Autism Interview #200: Jaime A. Heidel on Late Diagnosis and Autism Inclusivity

Jaime A. Heidel is a late-diagnosed autistic woman who writes, advocates, and translates communication between the neurotypes so that autistic and non-autistic people better understand each other and communicate more effectively. You can find her on her Instagram page asking questions, sparking lively discussions, and gathering detailed information about the autistic experience to increase understanding and decrease the lifelong inter-neurotype miscommunication that leads to complex PTSD. This week she shared her experience growing up undiagnosed and how society can make strides to improve autism inclusivity.

Autism Interview #199: Ira Kraemer on Autism Research and Inclusion

Ira Kraemer is an autistic self-advocate with a Masters in Neuroscience. They have spent the last six years learning about themselves as an autistic person and learning from others in the autistic and disability community. They currently give informative talks, consult on research, write about autism, and educate parents and professionals on accommodating and understanding autistic people. Ira authors the website AutisticSciencePerson.com where you can find a full list of their services. This week they discussed autism research, inclusion, and diagnosis.

Autism Interview #198: Jeremiah Josey on Transitions, Cooking, and Advocacy

Jeremiah Josey is a twenty-three-year-old pastry chef from Maryland and published author of Here’s What I Want You To Know. He is a public disability advocate and has cooked alongside a wide range of successful, talented chefs, such as Chef Kwame Onwuachi, Chef Chris Scott both who have appeared on Bravo TV Top Chef, Franklyn Becker, Bravo Master’s and Paul Denamiel, Owner and Executive Chef of Le Rivage. This week Josey shared the racial justice motivation for writing his new book as well as some of his experiences with life transitions and cooking.

Autism Interview #197 Part 1: Mike Macedo on Autistic Identity

This is the first part of a two-part interview with Mike Macedo. Mike Macedo is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, writer, and autism advocate working in Rhode Island. Macedo speaks on a variety of autism advocacy topics including school and workplace transitions. This week he shared some of his experiences growing up undiagnosed with multiple disabilities and often misunderstood by his peers.

Autism Interview #196: Dr. Natasa Tsiaousidou on Socialization, Autistic Doctors, and Autistic Patients

Dr. Natasa Tsiaousidou is a general surgeon, a researcher with a PhD in pancreatic cancer and several publications in the fields of cancer and surgery, and a part-time scientific writer. She is originally from Greece and currently lives in Scotland, UK. After being diagnosed with autism a few months ago, she started a blog on autism called theautisticdoctors.com with an aim to address the problems Autistic people often have to deal with at work. When she’s not on clinical duty or writing, she enjoys practicing martial arts, listening to progressive metal music, and reading about cosmology, chance and probabilities, striving ineffectually to make sense of this world.

Autism Interview #197 Part 2: Mike Macedo on Transitions and Advocacy

This is the second part of a two-part interview with Mike Macedo. Mike Macedo is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, writer, and autism advocate working in Rhode Island. Macedo speaks on a variety of autism advocacy topics including school and workplace transitions. Last week he shared some of his experiences growing up undiagnosed with multiple disabilities and often misunderstood by his peers. This week he shared his transition to college and current disability advocacy work.

Autism Interview #194: Melanie Magowan on Autism Acceptance and Inclusion

Melanie Magowan is a personal trainer and British Ex Pat currently living in New Zealand. She’s also a triathlete and former Autism Specialist teacher. She has documented in her blog her life experiences as an emigrant, late diagnosed Autistic person, and amputee. Melanie has also documented her journey in vlogs through a total knee replacement and a below the knee amputation on her YouTube Channel Ryding Footloose!. This week she discussed her experience as an Autism Specialist teacher and autism acceptance and inclusion in her communities.

Autism Interview #193 Part 2: Ettina Kitten on Approaches to Autism Therapy Continued

This is Part 2 of a two-part interview with Ettina Kitten. Ettina Kitten is a legal assistant, blogger, and mother-to-be from Canada. Ettina blogs at Abnormaldiversity on a variety of topics related to autism. Last week, Ettina shared her unique perspective as both a receiver and provider of autism therapy. This week she shared suggestions for how to find a therapist with an autism positive approach to therapy and challenges people to question their determination of “essential” life skills.