Autism Interview #43: Sam Crane on Autism Advocacy

Samantha Crane is the Director of Public Policy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s national office. Samantha graduated from Harvard Law School and served as a staff attorney focusing on enforcing the right to community integration as established by the Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C. This week Samantha shared some of her background studying law and how she uses her experience to publicly advocate for others on the spectrum.

Autism Interview #39: Alix Generous on Autism Technology

Alix Generous

Alix Generous is a professional speaker, neuroscientist, author, tech consultant, and observational comedian. From 2013 to September 2016, she was the co-founder for Podium (formerly AutismSees), a social impact company that creates technology to help high functioning autistic millennials improve their presentation skills. In her 2015 TED talk, she comedically shares how tech improved her public speaking skills. This week she shared some of her personal experiences growing up on the autism spectrum and the current state of autism-related technology.

Autism Interview #37: Kirsten Lindsmith on Oversimplification in Autism Advocacy

Kirsten Lindsmith is an author, artist, consultant, and autism advocate from New York City. After receiving an ASD diagnosis at the age of 19, she began co-hosting the online television show Autism Talk TV and speaking at conferences and events about her experience as a young woman on the spectrum. Kirsten has written columns for Wrong Planet and Autism After 16, and was profiled in The New York Times. Kirsten graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Vertebrate Ontogeny and Phylogeny. She currently works as a therapist in partnership with Melody of Autism, and as a consultant for behavioral and sensory needs.

This week Kirsten discussed the oversimplification in autism advocacy (classifying it as too positive or too negative), some common misconceptions, sensory sensitivities, and how families can become better allies to people on the spectrum.