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Leo and Autism Acceptance Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with eleven year old Leo, who prefers action to conversation. He answered the first two questions below himself, otherwise the answers are mostly videos, photos, and his mother’s observations, which she hopes are accurate — and which are in italics. Transcription: What is your name? Leo Rosa. How old are you? Eleven years old. He is…

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Mustafa and Autism Acceptance Month

Mustafa & Kerima We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking Mustafa, who loves to swim. His mother Kerima Çevik rephrased our Slice of Life questions so Mustafa could answer them using the iPod app Answers Yes/No. Is your name Mustafa Nuri Cevik? Yes. Is this your favorite website [points to http://www.redfishsoup.com/]? yesyes. Do you have any autistic superpowers?  no. Are you happy today?…

Jason and Autism Acceptance Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with fourth grader Jason, whose father blogs at onedadsopinion.blogspot.com. Do you have any autistic superpowers? What are they? Reading.  If you count a twelfth grade, I think, reading level as a fourth grader.  Also I consider myself a brilliant writer, but I prefer to be tapping keys on the keyboard (I am a touch-typer) than hitting…

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Jaden and Autism Acceptance Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with entomology academic & enthusiast Jaden, who is also a tattoo collector and musician. What is your name and age? Jaden. I’m 31. Do you have a website? Several: Personal (for my music): theeternalmusic.com Twitter: twitter.com/theeternal Autism advocacy: aspergersissues.tumblr.com Professional (entomology): boyandbugs.blogspot.com  What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say? Entomologist, musician, and…

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Hend and Hamza and Autism Acceptance Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with future Condor Rescuer Hend, and her digger-loving brother Hamza. They were interviewed by their mother, Emma Apple. —- Emma writes: Hend. Almost seven, diagnosed with Asperger’s at five. Has a giant imagination, loves condors and birds in general (to a lesser intensity), intent on becoming a ‘Condor rescuer’ when she grows up. What is your…

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Jason Ross and Autism Acceptance Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with Jason Ross, who has an infallible internal compass. What is your name and age? My name is Jason Ross and I am 32 years old. In two months I turn 33! My closest connections like family and friends call me J. Do you have a website? Yes, www.drivemomcrazy.com What would you like a one-sentence description…

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Vicky and Autism Acceptance Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with intuitive music enthusiast and autistic autism parent Vicky. What is your name and age? My real name is Vicky and I’m 33. Online, I use the pen name “TG.” Do you have a website?  twitter.com/outoutout What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say?  American-Australian queer Autistic Pethead record-collecting parent. (Note: a Pethead…

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Kenneth and Autism Awareness Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with Monika Brooks of www.mochaautismnetwork.com. She is the mother of Star Wars aficionado Ken, “Da Youngsta,” who is 12 years old. As he’s not a fan of being interviewed at length, Monika is handling the introductions. What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say? My one sentence for my son would be: His…

Paula C. Durbin-Westby and Autism Acceptance Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with Paula C. Durbin-Westby who has been running an Autism Awareness Day and Month campaign all month in the name of “ACCEPTANCE, not tolerance, not ‘yes, but…,’ just acceptance. Pro-neurodiversity, pro-supports and services, against ‘cures.’” Paula also recorded a video version of her answers to our questionnaire, for greater accessibility. What is your name? Paula C.…

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Aaron and Autism Acceptance Month

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month. Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with “excellent student” and “big history geek” Aaron.  What would a one-sentence description of yourself sound like?  A history loving autistic child. Do you have a website?  Yes I do. My website is called Bertram’s Blog. What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say?  I am an excellent student and a big history…