ukranian since autism educational resources are often written or presented in English. She is a consultant on the implementation of practical inclusion in EU countries and Ukraine. In 2021, Iryna Sergiyenko became a co-author of Guide to Sexual Enlightenment and Building Relationships - a unique work that talks about the peculiarities of growing up, relationships and sexual health of people with autism. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, thanks to Iryna’s painstaking work as the director of Child With Future, thousands of Ukrainian families in the Motherland and abroad received the necessary and timely support and assistance — information, material, technical, and food. And the work will last as long as it takes - until Victory! Learn more about Iryna and her activities in this interview: https://bit.ly/cwfiryna 4 28• •www.zoomautism.org www.zoomautism.org
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Photos provided by Iryna Sergiyenko
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Autism and Moving Around the World: A Military Parent’s Perspective
Scott Campbell, MBA, U.S. Army LTC (Ret.) united states
sleeping, dressing, and toileting done every day have just been thrown out the window.
Picture yourself as an active duty military parent. Your family moves an average of every three years. You usually move to a place that you have never been before. Typically, you have little to no support from your extended family. It is constantly a new home, school, workplace, church, and community. All of the routines that you count on in day-to-day life to provide some modicum of consistency and normalcy abruptly change.
All of that is hard if you are still in the United States. What happens when you are plopped in a new country overseas?
When the time comes to move again, you know what to expect — you have already done this three times in the past ten years. But it doesn’t make it easier, especially when you have a child with autism. Every move means multiple appointments at the local medical clinic so you can then get in to see the specialists your child will need. Of course, that assumes that specialized care is even available in your new location. You have to set up a whole new round of respite care and find the necessary therapists. You try to get an adequate transitioning Individualized Education Program (IEP) started. The last school may not have tried too hard to meet his actual educational needs, and the new school may not either, since they know that in a few years, this kid will move on to someplace else. Maybe your child is on a self-prescribed or medically-prescribed diet. Where do you get that specific food that is all that he will or can eat? Kids with autism often do not do well with changes and transitions. Self-imposed routines or ones that are simply needed to ensure adequate and consistent attention to all of the very challenging activities of daily living are the way of life for many individuals with autism and their families. You just moved to a place that is completely different from the one they had barely gotten used to over the past three years. All the ways that you had figured out to get the eating, 4 30• •www.zoomautism.org www.zoomautism.org
The level of stress and lack of knowledge increases enormously. That favorite toy or the food that helped your child get through another day just broke or did not get shipped outside of the U.S. It can be a very serious struggle to get into a new routine and work past the seemingly endless changes. All of this can be so much more difficult if your child has significant behavioral challenges or has never spoken a single word in their life. Self-injurious behaviors can bring the police to your front door or can provoke a visit by the local child protective services office. Yet again, you have to try to explain why your child does what he does, when he may not know or be able to explain it himself. Sometimes, you have not yet figured out why he does what he does. You try your best to manage those behaviors, but you cannot put the required alarm and locks up in your new house since it is not permitted in your new military quarters. You have to explain again why they are required — that your child runs out of the house whenever he can to bodies of water where the chance of drowning is four times the rate of his unaffected siblings. He runs into traffic since he does not recognize any of the dangers in that action. You try so, so hard to do your best for your family and your child, knowing that something can happen in the blink of an eye, and all of your efforts may not be good enough. So, what do you do? The military does provide some additional support, depending on where you go. However, there are
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significant differences in the level and consistency of support provided by each branch of service. Fortunately, more support is being developed at various locations as time marches on, but it is still very unpredictable across the U.S. and even more so overseas. Your command may not be able to help and may not even care that much. In the military, you have a job to do. No matter how many distractions you may have to deal with at home, you had better do that job to your best ability at all times. You often have to choose between what is best for your family with your wonderful but challenging child and what you know you need to do for your job and to honor the oath that you have taken. That can be a very tough balancing act, and sometimes, you simply cannot get your balance. You love what you do to keep our nation safe, but it can be at the very real expense of keeping your own child safe, healthy, and away from the constant dangers. All the challenges involved in managing life with autism are hard, and you now have to make harder choices — before it’s time for your next move.
Photos provided by Scott Campbell
Scott Campbell is a retired Army officer and diplomat with 31 years of leadership and management experience. He has spoken at innumerable events and occasions to audiences in the hundreds and to those including four-star generals and senior civilian appointees. He has been a parent representative for the Fort Belvoir Hospital Behavioral Health Learning Collaborative team since May 2015. Since 2004, Scott has spoken at over 600 autism workshops and support group meetings in Northern Virginia, Southern Maryland, and over a dozen national forums on topics including advocacy, extended school year services, IDEA, safety, and more. He has provided over 400 safety and awareness training sessions for families and first responders.
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Military Family Resources
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Autism Empowerment and Zoom Autism Magazine would like to provide military families with the following resources. Department of Defense - Exceptional Family Member Program All Branches - https://efmpandme.militaryonesource.mil/ Air Force - https://bit.ly/airforceefmp Army - https://bit.ly/armyefmp Coast Guard (Special Needs Program) https://bit.ly/coastguardsnp Marine Corps - https://bit.ly/usmcefmp Navy - https://bit.ly/navyefmp Other Websites: Education Directory for Children with Special Needs https://efmpeducationdirectory.militaryonesource.mil/ Exceptional Military Family https://exceptionalmilitaryfam.com/ Military Child Education Coalition https://www.militarychild.org/ National Military Family Association https://www.militaryfamily.org/ Operation Autism - A Resource Guide for Military Families https://operationautism.org/ Podcasts: EFM Voices Podcast https://exceptionalmilitaryfam.com/efm-voices-podcast The Soldier For Life Podcast - Special Needs Awareness: Tips to Know https://usarmysoldierforlife.libsyn.com/s10e8-special-needs-awareness-tips-to-know Facebook Support: AMFAS - Military Families Autism Support Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/188336538576729 Exceptional Families of the Military Autism Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/efmaustim
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A m a z i n g A u t i s t i c A rt i s t s from Around the World Letting their lights shine for all of the world to see By Karen Krejcha and John Krejcha The world around us is filled with many wonderful, creative, passionate, talented autistic people. In this feature, we are happy to introduce you to different artists, musicians, and performers from around the globe. In addition to representing a variety of different cultures, we have included people with abilities that range across the autism spectrum. Some are nonspeaking. One is speaking but does not read or write. One also has Down syndrome. One is also blind. Many are under 20 years old. One is in her 60s and has three Guinness World Records to her name. You’ll meet artists who are supporting their families with blossoming entrepreneurial enterprises. Many also use their giftings to promote autistic advocacy and disability rights. One of our favorite autism ambassadors to learn about was Huillo, a 12-year-old songwriter and musician from Mexico who performed his song “Different is OK” onstage with his favorite band, Coldplay. What a way to promote inclusion! If you follow pop culture, you may recognize a few names in this feature, but most will probably be new to you. This was important to us. We believe all of us have gifts and strengths to share, and everyone should be given a chance to have the spotlight to shine. We are hoping that after reading the brief bios of the people highlighted here, you will visit their websites, explore their art, enjoy their illustrations, listen to their music or comedy, and support them with likes, shares, and even financial support if you are in a position to. They are all lights letting their light shine for the world to see and enjoy. Note: Because our space in Zoom Autism Magazine is limited, we could only feature a select number of pictures and artists, however we invite you to see an 4 • •www.zoomautism.org 34 www.zoomautism.org
extended version of this article online at https://bit.ly/autisticartists to enjoy a greater gallery! And... DRUMROLL please... In Spring 2024, Zoom Autism Magazine is planning a themed issue dedicated to showcasing autistic talent in all forms! So be sure to follow us on social media or email us at zoom@autismempowerment.org for more details on how you or a loved one can participate! Enjoy!
Africa
Kenya The Redfourth Academy of Music in Kenya has a specialized Redfourth Butterfly program and musical therapy center for students with disabilities. Two students on the autism spectrum who have been particular standouts include Daphney Chao and Ian Mungui. Daphney has been taking lessons in the Butterfly program longer than any other student and delights in singing gospel music. Ian is a newer student with absolute pitch who his mom, Njeri Mungui, brought into the program after seeing that her son learned how to play piano and read music independently. School founder Filah Tuju Philip believes Ian is a musical savant.
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Website: https://www.redfourthacademy.com/our-story/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfourthbutterfly YouTube: https://bit.ly/redfourthbutterflydaphneychao
Nigeria Kanyeyachkwu Tagbo Okeke (Kanye) is a young creative artist born in Nigeria in November 2009 who exhibits around the world each year. His work has graced the walls of several galleries and museums in Nigeria, Europe, the United States and other parts of Africa.
YouTube: https://bit.ly/redfourthbutterflyian
Nigeria Christine Mike-Nnaji, born in Galway, Ireland in 2005, faced a silent start to life, not uttering a word for the first four years. Upon returning to Nigeria in 2007, she was diagnosed with autism in 2009. For years, Christine who had been under therapy, sketched on old textbooks and loved arts and crafts. Nothing significant happened until during the pandemic in February 2021. At that time, online classes became the norm, but Christine didn’t respond well to learning in that format.
In a show of support, Christine’s parents bought her sketch pads and found out that she had a photographic memory and could absorb scenes and pictures as well as draw what she saw within a couple of hours on paper. Then she began drawing on canvas, and it was like she had been drawing for years. Christine’s debut exhibition in Lagos in April 2022 marked a profound turning point, unveiling her extraordinary artistic abilities and newfound zest for life. Website: https://puresoulslearning.com/exhibiting-artists/ christine-mike-nnaji/ Instagram: @/the__world_by_christine/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Ojj8xptVA
In September 2018, Kanye’s art was featured in Vienna, Austria at the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) art exhibition, themed “Scenes of Peace.” He became the youngest and first-ever African winner of the Flamme des Friedens (Flame of Peace) award. On his website, Kanye says his goals are “to daily defy the odds as a kid living with Autism, fulfilling God’s plan for my life as he has painted my heart with colors. To forever be an inspiration to other children living with Autism. As a contemporary Abstract Artist Extraordinaire, I define Autism, it doesn’t define me.” Website: https://kanyeyachukwu.com/home/ Instagram: @kanye_tagbo/ Interview: https://artbeat-ng.com/kanyes-really-got-so-much-to-say/
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South Africa Clayden Botes is an anti-bullying advocate and self-taught artist from Cape Town, South Africa, who hopes to become a digital animator. Born in late November 2007, Clayden has a robust website filled with designs, including his own clothing line which consists of vibrant t-shirts, sweatshirts, swimsuits, and footwear.
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ASIA On Clayden’s website, he shares, “I’m a 15-year-old Proudly Autistic Artist that can’t read or write, so I’m expressing myself through my art. Welcome to my World. Thank you for your support and helping me in the process to show the World that IT’S OK TO BE DIFFERENT. Website: https://claydensdesigns.com/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaydensDesigns/
Amrit Khurana is a young female artist who has had a fascination for colors, patterns, and rhythms from early childhood. Amrit speaks through her paintings with unbridled clarity. The inspiration is always the common people, the day-to-day affairs of men and women we pass by, never sparing a thought or a glimpse.
Twitter: @claydensworld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClaydensWorld15 Interview: https://bit.ly/claydeninterviewiol 4 • •www.zoomautism.org 36 www.zoomautism.org
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Japan Gaku Sato was born in Kanagawa, Japan in 2001, and suddenly started drawing and painting bright and vibrant colorful works at the age of 16. Since that time, he has had over 20 exhibitions, including solo exhibitions in New York and Japan.
Amrit was recently featured in the award-winning Jerry Rothwell documentary film, The Reason I Jump. Based on the book by Naoki Higashida, this immersive film explores the experiences of non-speaking autistic people around the world. Website: https://www.amritkhurana.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amrit.khurana.3 Instagram: @amritkhurana93
India Betsy Selvam is an autistic artist and student in her 20s from Vellore, India. In addition to creating art, she also enjoys writing, singing, and immersing herself in books, films, and music. Betsy has had a lifelong passion for literature and art and is currently pursuing her PhD. As a neurodivergent artist, Betsy hopes to use art and writing for positive change. The ordinary and easily overlooked aspects of life (such as a cloudy sky or a shifting curtain) inspire her to create art. She also finds frequent inspiration from her vivid dreams and nightmares. Gallery: https://stimpunks.org/gallery/#h-betsy-selvam
He has had collaborations with LeSportsac, The Body Shop, and Godiva. Crowdfunding of his art book GAKU, Paint! achieved 12 million yen. Website: https://bygaku.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqAhUj_QcZo
Gallery: https://www.kairassi.com/betsy
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Philippines Sevi Agregado is a talented 10-year-old crypto artist from Manila who sells his art through NFTs. In January 2018, at 5 years old, Sevi started attending weekly art therapy classes and enjoyed it so much that he has been painting ever since. In March 2018, Sevi participated in his first art exhibit and has participated in others since then, both on-site, online, and in the Metaverse. He has sold several of his physical paintings. In March 2021, Sevi became a crypto artist and has since sold his NFTs to collectors from Asia, North America, and Europe. As of October 2023, Sevi has earned around $16,000 from sales of his digital art — more than the average annual income of a Filipino adult. Website: https://lynkfire.com/Sevi Twitter: @SeviLovesArt Instagram: @sevilovesart
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France Christophe Pillaut was born in Iran in 1982 but now lives in France. Christophe has expressed himself through his painting since childhood. Because he’s unable to hold a paintbrush with his fingers, Christophe uses his entire hands as his brushes, dipping them in paint and touching his surfaces directly to apply acrylics to canvas, paper, or cardboard. His first exhibition took place in Paris when he was 13 years old. His work has been in numerous exhibitions worldwide. Website: https://christophepillault.jimdo.com/
Gigi Sichinava is an 18-year-old painter from Zugdidi, Georgia, who seeks to advance autism awareness and advocacy in his country. He practices advocacy through his colorful paintings, which have gained national recognition and appreciation. Gigi hopes to become a famous artist and to help children. He also wants to learn many languages. Currently, he is learning English. Next, he will study Russian and French. Facebook: Gigi’s Workshop www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063453707701
London, United Kingdom Stephen Wiltshire MBE, Hon. FSAI, Hon. FSSAA is an artist who draws and paints detailed cityscapes. He was born in London, United Kingdom to West Indian parents on April 24th, 1974. Stephen has a particular talent for drawing lifelike, accurate representations of cities, sometimes after having only observed them briefly. He was awarded an MBE for services to the art world in 2006.
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with the power of her voice, Susan defies preconceptions and reminds us all to never judge a book by its cover. In 2009, Susan applied to go on Britain’s Got Talent. Defying all odds, she brought the house down when she sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables. In 2012, she was diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
Stephen’s private art studio is located in Chelsea Harbour, London, UK. He continues to fulfill commissions, and collectors may request the unique opportunity to observe in person while he is creating artwork. Website: https://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/biography
Among Susan’s credits include eight studio albums, two Grammy nominations, three Guinness World Records, No. 1 albums in over 40 countries, 128 platinum and gold album certifications. She is one of only 17 female artists in the history of the UK charts to have three or more No. 1 albums in the UK. She’s had over 25 million albums sold, 250 million audio streams, and over 650 million YouTube hits and counting. Website: https://www.susanboylemusic.com/ Instagram: @susanboylemusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stephen.Wiltshire.Artist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stwiltshire/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Wiltshire
Scotland, United Kingdom Susan Boyle is a 62-year-old singer born in West Lothian, Scotland on April 1st, 1961. Described as a woman from a small Scottish council house, in a small
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Mexico Huillo (Luis Noel), a 13-year-old musician, songwriter, and autism activist, had the unique chance to perform his song “Different is OK” alongside Coldplay during their live show in Mexico City in April 2022. Scottish village, who fought back to take on the world
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Website: https://www.todossomoshuillo.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huillomusic Instagram: @huillo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@huillo
United States Viktor Bevanda is a 15-year-old nonspeaking autistic artist born in Serbia. In 2018, he moved to the United States with his family and now lives in Florida. Viktor is well-known on social media for his vivid, colorful oil pastels and poignant portraits. Some of his best-selling work includes sunflowers, butterflies, dogs, elephants, sea turtles, and leaf-munching giraffes. For Viktor, art is a means of communication and self-expression. By using art to communicate his thoughts, feelings, and emotions, he invites others into his world to see the beauty in his heart and mind. Website: https://vichysart.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vichysart/ Instagram: @vichys_art Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpks5KSwRKXfX9oK6MbKj9g
This extraordinary opportunity arose from a viral video shared in 2016 when Huillo and his family attended a Coldplay concert in Mexico City. During the performance of his favorite song, “Fix You,” Huillo was moved to tears. Both the 2016 and 2022 videos which showcased these special moments have received millions of views on YouTube. Huillo sings and plays a wide range of musical instruments. Huillo continues to write motivational songs and post videos on YouTube to inspire others. Recent selections include “My Story” and “Life is Short”. His parents have an organization, Todos Somos Huillo, where they hope to start a musical school to support Huillo and others like him in embracing their musical abilities. 40 4 • •www.zoomautism.org www.zoomautism.org
United States Kodi Lee is a 26-year-old blind and autistic musical prodigious savant who won the heart of Simon Cowell and America as the winner of America’s Got Talent, Season 14. Kodi’s amazing giftings include perfect pitch, musical expression, and a deep passion for all kinds of music. Additionally, Kodi has an audiophotographic memory, in which he can recall music after hearing it just one time. He is one of only approximately 25 people in the world today who possess extraordinary abilities at his level. Kodi has been performing his singing and piano expertise worldwide for many years, including at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City. His
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musical repertoire ranges from rock and pop to jazz, rhythm and blues, and his mastery of the classics such as Bach, Chopin, and Mozart. He recently started tap dancing, and he continues to amaze and delight with his musical expression through voice and dance. Website: www.kodileerocks.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kodileerocks Twitter: @Kodileerocks Instagram: @kodileerocks
United States Luna Rose is an autistic young adult who was diagnosed at age 18. She is a writer, artist, illustrator, and disabilities advocate who holds a degree in Informatics and volunteers at wikiHow, where her illustrations and nonfiction writing are used to help others have a greater understanding of autism and other disabilities.
OCEANIA Australia Hannah Gadsby was born in Tasmania in 1978, and in 2017, was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. They are an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedian. In 2006 they won the Australian Raw Comedy competition, which propelled them as a successful comedian, actor, and writer.
She also writes and illustrates fiction on Wattpad. Two of her most popular stories include Thousand Dollar Friend and Silent Voice. Instagram: @misslunarose.writes Blog: https://misslunarose.home.blog/ Wattpad:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/161920677-short-stories
wikiHow:
https://www.wikihow.com/Distinguish-Between-Autism-and-Other-Conditions
They have had several Netflix specials and series. Their 2022 memoir, Ten Steps to Nanette, traces Hannah’s growth as a queer person, to their ever-evolving relationship with comedy, and their struggle with late-in-life diagnoses of autism and ADHD, finally arriving at the backbone of Nanette: the renouncement of self-deprecation, the rejection of misogyny, and the moral significance of truth-telling. Website: https://hannahgadsby.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahgadsbycomedy/ Twitter: @hannahgadsby Instagram: @hannahgadsby
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Australia Tim Sharp is an Australian artist born in 1988. He is the creative mind behind the popular superhero character “Laser Beak Man.” His artwork is known for its vibrant colors, unique characters, and whimsical themes.
At age ten, his work was exhibited for the first time at Malaysia’s National Art Gallery as part of a group exhibition, “Different Strokes—Diversity Through Art.” Two years later, his work was shown in the United States when two educators, Laurence Becker and Rosa C. Martinez, collaborated on a New York exhibition, “Don’t ‘dis’ the Ability.”
In 2010, Tim’s work garnered international attention when Laser Beak Man was turned into an eight-episode animated television series screening in Australia on ABC3 TV. It was then sold to Cartoon Network Australia, New Zealand and Asia. In 2014, his TEDx Sydney talk received a standing ovation in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House and his memoir, A Double Shot of Happiness, was published in 2015.
A book about his life, “I Want To Be ARTIST”: An Autistic Savant’s Voice and A Mother’s Dream Transformed onto Canvas was published in 2017.
Website: https://laserbeakman.com/
Instagram: @pinglianyeak
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laserbeakman/ Instagram: @laserbeakman
Australia Ping Lian Yeak was born in Malaysia in November 1993. He has been living in Sydney, Australia since May 2006. Ping Lian is an internationally recognized artist. His artwork has been featured in exhibitions in the United States, UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.
Website: https://www.pinglian.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinglianyeak
New Zealand Pip Brown aka Ladyhawke is a Kiwi musician, songwriter, gamer, and pop personality born in New Zealand in July 1979. She was diagnosed with autism in 2006. She spent much of her childhood absorbed in music, loving to listen to the radio or her mother’s Beatles and Pretenders albums. In 2009, Pip won the New Zealand Music Awards for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Female Solo Artist, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and the International Achievement Award. Pip regularly streams on Twitch and will be touring again in 2024. Website: https://ladyhawkemusic.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ladyhawke/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ladyhawke
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to talk about his past for kids who go through bullying, and wanted them to know that it is possible to overcome the struggles. Website: https://www.lucasksenhuk.com/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LucasKsenhuk Instagram: @lucasksenhuk.art Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lucasksenhuk.art Interview: https://bit.ly/lucasksenhukinterview
Colombia Brazil Thiago Santos Fernandes was born on September 26, 2004 in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. A big fan of Dr. Who and superheroes, Thiago enjoys putting his imagination on paper and expressing his emotions through his drawings. Additional techniques include using pastel chalk and watercolor. Thiago has had his work displayed in online and in-person exhibitions and won awards in international competitions. On his Instagram page, he calls himself “a Designer in love with the Universe.” Instagram: @thiago26sfernandes Interview: https://bit.ly/artofautismthiago
Brazil Lucas Ksenhuk is a 21-year-old visual artist from Brazil who started drawing at the age of 9, developing his colorful stripes technique, always with lots of color. At the age of 11, he had already developed a collection of 30 notebooks, and his parents encouraged him to develop his drawings on canvas.
Santiago is a 16-year-old nonspeaking artist who uses abstract art to express himself. Santiago has Down syndrome and autism and considers art very therapeutic in his life. His mediums include gesso, acrylics, oil paint, oil pastel, charcoal, and more. Currently, Santiago spends his time between Colombia and Los Angeles, California, where he enjoys learning new art forms and practicing different techniques. When buying an original painting or an art print, the proceeds directly support Santiago’s art career and health care needs. SantiagoMakesArt is run by Santiago’s family team who is incredibly proud of him, wanting him to have the best life possible while sharing his story with the world. Website: https://santiagomakesart.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santiagomakesart Instagram: @SantiagoMakesArt
His unmistakable style became the talk of many street art exhibitions in São Paulo, including the Egg Parade, Cow Parade, Elephant Parade, Football Parade, Ear Parade, and Vitruvian Parade. In 2020, he published a book, A Real Story Created With Colorful Lines directed to children, pre-teens, and teens. He wanted
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Ecuador Ana Karina Valle Ocando is an artist from Ecuador known for the beauty and intensity of her photorealistic portraits. She described herself in 2022 during an interview with Guayaquil Radio as a doctor by profession, artist by vocation, and cartoonist by love.
Now that you have seen a small sampling of wonderful musicians, painters, comedians, and other talented artists worldwide, we’d like to give you some additional websites to visit that support and showcase autistic talent. The Art of Autism The Art of Autism is a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower and connect individuals within the autism community through participation in the Arts. The Art of Autism accepts many art forms, including blog posts, art, poetry, video submissions, and requests for book and film reviews. They seek diverse viewpoints from autistic people, family, and professionals. They also partner with organizations with similar goals for awareness, acceptance, educational events and the provision of opportunities for the people they serve. Website: https://the-art-of-autism.com/ Spectrum Arts: The Autism Arts Network Spectrum Arts seeks to create a community of organizations and professionals dedicated to providing and nurturing artistic opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum.
She also cares very much about the autism community, having written an extensive research paper while in graduate school about teaching sciences to college students on the autism spectrum. Her Artist page at Facebook, LapizArte, mi arte TEA de AKVO, showcases an extensive gallery of children, adults, seniors, and animals, each captured with intense emotion. Pictures and videos show Ana in the middle of her creative process. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LapizArte.AKVO Interview: https://bit.ly/anaocandoradio (Interview with Guayaquil Radio)
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The goal is providing a single platform to provide information and raise awareness of the impact the arts can make in the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum. Resources include Theatre, Drama and Visual Arts opportunities for participation throughout the United States. Website: https://www.spectrumartsautism.org/ Strokes of Genius®, Inc. Strokes of Genius is an arts organization founded to create a platform for autistic and savant artwork. Their art exhibitions provide opportunities for broad public outreach and accessibility to the arts by artists on the autism spectrum. Their hope is to remove existing barriers for their artists and to encourage the widest possible participation. With
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the support of nationally and internationally renowned artists, they bring exposure to participating and emerging artists. To join Strokes of Genius, Inc, contact Dr. Rosa C. Martinez at rosa@strokesofgenius.org to fill out a membership application. Website: https://strokesofgenius.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RCMPHD/ Zenaviv Zenaviv is a social enterprise on a mission to improve the lives of people on the autism spectrum. Artists earn 66% of the profits from the sale of their art, building their self-esteem and financial future. The remaining is put back into the company to further the mission. One of their initiatives is to get neurodivergent art in the workplace. In April 2023, they announced that more than 5,000 pieces of art created by neurodivergent artists were available for display to businesses across the United States. They also produce art gifts for the home, including greeting cards, mugs, magnets, tote bags, and puzzles.
Karen “Queen of the Canvas” Krejcha is co-founder of Autism Empowerment, where she serves as Executive Director and champions a culture of inclusion and collaboration through advocacy, compassion, and storytelling. She is the Editor of Spectrum Life Magazine and host of the Autism Empowerment Podcast. Karen was diagnosed as autistic in her 40s after the autism diagnosis of her two children. She has been married to John for over 31 years and is devoted to promoting acceptance, enrichment, inspiration, and empowerment for all human beings worldwide.
Website: https://www.zenaviv.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zenaviv/ Instagram: @zenaviv Email: Support@Zenaviv.com (to refer a new artist) We will also be including these as resources on our websites. If you know of any that we have missed, please let us know by emailing zoom@autismempowerment.org. Johnny “Acrylic” Krejcha is co-founder of Autism Empowerment, where he serves as Program Director and coordinates Community Outreach. He serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Spectrum Life Magazine and is co-host of the Autism Empowerment Podcast. John is married to co-founder Karen Krejcha and is the father of two amazing children and their feisty cat, Zula. While John is the only one in the family who is not on the autism spectrum, he is dyslexic and identifies as a neurodivergent and loving ally.
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Photo and Illustrations Credits Page Permission for the use of photos and illustrations for our Amazing Autistic Artists From Around the World article was generously provided to us by either the artist, the artist’s family, or via a Creative Commons license. This includes: 1. Photos of Kanyeachukwu courtesy of Kanyeachukwu’s family 2. Photos of Amrit Khurana courtesy of Aarti Khurana 3. Photos of Clayden Botes courtesy of Clayden Designs 4. Photos of Gigi Sichinava courtesy of Natia Sakhokia 5. Photos of Stephen Wiltshire courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 6. Photos of Susan Boyle courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 7. Photos of Huillo courtesy of Luis Vazquez 8. Artwork of Luna Rose courtesy of MissLunaRose 9. Photos of Hannah Gadsby courtesy of Guesswork Television and Hannah Gadsby 10. Photos of Gigi Sichinava courtesy of Natia Sakhokia 11. Photos of Santiago courtesy of Nico Segura (Santiago’s representative) 12. Photos of Ana Karina Valle Ocando courtesy of Ana Karina Ocando Also, on page 37, permission for the Gaku, Paint! image goes to the family of Gaku Sato. For additional photos and illustrations, please see an extended version of this article on our website at: https://bit.ly/autisticartists
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By Gretchen McIntire (Leary)
Stephen: My first international trip was to Dublin, Ireland. I went because there was a conference organizer who asked me if I would speak at his conference and it seemed to be a pretty cool thing to do. I also thought it would be incredibly complicated to apply for and get a passport, but it wasn’t. So that was my first trip. I talked about life on the autism spectrum. Somebody at the end of my presentation gave me a small harp and so I plucked it a little bit and I realized I could just play “Auld Lang Syne” on it, so I did. That was on a pentatonic scale. So that was fun. They liked it. They all sang, and it was good. Gretchen: What is one tip that has greatly helped you cope with the anxiety of being on a plane?
World traveler Dr. Stephen Shore is the Guest Editor for Zoom Autism Magazine Issue #20, Autism Around the World. In Fall 2019, he was interviewed in Issue #16, Traveling the Spectrum Way. Since many readers may not have seen Stephen’s original interview, which ties directly to our global theme, we are reprinting Stephen’s globetrotting advice below. Gretchen McIntire (Leary), Guest Editor of Issue 16, Traveling the Spectrum Way, interviews Stephen Shore, an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University. He is the author of several books, including “College for Students with Disabilities” and “Beyond the Wall”. He travels the world speaking at over 1,000 conferences about his experience with Autism and has visited 47 states and 49 countries. In November 2019, he will have traveled to his 50th country to talk about autism – Italy. Stephen took the time to give us a highlight reel of his travels and some travel tips for those with Autism. Gretchen: You’ve been to so many amazing places around the globe. Where was your first international trip to, and why did you go there?
Stephen: I guess I’m lucky because I’ve never been anxious while on a plane unless I thought it was going to get delayed and I would miss a connecting flight. I enjoy being on a plane and even enjoy the turbulence. I know that there are many people who do get anxious. Some things that they can do to relax are taking deep breaths or thinking about something else. Planes are pretty tough and can take all the turbulence that gets thrown at them. Gretchen: Have you ever traveled by train? If so, where did you go? What was it like sensory-wise? Stephen: Places I have been on a train include Alaska (which was a great sightseeing trip), New Zealand, and also from Portugal to Spain. I did an overnight train once. There was a nice rhythmic pattern to train travel as it goes across the tracks, particularly the scenes of the tracks. Gretchen: Of all your trips around the world, which of your trips felt the most challenging culture shock and why? Stephen: I don’t know if I’ve had much in the way of culture shock because I always research where I
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am going. I always go into [trips] realizing that there are going to be a lot of different things because people do things differently. I had some great experiences with other cultures, such as staying in a Japanese person’s home and using their hot tub, which is a very traditional type of thing to do. I enjoyed doing that. I needed to be careful to remember that soaking in the tub was exactly that. It’s not really for washing. You wash yourself taking a shower first, and then you go in. The grossest thing I have eaten is Natto, which are fermented soybeans. They are basically a tactile and taste violation. Tactfully, they are pretty sticky and gluey, so if you pick one or two up with chopsticks, there will be like a long spread of glue-like thing causing it to stick to the rest of them. I did turn down eating worms and monkey brains in Lima, Peru. I wasn’t interested in eating those. I thought that the monkey brains were probably better if they remained inside the monkey. Gretchen: Tell us about your favorite trip. Why was it your favorite? What did you see? Going to Israel. I’ve been there three times. There are so many historical things to see. The food is good too. There’s a certain energy about the place. Swimming in the Dead Sea. I remember going there with another autistic advocate and she told me that people don’t really swim there due to its high salt content. It was like swimming in semi-congealed JELLO. You can’t really swim, but that’s fine too, and you can’t sink even if you try. If you stand straight up, you might go down to mid-chest, but no lower than that. It’s a pretty cool thing to do.
I want to say Saudi Arabia was the most difficult. I wouldn’t really say it was really difficult, but it was the most different place than anywhere I have ever been. Customs were very different and I think the organization of the conference was looser than I was used to. For example, I missed giving a presentation while visiting the vendor area. The problem was that no one told me I was to give a presentation. Other than that, the people were very nice. Gretchen: Do you have a special routine that’s strictly for when you are traveling or is it entirely different for each trip?
Gretchen: Which trip was the most difficult? Why?
Stephen: Well, it usually starts with packing the night before. It’s not a frenzied packing but it’s because I’ve packed so many times that I have got the routine down that I can pack for an international trip in about twenty to thirty minutes.
Stephen: Probably the most difficult trip was one to Taiwan, mainly because I had injured my back and I needed to get around in a wheelchair. But culturally, that wasn’t difficult.
It’s really just a matter of applying the formula of days spent traveling plus one in terms of quantity of clothes. Being an international trip, it’s probably going to take all day to get there, so that’s one change
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of clothes (the clothes you’re wearing) plus however many days you’re there (such as five, for example). So you need five sets of clothing, and then it’s going to take one day to get back (so that’s the sixth), and then I have a seventh in case there is an unexpected delay somewhere. I also make sure that I don’t check baggage and it’s all in the carry-on. If it doesn’t fit in the carry-on, it doesn’t go. Gretchen: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from traveling to so many different states and countries? Stephen: The biggest lesson is that autistic people are the same everywhere you go. I’ve also found that parents, teachers, and others who support autistic people all want the same thing, and that is to increase quality of life and reduce suffering. Stephen: Well, almost all of it is for business, but then again, traveling for business which is speaking at conferences is fun, so it’s kind of hard to differentiate between the two. But, I guess, the few times I’ve traveled when I don’t have to speak at a conference, it will be with my wife. I think they call that a vacation. It’s fun to do too. Certainly, more time to explore the country and learn more about its culture. Gretchen: What is your favorite part about traveling around the world? What is your least favorite? Stephen: Favorite thing is flying in airplanes, exploring new cultures, and meeting new people in the autistic community. My least favorite thing is when I need to be in two places at once because if there’s something that needs to be done at home and at the same time I’m traveling or if two conferences want me to speak at the same time and then I have to choose one of them, and I would really like to speak at both. Gretchen: How is traveling a different experience when it is for business or work versus for fun?
Gretchen: What advice would you offer our readers who are going on their very first trip away from home in terms of what to pack for coping tools?
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It’s always best to bring clothing that doesn’t need ironing. If you need to iron, you can take a nice hot shower with the clothes hanging in the bathroom to steam out any wrinkles. Reducing the number of shoes to as few as possible saves a lot of space. It’s also possible to buy things cheap if you didn’t bring enough of them or you could wash them in the hotel room. In November, I will have traveled to Italy, my 50th country to talk about autism. My international travels have taught me that autistic individuals are the same no matter where I go. While it is very exciting and rewarding to travel, especially internationally, to see how autistic individuals are supported, there can be great challenges to getting around – especially when irregularities occur in foreign countries. Getting through challenges just requires patience and, at times, some divergent thinking. Stephen: If noise is bothersome, then earplugs or noise-canceling headphones are recommended, especially if you’re going to watch movies from the entertainment system on the airplane or on your own computer or iPad. The headphones you bring are much better quality than the ones that they give you on the plane.
This article is a reprint from Zoom Magazine Issue 16 - Traveling the Spectrum Way from Fall 2019. To read the original issue online, visit: https://bit.ly/zoomautism16
Planes tend to be noisy, so if you use regular earbuds, you have to turn them up so high that they will hurt your ears because you have to overcome ambient noise. For those who like to sort of settle in and sleep, a window seat is good. It’s also interesting to look outside, and you have something to lean on when you sleep. For those of you who need to get up and walk around or go to the bathroom frequently, an aisle seat will be better. Bringing a small weighted object, like a very small weighted blanket (or something else that’s kind of heavy), can be calming as well, but it’s important to keep in mind your airline will also have weight restrictions. So that can be a challenge.
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Photos provided by Stephen Shore
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8 Additional Tips for Autistic Travelers By Dr. Stesensory or calming rooms. phen Shore 7. Avoid renting a car as there can be long delays in Diagnosed with “Atypical Development and strong obtaining a vehicle which often requires taking a autistic tendencies” and “too sick” for outpatient shuttle from the airport. However, if not possible, at Dr.IStephen Shore was nonspeaking until the end of yourItrip, 8treatment, A D D T I O N A L T I P S F O R AU T I ST C T R AV E L E R S B Y age 4 and recommended for institutionalization. allocate additional time for a potential slow return of With much support from his parents, teachers, wife, the vehicle and a shuttle ride back to the airport. and others, Stephen is now a professor, consultant, 8. Use only carry-on luggage where possible. This and author on lifespan issues pertinent to education, saves time checking and retrieving baggage as well relationships, employment, and self-advocacy. He is as eliminates the possibility of the airline misplacing also a world traveler — he has presented, consulted, your bag. BONUS: Because of the rule that a passenand led workshops to improve the lives of autistic ger’s baggage must travel with them, a checked bag people in more than 50 different countries around often constrains a passenger from jumping on an althe world. ternative flight when scheduling irregularities occur. With that much time spent in the air, Stephen has * As awesome as it would be for everyone to accept, some practical tips for autistic people who are preembrace, and support our neurological differences, paring to travel by plane. we need to be mindful of the personal space and The tips below were originally included after “Get possible perceptions of others. We need to be careful Globetrotting Advice with Dr. Stephen Shore” in about security and think about customs when travelZoom Autism Magazine Issue #16. The sidebar was ing to places that may not yet be progressive or inclucalled “8 More Travel Tips from Stephen Shore”. They sive in understanding or welcoming autistic people. are being reprinted here with slight modifications for Dr. Stephen Shore is a full-time professor at Adelphi context. University and adjunct at NYU Steinhardt School of 1. When in the air, try to keep within the confines of Culture, Education, and Human Development. His your seat to avoid bothering other passengers. While most recent book, College for Students with Disyou may feel a need to rock, hum or otherwise stim abilities, combines personal stories and research for for self-regulation, space is limited for everyone. Do promoting success in higher education. A current your best to find alternative means of doing so such board member of Autism Speaks, the Organization as a therapy ball or other quiet fidget devices. * for Autism Research (OAR), American Occupational 2. When in the airport, pacing while waiting in long Therapy Foundation (AOTF), president emeritus of airport security lines causes suspicion in airport the Asperger/Autism Network, and advisory board personnel. * member of the Autism Society, Dr. Shore also serves 3. Visually fixating on the overwhelming stimuli in on the boards of numerous other autism-related airports can make fellow travelers anxious. * organizations. He combines personal, practical, and 4. Monitor the time so you don’t miss your flight! academic experiences to promote fulfilling and pro5. When traveling internationally – especially when ductive lives for autistic and otherwise neurodiveryou don’t speak that country’s language – make sure gent individuals as the rule rather than the exception. if you have a host, that they meet you at a designated place in the Arrivals hall holding a sign with your name. Similarly, having someone meet you when flying domestically is helpful as well. 6. Delays, cancellations, and other irregularities are becoming the rule rather than the exception in aviation. Chapels, unoccupied gates, and airline lounges (for a fee though) can be great for getting away from the noisy hustle and bustle of an airport. Some airports like the Shannon Airport in Ireland, may have
Dr. Stephen Shore
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Diagnosed with “Atypical Development and strong autistic tendencies” and “too sick” for outpatient treatment, Dr. Stephen Shore was nonspeaking until age 4 and recommended for institutionalization. With much support from his parents, teachers, wife, and others, Stephen is now a professor, consultant, and author on lifespan issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, and self-advocacy. He is also a world traveler — he has presented, consulted, and led workshops to improve the lives of autistic people in more than 50 different countries around the world. With that much time spent in the air, Stephen has some practical tips for autistic people who are preparing to travel by plane. The tips below were originally included after “Get Globetrotting Advice with Dr. Stephen Shore” in Zoom Autism Magazine Issue #16. The sidebar was called “8 More Travel Tips from Stephen Shore”. They are being reprinted here with slight modifications for context. 1. When in the air, try to keep within the confines of your seat to avoid bothering other passengers. While you may feel a need to rock, hum or otherwise stim for self-regulation, space is limited for everyone. Do your best to find alternative means of doing so such as a therapy ball or other quiet fidget devices.*
Some airports like the Shannon Airport in Ireland, may have sensory or calming rooms. 7. Avoid renting a car as there can be long delays in obtaining a vehicle which often requires taking a shuttle from the airport. However, if not possible, at the end of your trip, allocate additional time for a potential slow return of the vehicle and a shuttle ride back to the airport. 8. Use only carry-on luggage where possible. This saves time checking and retrieving baggage as well as eliminates the possibility of the airline misplacing your bag. BONUS: Because of the rule that a passenger’s baggage must travel with them, a checked bag often constrains a passenger from jumping on an alternative flight when scheduling irregularities occur. *As awesome as it would be for everyone to accept, embrace, and support our neurological differences, we need to be mindful of the personal space and possible perceptions of others. We need to be careful about security and think about customs when traveling to places that may not yet be progressive or inclusive in understanding or welcoming autistic people.
2. When in the airport, pacing while waiting in long airport security lines causes suspicion in airport personnel.* 3. Visually fixating on the overwhelming stimuli in airports can make fellow travelers anxious.* 4. Monitor the time so you don’t miss your flight! 5. When traveling internationally – especially when you don’t speak that country’s language – make sure if you have a host, that they meet you at a designated place in the Arrivals hall holding a sign with your name. Similarly, having someone meet you when flying domestically is helpful as well. 6. Delays, cancellations, and other irregularities are becoming the rule rather than the exception in aviation. Chapels, unoccupied gates, and airline lounges (for a fee though) can be great for getting away from the noisy hustle and bustle of an airport.
Dr. Stephen Shore is a full-time professor at Adelphi University and adjunct at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. His most recent book, College for Students with Disabilities, combines personal stories and research for promoting success in higher education. A current board member of Boston Higashi School, Autism Speaks, the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), president emeritus of the Asperger/Autism Network, and advisory board member of the Autism Society, Dr. Shore also serves on the boards of numerous other autismrelated organizations. He combines personal, practical, and academic experiences to promote fulfilling and productive lives for autistic and otherwise neurodivergent individuals as the rule rather than the exception.
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Welcome to our global snapshot of Autism and Autistic-led organizations worldwide. At Autism Empowerment and through our nonprofit publications Zoom Autism Magazine and Spectrum Life Magazine, we have a vision of spreading Autism Acceptance, Enrichment, Inspiration, and Empowerment throughout all four corners of the globe. Borders should not define or confine support. We believe all of us have gifts and strengths to share, and that there is empowering value in connecting with autistic youth, adults, and families around the world. We’ve curated a list of links to autism organizations and initiatives in 152 nations and territories to make it easier for you to explore the diverse world of autism support. The heart of our initiative is to provide information, resources, and connections to storytelling from many cultures. By sharing different organizations in our global community, we hope you’ll explore, engage, and discover which organizations resonate with your unique journey. As you visit these sites, you’ll discover personal stories of triumph, programs that inspire, and photos from different cultures that shine a light on our global reach. You’ll also see a wide range of diversity in cultural acceptance and inclusion. Many of these organizations offer much more than services; they offer a sense of belonging, strength, and hope. We invite you to dive in, explore their work, and perhaps find the support or inspiration you’ve been seeking. Whether you’re an autistic adult, a family member, a caregiver, an ally, or a curious visitor, we hope this global snapshot will ignite your curiosity and encourage you to be a part of the global conversation on autism acceptance, education, and empowerment. We have put an asterisk * in front of the organizations that we know are autistic-led. Enjoy! All links were active as of November 1st, 2023. We do not have space to include all organizations. This list is for informational and educational purposes only. Inclusion or exclusion does not mean recommendation, endorsement, or lack thereof. * = Autistic-led organization
A Afghanistan Aschiana Foundation https://www.aschiana-foundation.org/ Albania Albanian Children Foundation www.albanianchildren.org Angola Angola Children Autism Center https://childrensautismcenter.org/ Anguilla ISpeak Autism Society Anguilla https://www.facebook.com/ispeakaxa/ Antigua and Barbuda Blue Dragon Foundation https://bluedragonflyantigua.org/ Argentina Asociación Argentina de Padres de Autistas (APADEA) https://apadea.org.ar/ Asociación Asperger Argentina - http://asperger.org.ar/ Armenia Bridge of Hope (Autism National Center) https://www.hopebridge.com/ Australia *Aspergers Victoria (AV) - https://aspergersvic.org.au/ *Reframing Autism - https://reframingautism.org.au/ *Yellow Ladybugs - https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/ Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia - http://a4.org.au/ AutismCRC - https://www.autismcrc.com.au/ Autism Family Support Association (AFSA) https://www.afsaconnect.org.au/ Autism Tasmania - https://www.autismtas.org.au/ Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/ Autism Western Australia - https://www.autism.org.au/
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Austria Österreichische Autistenhilfe (Austrian Autism Support) https://www.autistenhilfe.at/
Botswana Autism Botswana https://www.facebook.com/AutismBotswana/
Azerbaijan Ferqli Ferdler Congress - https://ferqliferdler.com/ House of Dreams https://www.instagram.com/houseofdreamssic
Brazil Associação Brasileira de Autismo (ABRAAC) https://www.abraac.org/
B
Brunei SMARTER Brunei - https://smarterbrunei.com/
Bahamas Seahorse Institute - https://seahorseinstitute.org/
Bulgaria Bulgarian Society for Autism https://childrenofbulgaria.org/
Bahrain Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioral & Communication Difficulties https://childbehavior.khairplus.com/
Burkina Faso Satori Moana - Troubles du Spectre de l’Autisme https://www.facebook.com/satorimoana/
Bangladesh Autistic Children’s Welfare Foundation https://www.acwf-bd.org/ Protibondhi Foundation - https://www.bpfbd.org/ Barbados Autism Empowerment Barbados https://www.facebook.com/groups/1882120912101725/ The Autism Association of Barbados www.autismbarbados.org Belarus BelAPDIiMI - https://www.starofhope.us/belarus/ Belgium * LAVA - Lees en Adviesgroep van Volwassenen met Autisme - https://www.lavavzw.be/ Autisme Centraal - https://www.autismecentraal.eu/ Belize Autism Belize - https://autismbelize.org/ Bermuda Bermuda Autism Support & Education https://bermudaautism.bm/ Bhutan Ability Bhutan Society - https://absbhutan.org/ Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of Parents of Children with Autism in BiH https://leader.pubs.asha.org/
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C Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) Autism for Cape Verde https://cvnetworktv.com/autism-for-cape-verde/ Cambodia Cambodian Autism Association http://autismservicescambodia.com/ Cameroon Ray of Hope Academy http://breadforlife.org/ray-of-hope-academy/ Canada *Autistic Advocacy Coalition of Canada https://londonautistics.wordpress.com/national-coalition/ *Autistic United Canada https://www.autisticsunitedca.org/ *London Autistics Standing Together (LAST) https://londonautistics.wordpress.com/ Autism Alliance of Canada - https://autismalliance.ca/ Autism Canada - https://autismcanada.org/ Autism Today Foundation - https://www.autismtoday.ca/ ANCA (Naturally Autistic) https://www.naturallyautistic.com/ Cayman Islands Autism Society of the Cayman Islands https://www.autismcayman.com/
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Chile Association of Parents and Friends of Autism (ASPAUT) https://www.aspaut.cl/ China Beijing Stars and Rain Institution http://autismchina.org/ China Association of Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities (CAPPD) - http://www.cappd.org/ Shenzhen Autism Association - http://www.sas.org.cn/ Columbia Lica - https://ligautismo.org/ Congo, DR and Republic Autism Congo - https://autismcongo.org/ Cook Islands Autism Cook Islands https://www.autismcookislands.org/ Costa Rica ASCOPA-Autism https://es-la.facebook.com/groups/ascopaautismo/ Croatia *ASK - https://www.facebook.com/udrugaask Association for the Care of Autistic Persons https://autizam-ri.hr/ Autism Association Zagreb http://www.autizam-zagreb.com/ Cyprus Cyprus Association for Autistic Persons (CAAP) https://www.autismsociety.org.cy/ Cyprus Autism Association https://www.facebook.com/p/ Cyprus-Autism-Association-100068993328437/ Czech Republic *Adventor - https://www.adventor.org/ Deti Uplinku (Children of the full moon) https://detiuplnku.cz/
D Denmark *Autisme - og Aspergerforeningen https://autisme-asperger.dk/ *Autisme Ungdom - https://www.autismeungdom.dk/
Autisme Danmark https://www.autismeforeningen.dk/ Center for Autsme - https://www.centerforautisme.dk/ Specialisterne - https://specialisterneitalia.com/ Dominican Republic Dominican Autism Foundation https://fundaciondominicanadeautismo.org/
E Ecuador Fundación Huellahttps://www.facebook.com/fundaciondejandohuellasecuador/ Egypt The Egyptian Autistic Society - http://egyptautism.com/ Advance Society for Autism and other Disabilities https://www.advance-society.org/ El Salvador Fundación CINDE - https://cinde.org.co/ Equatorial Guinea Autismo Guinea Equatorial https://www.linkedin.com/in/autismo-guinea-equatorial0b63431b0/?originalSubdomain=gq Eritrea Ethiopian Eritrean Special Needs Community (EESNC) https://eesnc.org/ Estonia *Eesti Autistlike Naiste Ühing - https://eany.ee/ *Estonia Autistic Association https://aspiyhing.wordpress.com/ The Estonian Autism Association https://www.autismiliit.ee/ Eswatini Autism Eswatini - https://autismeswatini.com/ Ethiopia Ethiopian Eritrean Special Needs Community (EESNC) https://eesnc.org/ Nehemiah Autism Center - https://nehemiah-autism.org/ Europe *European Council of Autistic People - https://eucap.eu/ Autism Europe - https://www.autismeurope.org/
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F Fiji Autism Fiji - https://www.facebook.com/autismfiji/ Finland *Suomen Autismikirjon Yhdistys ry - https://asy.fi/ Autismiliitto (The Finnish Association for Autism) https://www.autismisaatio.fi/ Finland - Autism Foundation Finland https://www.epr.eu/member/autism-foundation-finland-aff/ France *Cle Autistes - https://cle-autistes.fr/ Autisme France - https://www.autisme-france.fr/ Foundation de France https://www.fondationdefrance.org/en/autism French Guiana Atipa Autisme - https://www.atipa.fr/
G Gambia (Republic of The Gambia) Autism Gambia - https://autismgambia.org/ Gambia Association for Autism and Developmental Disabilities https://www.facebook.com/AutismGambia/ Georgia Autism Research and Development Foundation (ARDF) https://www.ardf-online.org/ Germany *Aspies e.V. 11 - https://aspies.de/ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen (DGAS) https://www.autismus.de/ Ghana Autism Society of Ghana https://www.facebook.com/ASOG.gh/ Greece Greek Society for Autistic People (GSPAP) https://autismgreece.gr/ Grenada Autistic Foundation of Grenada - https://afgrenada.com/
Guam Autism Community Together https://www.facebook.com/autismguam Guatemala Fundación para el Autismo de Guatemala (FUNAUTISMO) https://www.autismoguate.org/ Guyana Guyana Greenheart Autistic Society https://www.facebook.com/people/ Guyana-Greenheart-Autistic-Society/100068762270408/
H Haiti Haitian Autism Parents Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/545689649428814 Honduras Honduran Association for the Support of Autistics Apo-Autis https://www.apoautishn.org/ Hong Kong Autism Partnership LTDhttp://www.autismpartnership.com.hk/ Society for the Welfare of the Autistic Person www.swap.org.hk Hungary Hungarian Autistic Society - https://aosz.hu/ Mars alapitvany https://marsalapitvany.hu/mars-foundation/
I Iceland The Icelandic Autistic Society - https://www.einhverfa.is/ India Action for Autism - http://www.autism-india.org/ Autism Society of India - http://autismsocietyofindia.org/ SOCH - https://sochindia.org/ Indonesia Autism Society of Indonesia - https://autismindonesia.org/ Yayasan Autisma Indonesia - https://autisme.or.id/ Iran Iranian Autism Association (Sazman-e-Autism-e-Iran) https://en.irautism.org/
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Iraq Imam Hussain Autism Institute https://imamhussain.org/english/28363 Ireland ASD Ireland - https://www.asdireland.ie/ Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland https://aspire-irl.org/ Irish Society for Autism - https://autism.ie/ Israel The Israeli Autism Association - OTI - https://oti.org.il/ The Israeli Society for Autistic Children - ALUT https://alutfriends.org/ Italy *Asperger Pride - https://aspergerpride.it/ *Associazione Neuro-Peculiar https://neuropeculiar.com/ Autism Service - https://www.autismservice.it/ Autismo Italia - https://www.autismo.it/ The Italian Association for Assistance to Autistic Children - https://www.aiaba.it/
J Jamaica Autism Jamaica - https://www.autismjamaica.org/ Japan Asperger Society Japan - http://www.as-japan.jp/ Japan Autism Society -
https://www.omicsonline.org/societies/autism-society-of-japan/
Jordan Jordanian Society for Autism -
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100042494835236
K Kazakhstan Hand in Hand - https://autism.kg/ Kenya Autism Society of Kenya - http://www.autismkenya.org Autism Support Center - http://www.autismcenterkenya.org/ Kenya Autism Alliance https://www.kenyaautismalliance.org/ Ready Aiders Foundation - https://readyaiders.ngo/
Kosovo National Association of Autism of Kosovo https://solidar-suisse-kos.org/galleries/national-association-of-autism-of-kosovo/
Kuwait Kuwait Center for Autism - https://autism.gov.kw/ Kyrgyzstan Hand in Hand - https://autism.kg/
L Laos Lao Autism Association - http://www.laoautism.org Latvia Autisma asociācija (Autism Society of Latvia) https://www.autisms.lv/ Lebanon Lebanese Autism Society (AWSL) https://www.autismlebanon.org/ Autism Awareness Association https://aaa-autism.org/ Lesotho Autism Lesotho https://www.facebook.com/www.autismlesotho.co.ls/ Liberia Liberia Autism Project for Positivity & Awareness https://cdotfoundation.org/ Libya Autism Awareness in Libya https://www.facebook.com/groups/137007256320948 Lithuania LAA Lietaus vaikai - https://asociacija.lietausvaikai.lt/ Luxembourg Autisme Luxembourg - https://www.autisme.lu/
M Macau Macau Autism Association https://www.facebook.com/MacauAutism/ Madagascar Autisme Madagascar - https://www.autismemadagascar.org/
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Macedonia Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism http://esipp.eu/ Autism Macedonia-Blue Firefly https://sinasvetulka.mk/ Malawi Hope for Autism Foundation in Malawi http://www.hopeforautismmalawi.org/ Malaysia Hua Ming Autism Society - http://www.autism.org.my/ The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) https://www.nasom.org.my/ Maldives Maldives Autism Association http://maldivesautismcentre.org/ Mali Mali Autism Awareness Kenya https://www.facebook.com/maliautismkenya/ Malta *Autistic Persons Working Group of the Autism Advisory Council https://www.facebook.com/AutismAdvisoryCouncil Autism Parents Association Malta https://www.autismparentsassociation.com/ The Malta Autism Centre https://www.facebook.com/autismcentremalta Martinique Martinique Autisme https://www.martiniqueautisme.fr/ Mauritius Autisme Maurice - https://autismemaurice.org/ Mexico ACCespecialistas - https://www.accespecialistas.com/ Domus Instituto de Autismo http://www.institutodomus.org/ Moldova Autism Moldova - http://autismmoldova.md/
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Mongolia Javzandulam Ganbold https://www.meridian.org/profile/javzandulam-ganbold/ Autism Association of Mongolia - http://autism.mn/ Myanmar Myan Autism Association (MAA) http://autismmyanmar.org/
N Namibia Autism Association of Namibia http://www.autism-namibia.org/ Nepal Autism Care Nepal Society -https://autismnepal.org/ Netherlands *Autisme Digitaal - https://www.autismedigitaal.nl/ *Autminds - https://www.autminds.nl/ *PAS Nederland - https://www.pasnederland.nl/ Expat Special Educational Needs Group https://www.eseng.nl/ Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme (NVA) https://www.autisme.nl/ New Zealand *Autistic Collaboration - https://autcollab.org/about/ Autism New Zealand - https://autismnz.org.nz/ Nigeria Patrick Speech and Languages Centre https://pslcautism-ng.org/ PureSouls Learning Foundation https://puresoulslearning.com/ Norway Autismeforeningen i Norge https://autismeforeningen.no/
O Oman Muscat Autism Center https://www.facebook.com/muscatautismcenter/
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P Pakistan Autism Society of Pakistan - http://autismpak.com/ Pakistan Autism Society https://pakistanautismsociety.com/ Palestine Autism Superhero Palestine https://www.autismsuperpali.org/ Panama Fundación Soy Capaz http://fundacionsoycapaz.org.pa/ Peru Association of Parents and Friends of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASPAU) https://www.autismoaspauperu.com/ Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru https://www.en.annsullivanperu.org/
Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation https://raa.ro/ Russia Autism Challenge Center - https://autismchallenge.ru/ Rwanda Autisme Rwanda - https://autismerwanda.org/
S Saint Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts Spectrum Services Center https://www.stkittsspectrumservices.com/ St. Lucia Autism Society of St.Lucia -
www.facebook.com/Autism-Society-of-StLucia-100064811706397/
Samoa Mea’Alofa Autism Support Center https://learnwithmasc.org/
Philippines Autism Society Philippines http://www.autismsocietyphilippines.org/
Saudi Arabia Saudi Autism Society - https://saautism.org.sa/1/ Society of Autism Families - https://www.saf.org.sa/
Poland Autism-Poland Association - https://autyzmup.org/
Serbia Serbian Society of Autism - https://autizam.org.rs
Portugal *Associação Portuguesa Voz do Autista https://vozdoautista.pt/ Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo (APPDA) http://www.appda-lisboa.org.pt/ Associacao Vencer Autismo - www.vencerautismo.org
Seychelles Seychelles Autism Association https://www.facebook.com/PearlSeychelles/
Q Qatar Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs (QSRN) - https://qsrn.org/
R Romania *Asociația suntAutist - https://www.su`ntautist.ro/ Association of Parents of Children with Autism www.autismromania.ro
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Autistic Society https://sierraleoneautisticsociety.org/ Singapore Autism Association (Singapore) https://www.autismlinks.org.sg/ Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) https://www.autism.org.sg/ Slovakia Autisicke centrum Andreas https://andreas.sk/ Slovenia Institute of Autism Spectrum Disorders http://zora.instavtizem.org/
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Solomon Islands Pacific Autism Family Network https://www.pacificautismfamily.com/ Somalia Autism Somalia Center - https://autismsomaliacenter.org/ Somali Parents Autism Network https://www.somaliautism.org/ South Africa Autism South Africa - https://www.aut2know.co.za/ Autism Resources South Africa https://www.autismresources.co.za/ Autism Western Cape https://www.autismwesterncape.org.za/ South Korea Autism Partnership Korea http://www.autismpartnershipkr.com/ Spain *CEPAMA - Mujeres Autistas - https://cepama.es/ Association of Parents of People with Autism https://apna.es/ Confederación Autismo España https://autismo.org.es/ Sri Lanka Lanka Autism https://autism-awareness-srilanka.weebly.com/ Sweden *Organiserade Aspergare - https://www.aspergare.org/ Autism Sweden - https://www.autism.se/ Switzerland Autisme Susse Association of Parents http://www.autismusschweiz.ch/ Autismus Deutsche Schweiz - www.autismus.ch Geneva Centre for Autism - https://www.autism.net/
T Taiwan ROC Foundation for Autistic Children and Adults in Taiwan https://www.fact.org.tw/ Taipei Autism Children Social Welfare Foundation www.ican.org.tw Tajikistan IRODA - https://autism-tj.weebly.com/ Tanzania Connects Autism Tanzania https://connectsautismtanzania.org/ Lukiza Autism Foundation https://lukizaautismfoundation.org/ Tanzania Autism Resource Center (TARC) https://linktr.ee/tarc.tz Thailand Autistic Thai Foundation https://www.facebook.com/AutisticThaiFoundation The Rainbow Room - A Neurodiversity Awareness Centre https://www.facebook.com/specialrainbow/ Tibet Tibetan Ability Center http://www.tibetanabilitycenter.org/ Tonga Tongan Autism Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/414003949581889/ Trinidad and Tobago Autistic Society of Trinidad and Tobago http://autismtt.org/ Tunisia Association Tunisienne pour l’Autisme (ATA) https://ata-aero.tn/
Syria Autism Association In Lattakia https://www.facebook.com/Autism.Association.Lattakia
Turkey TOHUM Türkiye Otizm Erken Tani ve Egitim Vakfi https://tohumotizm.org.tr/
T
Turks and Caicos Islands The Hope Foundation for Autism Awareness https://www.facebook.com/thehopefoundationtci/
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U Uganda Autism Awareness Uganda https://autismawarenessuganda.com/
Autism Around the Globe https://www.autismaroundtheglobe.org/ Autism Society (National, has chapters statewide) https://autismsociety.org/
Ukraine Autism Awareness Ukraine https://child.ua/en/projects/autism-awareness-ukraine/ Child with Future Foundation - https://cwf.com.ua/
Uzbekistan Avlod Baraka - https://abngo.uz/en/
United Arab Emirates Dubai Autism Center https://www.dubaiautismcenter.ae/
Venezuela Autismo En Voz Alta - https://autismoenvozalta.com/
United Kingdom *Autangel - www.autangel.org.uk *Autistic Mutual Aid Society Edinburgh https://amase.org.uk/ *Autistic Parents UK - https://www.autisticparentsuk.org/ *Autistic Rights Group Highland https://arghighland.co.uk/ *Autscape - http://www.autscape.org/ *United Kingdom - National Autistic Taskforce https://nationalautistictaskforce.org.uk/ Autism All Stars https://autism-all-stars.org/ Autistica - https://www.autistica.org.uk/ National Autistic Society - https://www.autism.org.uk/
Vietnam Autism Alliance - https://www.tukylagi.com/en/
United States (USA) *Autism Empowerment (AE) https://www.autismempowerment.org/ *Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) https://autisticadvocacy.org/ *Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) https://awnnetwork.org/ *Foundation for Divergent Minds https://www.divergentminds.org/ *Global and Regional Autism Spectrum Partnership https://grasp.org/ *Life Guides for Autistics (LGFA) https://neuroguides.org/ *Neuroclastic - https://neuroclastic.com/ *Stimpunks Foundation - https://stimpunks.org/ *WrongPlanet.net - https://wrongplanet.net/
V
Vietnam
Virgin Islands Virgin Islands Parents of Autistic Children https://www.facebook.com/vipac2018/
Z Zambia Autism Association of Zambia https://www.facebook.com/people/Autism-Association-of-Zambia/100069488586078/
Zimbabwe Autism Zimbabwe - https://autism.org.zw/
If you know of an organization that we missed, particularly if it actively includes autistic adults in leadership roles, please send us an email at zoom@autismempowerment.org. We will be hosting a copy of this directory on our websites at AutismEmpowerment.org, SpectrumLife.org and ZoomAutism.org.
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Thank You for Supporting Autism Empowerment Around The World!
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