Autism Empowerment Spectrum Life Magazine Summer 2025 Issue
L ightly-weighted for an extra sense of security and stability, the TwiddleNathan helps youngsters find that “just-right zone” for maintaining attention and appropriate behavior for tasks and activities. Crafted from cozy, durable fabrics and plush fleece, the Nathan features high-grade fidgets attached with ribbon loops that snap, to enable switching around and personalizing fidgets for variety’s sake, training purposes, or the child’s own preferences.
Ideal for home, therapy clinics, and ”safe spaces” at school and other group settings.
TWIDDLE®NATHAN
15
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF STEPHEN’S PLACE
FEATURED SECTIONS
Connections for our Community Keeping the needle moving forward. 4 5
From the Publisher Building belonging through every life season.
ADVOCACY
Disability Justice and the Books That Inspire Intersectionality, Identity, Justice, Representation.
Overcoming challenges through love, support, and a special interest. 8 15 22 25 12
1 in 1: The Heart Behind Autism Empowerment w 14 years of faith, family, and a vision rooted in acceptance.
LIFESPAN
Celebrating 10 Years of Stephen’s Place
A home like no other. Where independence meets inclusion.
Autism, Perseveration and Holding Onto Thoughts Using visual anchors to remember.
RECREATION
Shamim Dana, The Autograph King
30
EDUCATION
Reimagining Summer Education
A season to grow, to glow, and give grace.
HEALTH + WELLNESS
35
The Sensory Toll of Being Misunderstood It wasn’t just in my head. #AskingAutistics
Making Sense of Nutrition Labels
Practicing healthy choices without getting overwhelmed.
40
Autism and Parkinson’s: What’s the Connection?
Aging, Movement, and Genetic Overlap.
THERAPY
44
38 50 55
Oversharing, Boundaries, and Neurodivergence
Not everyone earns your truth.
The Power of Positive Self-Talk
Shift your inner voice and support your mental health.
Welcome to the Summer 2025 edition of Spectrum Life Magazine!
In addition to Autism Empowerment celebrating 14 years in our community, this season marks the 10-year anniversary of Stephen’s Place (page 15), a beloved local housing community and empowerment partner where independence and inclusion flourish. As our featured cover article, it reflects what we value and treasure—compassionate care, meaningful connection, and honoring every person’s journey, no matter the stage of life.
Throughout this issue, we highlight stories that empower, educate, and uplift. In Connections for our Community (page 5), we begin by exploring ways to keep the needle moving forward in autism advocacy and action.
Autistic advocate Niko Boskovic shares a summer reading list with transformative power in Disability Justice and the Books That Inspire (page 8). For those interested in Autism Empowerment, 1 in 1: The Heart Behind Autism Empowerment w (page 12) shares the origin story of our nonprofit—celebrating 14 years of faith, family, and purposeful service.
Understanding how we think and remember is beautifully illustrated in Autism, Perseveration, and Holding Onto Thoughts (page 22), while Reimagining Summer Education (page 30) offers ideas for nourishing growth and self-discovery from preschool to adulthood.
You’ll meet Shamim Dana, The Autograph King (page 25), who is being filmed for a documentary about his passion and resilience. In The Sensory Toll of Being Misunderstood (page 35), Lyric Rivera opens a vital conversation about what’s felt but too often overlooked.
Wellness takes focus in Making Sense of Nutrition Labels (page 38), and in our new Autism and Aging Series, we examine aging and genetic overlap in Autism and Parkinson’s: What’s the Connection? (page 40).
In Oversharing, Boundaries, and Neurodivergence (page 44), Dr. Anson Service reflects on how to protect your peace, while in The Power of Positive Self-Talk (page 50), he explores ways in which our inner voice can become our greatest ally.
At Autism Empowerment, we believe in uplifting and empowering every person, every voice, every season. Wherever you find yourself this summer, may this issue bring encouragement. You matter. You are not alone. And your story belongs here.
Staying cool but sharing warmth,
Karen Krejcha
Executive Director & Co-Founder: Autism Empowerment™
Editor: Spectrum Life Magazine™
SUMMER 2025 | VOLUME 15, ISSUE 2
SPECTRUM LIFE MAGAZINE TM
A program of Autism Empowerment TM
Karen Krejcha, Autism Empowerment, Publisher
Dave Born, Graphic Designer
Editorial Advisory Board:
Aaron Blackwelder
Amy Donaldson, Ph.D, CCC-SLP
Laurie Drapela, Ph.D
Tanya English
John Krejcha
Ryan Krejcha
Anson Service, Psy.D, LMHC
Brian Tashima
Mailing address: Autism Empowerment
P. O. Box 871676
Vancouver, WA 98687 (360) 852-8369 www.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 Autism and Neurodivergent communities.
Stephen’s Place turns 10! Join us in celebrating a decade of empowering adults with disabilities through compassionate care and meaningful community. (page 15)
www.
Photo courtesy of Stephen’s Place
Connections for our Community Keeping the Needle Moving Forward!
Regardless of where someone starts or how they identify on the spectrum or as a caregiver, each is worthy of acceptance, grace, love, and support.
These conversations, along with insights from like-minded organizations and guidance from our board of directors, continue to shape our direction. While you’ll see visible efforts like Spectrum Life Magazine, our new Neurodivergent Creators Collective, Autism Serves Helping Hands, and community outreach, much of what we do behind the scenes is also dedicated to moving the needle forward— toward greater self-reliance, self-acceptance, and empowering every individual to live their best life.
Like many nonprofits, we are navigating increased costs and fewer funding opportunities. This is a challenging time, yet our commitment to keeping Spectrum Life Magazine and our advocacy efforts alive and accessible remains unwavering.
On June 3rd, 2025, Autism Empowerment celebrated 14 years of promoting acceptance, enrichment, inspiration, and empowerment for autistic and neurodivergent youth, adults, and families. As a neurodivergent-led organization, we are dedicated to creating a world where all people are valued, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive. This commitment remains at the heart of who we are and everything we do.
As we begin our 15th year, we find ourselves in a season of reflection. It’s a time to celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and focus on the meaningful work that still lies ahead. While the path forward may include uncertainty and obstacles, it’s also filled with opportunities to keep momentum going as we continue moving the needle forward—from simply raising awareness that autism exists to fostering authentic acceptance, securing equitable funding, and ensuring meaningful support for all autistic people.
Over the past 14 years, we have made encouraging progress. More allies are joining in to shift the narrative, but there is still a lot of important work to be done. Autism is a spectrum, and every autistic person is worthy of having their needs understood, honored, and met with dignity
This spring and summer, we’ve been connecting with community members at a diverse range of local events, trainings, and gatherings. Whether we are talking with a parent of a 2-year-old newly diagnosed or a 52-year-old adult also newly diagnosed, we realize people come into our community with very different life experiences. It’s our role to meet them where they are.
w One way you—or a business you know— can help is by participating in Give More 24!—a 24-hour regional day of giving taking place on Thursday, September 25th.
www.givemore24.org/autismempowerment
If our mission resonates with you and you believe in the work we’re doing, we warmly invite you to support us during this important campaign. Early giving begins on September 9th, so you don’t have to wait until the big day to make a difference.
Every donation—large or small—helps us continue providing trusted, inclusive resources for the community.
Don’t want to wait until then? Give anytime at www.AutismEmpowerment.org w
We are grateful for your support and inspired by the connections we continue to build together. Together, we will continue striving for a future where all individuals, regardless of ability, are celebrated for who they are and supported in living their best lives.
Join us in moving the needle forward in a positive direction for all our people.
With Hope, Love, Grace, and Empowerment, John Krejcha
Spectrum Life Magazine uniquely showcases your business to youth, adults and families in the autism community. Our nonprofit is now accepting New Ads and Sponsorships For business inquiries, email: SpectrumLife@AutismEmpowerment.org or call (360) 852-8369
guidance, training & support around intellectual and developmental disabilities. • 360-823-2247 • info@peacenw.org • www.peacenw.org
A few years ago, I got the urge to read books about other disabilities as a way of broadening my understanding of how people define disability, how it is impacted by other forms of bigotry, and how disabled people have advocated for themselves throughout history.
There have been many times when some passage is read to me, and I feel an electric charge of recognition under my skin. To see yourself in others without knowing the authors is empowering because I don’t see other disabled people every day. I don’t see us on the news except in negative government reports to scare people about autism.
At the time, I was writing a blog for the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) on general topics about disability from my unique perspective. As someone who does not speak reliably and uses a letterboard to communicate, my thoughts on living as an autistic person with significant support needs are interesting to a select group of the disability community.
However, I realized after a few years that I really didn’t know much about autistic history beyond my own life. I was curious why I was the only disabled person in my college classes when they were in person, but the online classes had lively discussions about disability because there were more self-identifying disabled people there.
I noticed the absence of disability in my life more than I felt its natural presence.
I must also note the void of disability literature in public spaces. From what I’ve observed at Powell’s Books and Barnes & Noble, there is very little shelf space dedicated to disability (and the section at Powell’s in downtown Portland isn’t even called disability studies or disability history, but rather “family studies”).
That was the start of my literary education. I was fortunate that my primary support person (who is also my mom) happened to be excited about making this into a project for us both. Her book choices influenced what I read, and there were a couple of biographies that were dropped after a chapter due to their light, modern tone, which became too annoying. Overall, I have loved them all and am hooked on disability history at the present time.
Having to rely on someone else’s book choices can be frustrating when they don’t hit the mark. Thankfully, the books we read followed their own natural paths to us by way of curiosity about some topic that came up while reading about another. It’s the best way to explore a topic we didn’t know we were even interested in!
I’d like to share a few of them and encourage you to make an effort to read books about disability by disabled authors. Follow their suggestions to read further about a topic if it interests you, but I ask you to prioritize disabled authors.
I want to explore how our disabled ancestors fit into American society and continue learning the nuances of “disability” as a definition. This is a story that we will continue to write together.
I began this book project with a strong emphasis on writings by self-advocates who were disabled by everything except autism. There were several books edited by Alice Wong to get us started (Disability Visibility and Disability Intimacy) and my first exposure to Deafblind culture (Haben).
I think my biggest impression was the work of Sins Invalid, a disability arts collective that expanded my understanding of disability justice above everything else we read (Skin, Tooth and Bone; online article 10 Principles of Disability Justice).
Maybe if I explained why, it would be clear: it all goes back to representation.
To be disabled in our market-driven society is pretty isolating and draining on one’s self-image, so to read essay after essay about life experiences unlike my own but still resonating in my mind was so marvelous.
Sins Invalid filled in the theoretical gaps of the social model of disability with an emphasis on intersectionality, BIPOC voices, and the community work that flows through mutual aid and organizing. There is power in the pages of their work.
Probably the second most impactful book I read was Exile and Pride by Eli Clare. It’s filled with images of rural Oregon and the history of logging in the 1980s, mixed up with a longing for acceptance for who one is at their core.
In this case, there are several additional themes, including LGBTQIA+ and trans pride, which were thoughtful and expansive to my understanding of intersectionality as a lived experience. I loved the way he was so real and tender towards Oregon’s complicated relationship with its logging industry.
There was also the lived experience of living with cerebral palsy, which I found interesting and enjoyed comparing his experiences with those of Riva Lehrer, the author of
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Golem Girl. She has used art to express perceptions of disabled people in portraiture that fuses symbolism with realistic depictions.
Like so many other books we read, LGBTQIA+ rights and disability rights were common intersectors for many authors (A Queer Disability Anthology). I found it interesting yet terrible that regardless of the different ways disability can present in a person, the discrimination a disabled LGBTQIA+ person experiences is similar to the perspective someone like me faces.
I am either seen as a childlike adult—too innocent to desire relationships that are sexual (and therefore always at risk of victimization) or a sexual deviant, a monster who could strike at any moment—who deserves to be locked up.
This innocent/monster theme of disability was found in a number of historical books we read and crossed over from gay rights to the intersection of being disabled and BIPOC.
This was especially discussed in Jenifer L. Barclay’s The Mark of Slavery, which introduced the concept of disability in the Antebellum era. It was really thought-provoking because it was the first time I had heard of this as a topic.
Again and again, I experienced a revelation of finding disabled people included in history. Sami Schalk’s Black Disability Politics was incredibly interesting in its dive into the 504 sit-in at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) office in San Francisco in 1977 and the vital role that the Black Panther Party played in sustaining the longest takeover of a federal building in U.S. history.
It was not just that the Black Panthers were supplying food to the protesters inside; their disabled members were among the protestors (like civil rights leader Brad Lomax). I first heard
about the 504 sit-in through the film documentary Crip Camp, but by now have read a number of disability books that covered it in greater detail.
To some, the Americans with Disabilities Act has been this law that seems boring and in many ways is taken for granted by many. I will never think of it in any other way except as a landmark legislation that changed the lives of millions of us and made it possible for people like me to go to school.
Enabling Acts: The Hidden Story of How the Americans with Disabilities Act Gave the Largest US Minority Its Rights by Lennard J. Davis was riveting if you like political drama (which I do). Quite frankly, it would make a fascinating miniseries because so much of it was documented and many of the people who advocated for it are still alive!
Finally, I want to share that my reading project is continuing for the indefinite future. It’s not hard to do if you have a library card and the patience to read a book a month at a time over breakfast and lunch.
Some books were bought new to support the disabled author; most have been added to our bookshelf as used or secondhand copies.
If you were to open one, you would undoubtedly find the margins marked with pencil where some sentence found its way into my mom’s understanding of and relationship to disability. This reading list is hopefully going to do the same for you.
Navigating with Niko is part of a regular series at Autism Empowerment and Spectrum Life Magazine by Niko Boskovic.
To read past and future articles, visit www.spectrumlife.org/navigatingwithniko
See pages 10 and 11 for book titles, book covers, and a chart of books by theme.
Niko Boskovic is a 24-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. 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 at Autism Empowerment and Spectrum Life, Navigating with Niko. Connect with Niko on Facebook: NikoBoskovicPDX
BOOK TITLE AUTHOR THEMES
A Perfect Turmoil: Walter E. Fernald and the Struggle to Care for America’s Disabled
Accessible America: A History of Disability and Design
Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement
All Our Families: Disability Lineage and the Future of Kinship
Autistic and Black: Our Experiences of Growth, Healing, and Identity
Black Disability Politics
Capitalism and Disability: Selected Writings
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice
Disability and Empire: Class, US Imperialism, and the Struggle for Disability Justice
Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire
Disability Pride: Dispatches from a Post-ADA World
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
Enabling Acts: The Hidden Story of How the Americans with Disabilities Act Gave the Largest US Minority Its Rights
Exile and Pride: Disability, Queerness, and Liberation
Golem Girl: A Memoir
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
Mark of Slavery: Disability, Race, and Gender in Antebellum America
New Disability History: American Perspectives
QDA: A Queer Disability Anthology
Secret Life of a Black Aspie: A Memoir
Skin, Tooth, and Bone: The Basis of Movement is Our People
To Be a Problem: A Black Woman’s Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement
Touch the Future: A Manifesto in Essays
Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World
Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions
White Supremacy is All Around: Notes from a Black Disabled Woman in a White World
Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life
Green, Alex
Williamson, Bess
Shew, Ashley
Fink, Jennifer Natalya
Omeiza, Kala Allen
Schalk, Sami
Russell, Marta
Piepzna-Samarasinha, Leah Lakshmi
Chediac, Joyce; Cutter, Jane; Daly, John Pete
Edited by Wong, Alice
Mattlin, Ben
Edited by Wong, Alice
Davis, Lennard J.
Clare, Eli
Lehrer, Riva
Girma, Haben
Barclay, Jenifer L
Edited by Longmore, Paul K.; Umansky, Lauri
Edited by Luczak, Raymond
Prahlad, Anand
Sins Invalid Collective
Baldwin, Dara
Clark, John Lee
Slice, Jessica
Grandin, Temple
Cadet, Akilah
Wong, Alice
THEME KEY
1 in 1: The Heart Behind Autism Empowerment w 14 years of Faith, Family, and a vision rooted in Acceptance
By Karen Krejcha
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, marked the 14-year anniversary of the day my husband, John, and I co-founded Autism Empowerment The magazine you’re reading now marks our 30th issue of Spectrum Life! It feels both like yesterday and a lifetime ago. Looking back, I can clearly trace the roots of what led us here.
Both of our children were diagnosed on the autism spectrum in mid-2008, at the ages of 2 and 8. In 2010, I received my own autism diagnosis while in my early 40s.
That moment brought clarity to so many aspects of my life—past challenges and strengths, deeply focused passions, sensory sensitivities, social struggles, and the deep empathy I carried but hadn’t yet fully understood.
At the time, the dominant public messaging around autism was steeped in fear and deficit thinking. Emphasis was placed on “fixing” behaviors that society deemed undesirable, rather than understanding, educating, and empowering autistic individuals to live meaningful, self-determined lives. There was little room for joy, celebration, or high expectations.
Hopeful stories were rare. The idea of autistic children actively participating in their own Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings was almost unheard of. Self-advocacy wasn’t being taught regularly, especially not to young children.
The narrative was shaped by a binary lens of “low-functioning” versus “high-functioning,” which failed to reflect the complex, individualized, and non-linear nature of the spectrum. In my early blogs, I often wrote that the spectrum isn’t a straight line from less to more—it’s a constellation, a mosaic of overlapping strengths and support needs.
What also troubled me deeply was the division within the autism community. Families were pitted against one another as if we were in a zero-sum game for resources and recognition. We rejected that.
w We believed then—and still believe now—that there must be enough compassion, dignity, and understanding for everyone. We do not compete in suffering. We rise in solidarity.
Back then, national fundraising campaigns used deficit-based language and calls for a “cure,” framing autism around fear and parental grief. The voices of autistic individuals— especially adults—were strikingly absent.
When our youngest son was diagnosed with regressive autism and became nonspeaking, we were handed a single brochure and told to come back in six weeks if we had questions. That was it.
The lack of meaningful, easy-to-understand resources, especially those created or led by autistic people, was heartbreaking. We needed programs that honored the entire family experience across backgrounds, cultures, and abilities— and we couldn’t find them.
In 2009, in search of something more, we packed up the family and drove cross-country to St. Charles, Illinois, to attend the Autism Society of America’s annual national conference. For the first time in quite a while, I didn’t feel overwhelmed in a crowd.
Why was this? It was because I was finally among people who had many similarities to me. I was surrounded by people who were affirming and who got and supported my neurological differences.
I attended workshops led by autistic adults, filled journals with notes, and bought nearly every book I could carry. By the end of that trip, my inner lightbulb was glowing bright. I realized I was autistic too.
w Shortly afterward, I was called to step out in faith and purpose, using my life challenges, experiences, strengths, and passions in a way I had never done before.
That calling came directly from God. I did what I always do when something stirs in my spirit—I took out a notebook and began writing. I outlined a vision for something I hadn’t yet seen in the world: an organization rooted in lived experience, acceptance, and empowerment for autistic individuals and their families.
When I brought the idea to John, he listened closely. We had run our own small business since 1999, but this was something more. It wasn’t just a project—it was a purpose.
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We didn’t know how to start a nonprofit, but we had faith that we’d figure it out. And we believed that, no matter the roadblocks or detours, it would work out the way it was meant to—because this was bigger than us.
From the beginning, we knew Autism Empowerment had to be welcoming to people of all beliefs—or none.
w Autism intersects every community. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live an empowered and purposeful life.
We created Autism Empowerment in 2011 with a vision that still holds true today:
w To center autistic voices, not tokenize them.
w To build programs that uplift individuals, families, and communities.
w To model compassion, equity, and hope in everything we do.
Our Four Pillars—Accept, Enrich, Inspire, Empower—continue to guide our path.
As our journey has evolved, so has our understanding of what authentic advocacy looks like. Autism Empowerment has always stood at the intersection of disability rights, equity, and inclusion. We know that autism doesn’t exist in a vacuum— it intersects with race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, culture, language, and so much more.
The needs of an autistic teen in foster care, a nonspeaking BIPOC adult seeking housing, or a queer autistic elder navigating ableism and ageism may look different—but all deserve dignity, understanding, and support.
We speak out because too many in our community still go unheard.
w We support self-determination not just for one group—but for all autistic individuals, including those with the most significant support needs.
We believe that honoring individual agency and recognizing interdependence are not opposing goals—they’re foundational to justice.
We also recognize that the autism community has not been immune to infighting and exclusion. Sometimes it shows up as parents and self-advocates talking past one another.
Other times, it’s in the framing of “profound” vs. “mild” autism— labels that flatten lived experience into oversimplified categories. At its worst, we’ve seen arrogance masquerade as advocacy, where some elevate their identity by diminishing others.
w There is no room for hierarchy in humanity. We’re not here to gatekeep belonging—we’re here to grow it.
We don’t shy away from hard conversations: vaccine politics, harmful registries, ableist policies, or the misuse of autism for
political fear-mongering. However, we approach these topics with clarity, courage, and compassion. Not fear. Not shame.
w Looking ahead, we are more committed than ever to building tools that matter.
Through Spectrum Life Magazine, our AE Neurodivergent Creators Collective, the return of the Autism Empowerment Podcast, and our development of online training and advocacy courses, we are working to support individuals and families across all life stages.
We’re also fundraising to further develop a robust digital resource library, filled with downloadable toolkits, educational guides, and practical supports.
Whether you’re brand new to the community or have been walking this journey for decades, there will be something for you. These resources are being created with everyone in mind— self-advocates, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, educators, clinicians, community leaders, funders, and policymakers— because creating a more inclusive world takes all of us.
In today’s social and political climate, we are once again witnessing harmful rhetoric about autism being used for political gain. We see well-funded platforms amplify fear, erase autistic voices, and promote ableist policies. That makes our mission more urgent than ever.
w At Autism Empowerment, we stand for truth. For equity. For community. For possibility.
We refuse to let others define our children—or us—through stigma, division, or erasure. We speak out. We show up. And we serve with love, transparency, and integrity.
We’ve never aimed to be the biggest. We’ve always aimed to be meaningful. We’re not serving the 1 in 31 (or whatever the current prevalence rate might be), but the 1 in 1
w Why? Because every individual’s journey is 100% of their lived experience.
Fourteen years in, our hearts remain on fire with purpose. And we still believe:
w Acceptance matters.
w Every life has value.
w Community can be a light.
w Empowerment changes everything.
We’re so grateful to walk this journey together with you.
Karen “Happy Heart” Krejcha is a co-founder of Autism Empowerment, where she serves as Executive Director. She is the Editor of Spectrum Life Magazine, host of the Autism Empowerment Podcast and founder of Spectrum of Voices LLC. Karen was diagnosed on the autism spectrum in her 40s, after the diagnosis of her two children. She has been married to co-founder John Krejcha for over 32 years and is devoted to being a loving wife, mom, daughter and ambassador of acceptance and empowerment worldwide. being a loving wife, mom, daughter and ambassador of acceptance and empowerment worldwide. https://linktr.ee/karenkrejcha
www. spectrumlife.org
Photo courtesy of Stephen’s Place
Celebrating 10 Years of Stephen’s Place
A Home Like No Other: Where Independence meets Inclusion
By John Krejcha
Ten years ago, a seed of compassion took root in Vancouver, Washington. Today, it flourishes as Stephen’s Place—a thriving and beautiful residential community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). More than a building, Stephen’s Place is a home built on purpose: to empower residents with dignity, independence, and the joy of meaningful connection.
Founded in 2015 by the Kuni family and inspired by their sons Stephen and Michael, Stephen’s Place was born from one mother’s unwavering question—“Who will care for my child when I no longer can?”
With support from the Kuni Foundation, the vision expanded from a housing solution to a holistic model of personcentered care, community partnerships, and everyday inclusion. In our 2017 Spectrum Life feature, Stephen’s Place— Positive Living Solutions, we introduced readers to this oneof-a-kind space. Today, we return to celebrate their 10-year milestone and share how their mission has only deepened with time.
Through the voice of Executive Director Heather Bartholomew—who has been with Stephen’s Place since day one—we explore what it takes to create a home where residents are not only cared for but celebrated. From their innovative Day Program to their dream of building a community center, Stephen’s Place continues to challenge assumptions, build bridges, and show the world what thriving with support really looks like.
Hi Heather! Please introduce yourself to our readers. What would you like people to know about you?
My name is Heather Bartholomew, and I’m the Executive Director of Stephen’s Place. I’ve been here since the very beginning, 10 years ago. I’m originally from Olympia, WA, went to school at the University of Montana (Go Griz!), and eventually made my way back to the Pacific Northwest.
I’m married with four incredible children who keep me busy, remind me of all the good in the world, and constantly challenge my thinking. We live in the Vancouver area and take full advantage of everything this region offers—from outdoor adventures to concerts and performances. We are always on the move!
Growing up, my dad was a Superintendent of schools. Before that, he spent years prior to this working with students with disabilities. In our household, everyone was seen as equally important and treated with the utmost respect.
I watched as my father would provide the same care and attention to a conversation with a board member or administrator as he did with a student—especially those with disabilities. This was one of his passions, and I’m happy to say that it became one of mine.
In school, I naturally gravitated toward helping others. I paid attention to who might need extra support and took joy in being someone others could count on. I wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to participate and feel included.
Not much has changed; I’m still always looking for ways to make life a little easier for others. At events and in life, I’ll be there cheering loudly for ALL participants (okay... maybe a little louder for my kids).
I believe each person in the world can teach me something, and live by that level of respect for others.
I feel more than a little fortunate to get to do what I love every day. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the world to offer and deserve the love and support the rest of the world gets every day. If they can have this support at home at Stephen’s Place, our residents can carry it out into the community and feel stronger in self-advocacy, independence, and achieving life goals.
Being part of this work has made me a better person, a more thoughtful parent, and a better advocate for our residents and for how they deserve to be seen.
Stephen’s Place is very fortunate to have you! Congratulations on 10 years! What was the original vision behind Stephen’s Place? How has that vision evolved?
Stephen’s Place was the vision of a mom concerned for who would care for her son when she was no longer here. Joan Kuni and Wayne Kuni had two sons with disabilities. Stephen passed in his 20s, and Michael lived a full life; working for 39 years, married for over 25 years, and living at Stephen’s Place for eight years until he passed away in 2023.
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Photo credit: Mary Rebekah Moore
Though the building was named after Stephen, the name represents the entire community it was built to serve. Stephen’s Place could just as easily be Michael’s Place, or Liz’s Place, or any other resident’s place. It’s a supportive community designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they may live a fulfilled life with meaning and dignity. It was built for each and every resident; past, present, and future.
Over time, the vision has grown to embrace even more of what makes life meaningful. We’re always exploring new ideas and talking with our residents about what matters most and what a full life means to them. We will continue to grow based on the needs and interests of our residents.
What was once a seed of a dream inside of an empty building is now being lived with community, respect, friendship, and growth. We always know there is more we can do and will never settle for just “doing our best.”
How did you first become involved with Stephen’s Place, and how has your role evolved over time?
I first became involved with Stephen’s Place when I was working at Kuni Automotive. Stephen’s Place needed someone with operational knowledge to open and create a sustainable space for team members and residents.
I was asked to spend some of my time helping Stephen’s Place. The plan was for me to support the team for about four months, then return to my full-time role at Kuni. But after four months, I knew there was a reason life had led me here. I had a good feeling that it was my responsibility to help fill the apartments, build a real sense of community, and ensure every resident had a home that honored their individuality.
Ten years later, I can say those things only happen with an incredible group of residents and a dedicated team that goes
above and beyond. I am forever grateful for the time, effort, and heart our team brings to all that they do.
Every day, our team provides so many mission moments that are never seen because of the constant nature of what we do. We’re constantly evolving and finding ways to grow together, and I am in awe and appreciation of the gifts of each team member.
When we opened, I was busy with policies, procedures, marketing, hiring, driving residents, answering the phone, building budgets, and learning everything I could about the I/DD space and the needs of our future residents.
Over time, my role has evolved into the development of our team and managers, future planning, advocacy for a better understanding of our population, and networking with other programs to continue growing what we do. None of this could happen without such a solid, wonderful team.
How many residents currently live at Stephen’s Place?
What is the age range and general profile of the individuals you serve?
We have 36 residents, ranging in age from 23 to 74 years old. Our residents are neurodivergent with a variety of diagnoses under this umbrella. Additionally, many of our residents have co-occurring diagnoses, including mental health, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injuries, among others.
What kinds of support needs do your residents typically have?
Our goal is for each resident to live the life they want. Where full independence isn’t possible, we provide the support. As it should, that support looks different for everyone
Some residents need help with budgeting or planning, others with medical appointments or scheduling rides, and many need support in making friends, planning activities, and handling the challenges outside of Stephen’s Place.
Please share what “independent living with supports” looks like at Stephen’s Place on a typical day.
Each day, our residents do the things that you and I do. And, like everyone, they have goals, ideas, and dreams they’re working toward. We focus on supporting people in the areas where they need it most. That might mean physical support with daily living activities, guidance in learning a new skill or starting a conversation, or help accessing the broader community.
What do residents say makes Stephen’s Place feel like home?
Our residents would say Stephen’s Place feels like home because they live with people who care about them, where their needs are met, and they get to make their own decisions.
Beyond housing, Stephen’s Place offers a variety of programs. Could you describe some highlights of your Day Program and other activities?
Beyond providing housing and support for our residents, Stephen’s Place offers a Day Program twice weekly to 10 individuals who live outside of Stephen’s Place.
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Photo credit: Stephen’s Place
We also have children join us for garden club. Our Horticultural Therapist works with our residents and Montessori students to explore gardening, learn about what we grow, and enjoy time outdoors together.
Additionally, we share our space with community partners seeking a safe and welcoming venue to host programming or meetings.
How do you incorporate life skills, health and wellness, and personal development into everyday living?
We incorporate life skills, health and wellness, and personal development into everyday living by working alongside our residents. By treating each person with respect and honoring their individuality, we’re able to have meaningful conversations about who they want to be. This helps us support our residents to work toward those goals.
The goals a resident has for themselves are included in their plan of care that guides the team not just on what a resident would like to achieve, but also on how to support that achievement—a common goal with common support on how to get there.
More people working together achieve great things. Our team provides fantastic feedback on aspects that might work
How does Stephen’s Place support personal choice, autonomy, and decision-making for residents?
Although Stephen’s Place is licensed as Assisted Living, our goal is for residents to live as independently as possible.
Residents live in their own apartments and stay busy doing their own thing. We support personal choice and autonomy by making it an important part of everything we do. We celebrate self-advocacy, even when it challenges us or pushes us to get more creative in how we offer support, because that’s exactly the kind of growth we want to encourage.
Additionally, for residents who aren’t used to advocating for themselves, we work with them on practicing to do this until they are comfortable doing it on their own. The skill of speaking for yourself is true autonomy!
“Focus on Family and Community” is a core part of your mission. What does this look like in daily life?
In daily life, family and community show up in many meaningful ways. This might be a parent dropping by to share a sandwich with their son, a family member joining us for a meal (and knowing nearly everyone around the table!), or creating space for a mother to spend her son’s final days with him.
better, such as changes in goals and the everyday aspects of life that are dynamic.
We have seen amazing things happen because of working toward goals with a shared approach. Our team offers fantastic feedback, whether it’s suggestions for what might work better, updates to evolving goals, or insight into the everyday shifts that come with life.
How do residents engage in the broader community?
Residents are busy in the broader community working, volunteering, going to the movies, heading out for coffee, walking with friends, attending the symphony or another concert, and visiting medical providers.
One all-time favorite activity is taking a stroll on the waterfront before checking out the Farmer’s Market downtown. I’d be hard pressed to find something I do that our residents aren’t doing in the community. Many of our residents have a busier social life than I do.
It’s checking in with families to share updates about the life their loved one is living. It’s a warm welcome when a resident returns from a family trip. And it’s the way residents care for each other, such as checking in when someone’s had a hard day, or letting a team member know when a little extra help might be needed.
What are some of the key values that guide your team? How do these values shape resident experiences?
Similar to the beautiful entrance of our building, we have pillars that guide our work at Stephen’s Place. They are Service, Energy, Leadership, Compassion, Dedication, and Stewardship.
Beyond this, our strongest value is independence for our residents—we are constantly checking in to ask ourselves if what we are doing is creating independence or taking from it...little things even that might be more challenging for a resident to do on their own, but something that truly allows for independence is the goal.
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Photos courtesy of Stephen’s Place
How do you create a sense of belonging and dignity for residents and their families?
We create a sense of belonging and dignity for residents and families through respect and learning. The majority of our residents have only ever lived with their families.
This history and shared experience has shaped who the resident is; it guides decisions they will make, preferences they have, and what characteristics they will bring to our community. Our goal is to learn about this and be respectful of it throughout the residents’ lives with us, until the end.
When someone feels respected, it helps them feel welcome. We greet our families when they come. We show appreciation for the time, the visits, the love, and the energy they share with our community.
And so many of our families create their own sense of belonging at Stephen’s Place. They get to know our other residents and care about them. Each of our residents and family members is important in the community we’ve created.
What are some challenges your team has faced in the past 10 years, and how have you adapted or grown from them?
Our biggest challenges have changed over the last 10 years. In the beginning, it was defining ourselves and building a team who believed in the same things, worked hard for those things, and were dedicated to creating individualized care and support.
In the last two years, we have had four residents pass away, and that has been our biggest challenge in losing people in our community who made us who we were, who brought smiles to our faces, and who were some of the reasons we went to work every day.
The challenge, which I believe we have risen to beautifully, is creating an end-of-life experience that feels respectful of the entire life a resident has lived.
What are some of the biggest obstacles residential communities like yours face in today’s world?
Some of the biggest challenges communities like ours face in today’s world exist because of the misconceptions, stereotypes, and discrimination against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This bias affects funding, policy support, research, and the growth of more and varied programs.
What advice would you offer to others who want to create similar residential environments for adults with I/DD?
Don’t reinvent the wheel—other programs want to share. There aren’t enough housing options, and strong providers know this and WANT to make it as easy as possible for you to do this. We will share whatever we can to help!
Be flexible where your mission allows it and be okay with saying no where it doesn’t. One of the best things we did was to accept residents 18+. The variety in ages has created a deep culture that has given many opportunities and activities
they would have never experienced with others only in their age group. And, in moments that might have pulled us from our mission, it was important to say “no”.
Fundraise for operational support in addition to fundraising for building or land. And then, keep fundraising. You will always want to do more for your residents and families.
Ask yourself: Can you do this when you are full? (What habits are you creating when you are smaller that you won’t be able to continue when you are full?)
Progress, not perfection. And, continued progress. I am never fully satisfied with what we are doing as a team and for our residents.
Do you have any stories or examples that illustrate how resident lives have been positively impacted?
My favorite stories of residents being positively impacted by our partners are the little things...going shopping and running into a community partner or participant from another program, learning a skill they didn’t have, and some of our residents have discovered passions by working with our community partners. Our partners have helped open the world for our residents.
How have community partnerships supported your mission?
When Stephen’s Place first opened, we were a 40,000-square-foot building with two residents and 10 team members, open 24 hours a day. As we built partnerships with other programs throughout the community, they became part of what we do.
Our partners provide programming for our residents, including classes on friendship and socialization, a prom event for the greater community held at Stephen’s Place, fitness training, creativity outlets, and, most importantly, friendships, support, and care. Though our community has an overnight population of people with I/DD, we are integrated daily into the greater community.
Tell us more about your dream to build a community center. What do you envision this space becoming?
We have a dream to build a community center for the I/DD community in Clark County. We envision this space becoming a gathering place for the neurodivergent population; a place to learn, to socialize, to recreate, grow, and to find peace and safety.
Adults within the intellectual and developmental disabilities population so rarely get treated with the same esteem as the neurotypical population. Our dream is to make it similar to Stephen’s Place, where people walk in feeling welcomed, where they are safe and free from stereotypes and judgements, and can feel proud in showing the community off and sharing it with the larger community.
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Photos courtesy of Stephen’s Place
Photos courtesy of Stephen’s Place
Celebrating 10 Years of Stephen’s Place, continued from page 18
How will the community center expand your ability to serve residents—and perhaps the broader I/DD community?
With our Residential Community at capacity, sharing our space has become more challenging. By creating a community center, we would be able to continue to share space with Day Program participants, with community partners, and with the greater Vancouver community.
Are there other goals or dreams you’re working toward for the next 5–10 years?
The uncertainty in political policies and Federal and State funding led us to put our community center dream on hold until we can move forward judiciously as good stewards of the donations and grants we receive to build it. In the meantime, we are starting research to determine if the last phase of our strategic planning should be considered, which would fill the need for more housing.
What would you most like policymakers, families, and potential supporters to understand about the needs—and strengths— of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities?
The needs our population have do not exist because of what they cannot do. They exist because there is a gap in the support provided for their needs.
I believe the neurotypical population regularly has their needs met because they can be commercialized. BUT the needs of the I/DD community are rarely viewed through that same lens. Instead, they’re too often seen as a burden simply because they cannot always be commercialized.
When our basic needs are met, we’re able to show up fully and give of ourselves. When adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a home, access to healthcare, meaningful support, and when they are truly seen for who they are, they’re able to share their strengths in powerful ways.
Additionally, the world will benefit from the dedication, loyalty, positivity, excitement at involvement, wonder at all there is to offer, interest in the world, intelligence, and the nontraditional perspective that the I/DD population provides.
What can others learn from the Stephen’s Place model when developing or improving residential and day programs?
What I believe we do well, and what other residential or day programs should consider, is our focus on individuality.
While it can be time-consuming and challenging to individualize care and programming, it’s also what truly honors each person for who they are, what they do, and what they bring to those around them. Until every person is seen and celebrated as an individual, our work isn’t complete.
Is there a resident story or moment that particularly moved you or reminded you why this work matters?
This work matters because the world has yet to fully recognize the potential and gifts of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Until it does, this population deserves places that respect their individuality, support their
needs, celebrate their successes and goals, and care for them with love.
Acceptance is something we all deserve.
I was friends with Michael Kuni for 20 years before he passed, and for 13 years before coming to work at Stephen’s Place. After his wife passed, Michael expressed a desire to live with other people “like him.” It’s just as important that our population has a say in where they live and who they live with as it is for anybody else.
What are you most proud of when you look back over the past 10 years?
Looking back over the past 10 years at Stephen’s Place, I’m most proud of the lives our residents are living; the friendships they’ve built, the jobs they hold and take pride in, and the way each person cares for the other (even in the moments when that care is difficult to find for another, because that’s just life).
I’m proud of the care our residents receive, and of the advocacy and persistence our team has shown to make sure that support exists. It’s something that we are sure exists both inside and outside of our walls. Most of all, I’m proud that Stephen’s Place is a safe, accepting community where people can be themselves.
Stephen’s Place was truly created for LIVING LIFE, and being part of it. Witnessing the beauty and fullness of the lives our residents lead is a gift.
Is there anything else you’d like Spectrum Life Magazine readers to know?
I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of Stephen’s Place every day. I am never satisfied that what we do is enough or that I’ve given enough.
I hope for a day where our residents’ needs are accepted and accommodated for in society so readily that Stephen’s Place doesn’t need to exist.
Learn more:
For more information about Stephen’s Place, please visit: www.stephensplace.org
To learn more about the Kuni Foundation and their commitment to inclusive housing and disability equity, visit: www.kunifoundation.org
John “King of Kool” Krejcha is co-founder of Autism Empowerment and serves as Program Director. 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 autistic, he is a neurodivergent, dyslexic and a loving ally.
Autism, Perseveration, and Holding Onto Thoughts Using Visual Anchors to Remember
By Judy Endow, MSW, LCSW
Like many autistics, all my life, I have thought visually. My thinking is comprised of pictures, colors, and shapes, along with their corresponding sounds and movements.
Given that experience, I have had to learn how to hold onto new thoughts, as it doesn’t happen automatically. This is especially true if I see a novel thought while in a slightly (or more than slightly) elevated emotional state. It doesn’t matter if the emotion is negative or positive.
Here is an example:
When I am looking forward to an event such as going on a trolley for a narrated Fall Color Tour, it generates a slightly elevated positive emotional state. I want to remember to stop at the grocery store on the way home to purchase an ingredient for a dish I plan to make for dinner. However, if I have no way of storing or retrieving that information, I will need to hold onto that picture until it happens.
As a child, the way I would hold onto a picture—a thought that was important that I didn’t want to forget—would be to talk about it over and over until the event happened. In the above example, I might repeatedly ask, “Will we stop at the grocery store on the way home?”
Even though my question was answered very patiently several times, I persisted in asking it. The function of the question in this case was not to get the answer, but instead to hold the picture in place—front and center in my head—so that I would not forget it.
This is because for me, a visual thought, if not stored and therefore retrievable, is literally out of sight, out of mind, never again to be found.
Today in my practice, I work with many autistics who repeat things over and over. It is often referred to as perseveration. Sometimes the perseveration is happening because the individual is thinking about something they do not want to forget, but haven’t yet figured out another way to hold onto their visual thought.
Here are some ideas that have been helpful to me and to others I have worked with over the years:
Visually construct a garage or a parking lot in your head.
Consciously think of putting the picture thought in the garage or parking lot. Once the thought has been visually
parked, it will be there when you go looking for it at a later time.
Many times when I first start working with someone to use this idea, I will have them actually draw their garage or parking lot on a piece of paper and draw in the visual thought they want to park.
Once the thought is parked, they can go on to do something other than perseverating on that particular thought picture, knowing they will be able to find that thought later, even though they do not keep it front and center in their brain by repeatedly talking about it.
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Typically, after a few times of using the drawing and with encouragement to put the drawing in their head, individuals drop the paper and pencil garage or parking lot once they indeed have the visual in their mind.
Often, a visual thought can be jotted down or drawn so as not to lose it.
We all do this when we make our grocery list or jot a note to pick up milk on the way home. I needed direct instruction, many reminders, and lots of practice doing this before it became automatic for me to even think of using this strategy.
I find that autistic individuals I work with often need direct instruction and repetitive practice before the seemingly simple idea of writing it down becomes a viable everyday strategy.
Another strategy that works well is to visually pull up a future scene of when you need to remember your current thought.
Directly create that picture thought of the future scene when you will need to have the picture reminder pop up. Using the above example, I would think of driving home from the Fall Color Tour around 2:30 pm, along with onions at the grocery store.
My picture would be of me in the car with my watch at 2:30 pm. On my watch, I put the words “on my way home” because I know my brain may not cooperate if the time is different than exactly 2:30 pm when I am driving home.
the behaviors of typical people. The copy mode is draining, and even when I do copy, it often doesn’t fit in well, sometimes appearing a bit robotic.
Often, when there is not the exact visual brain match to reality, my brain will boot the picture out, which causes me to lose the reminder. Thus, I have learned to outsmart this.
When the picture of me in the car with my watch is in place, I add the picture of a building with the words “Grocery Store” and an open door where I put a picture of onions just inside the door. Again, I outsmart my exacting visual brain by using a generic box building with the words “Grocery Store” rather than a specific grocery store.
I know that I have a few possibilities of grocery stores to stop at on the way home and want to make sure I get to decide in the moment based on other needs. For example, I only want to make one stop, so I will stop when I need to use the bathroom and pick up the onions at this same stop, regardless of which grocery store is at the stop.
Hopefully, if you are autistic and have difficulty holding onto thoughts, these ideas might be useful for you, like they have been for many others.
If you know an autistic person who is prone to get stuck and perseverate, please know that if the reason for the behavior labeled perseveration is for them to hold onto a visual thought, these ideas may be helpful alternatives.
It has been life-changing for me to learn to work with my autistic brain rather than trying so hard to copy and display
It is unfortunate that most of the folks who are teachers and helpers of autistics are at a disadvantage when it comes to supporting and working with autistic thinking only because they do not understand how the autistic brain functions.
I have learned that it is so much easier to respect my neurology and work with it than it is to learn to copy the behaviors of neuromajority folks. I hope more information for autistics on how to work with their neurology continues to become available.
This article also appears on Judy Endow’s blog, Aspects of Autism Translated at www.judyendow.com.
Judy Endow, MSW, LCSW maintains a private practice in Madison, Wisconsin providing consultation for families, school districts, and other agencies. Besides having autism herself, she is the parent of three grown sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Her newest book, Autistically Thriving can be purchased at www.judyendow.com
recreation
INCLUSIVE WAYS TO HAVE FUN
Photo courtesy of Michael Schmidt
Shamim Dana, The Autograph King
Overcoming challenges through love, support, and a special interest
By Brian Tashima
Shamim Dana, born with multiple intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism and cerebral palsy, was barely able to walk and talk as a child. But then he discovered a passion for collecting autographs, which led to a lifetime of meeting celebrities, making friendships, and connecting people with each other.
And now, he is the subject of an upcoming documentary about his life called The Autograph King, which was directed and produced by Scott Zakarin (who, among his many credits, has produced documentaries featuring Star Trek’s William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee, and director Kevin Smith).
Spectrum Life Magazine was grateful for the opportunity to sit down with Shamim and hear more about his amazing journey.
Hi, Shamim! Thanks for being a part of this interview. To start, please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Shamim Dana, also known as The Autograph King. I’m a father, musician, actor, and I have cerebral palsy. My son is on the autism spectrum. I’m also known as the Connector, and I was called the “Skywalking Bounty Hunter” on the Skywalking Through Neverland podcast by Richard and Sarah Woloski.
What does it mean to you to be known as “The Autograph King”?
I love being called The Autograph King because it reflects my passion for collecting autographs and building new friendships.
How did you first get into collecting autographs?
I dreamt of meeting famous people in sports, like Michael Jordan and Shaq, and in entertainment. My earliest autograph-collecting memories date back to age three at Disneyland in 1996. This sparked a lifelong passion, with notable encounters including Alyson Court (Loonette from The Big Comfy Couch) at age four and Mickey Carroll, a Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz, at age seven.
What are some of your favorite autographs? And what are the stories behind them?
I can’t pick a favorite. Each autograph tells a story, and it forms a friendship.
Autograph King sounds like an amazing film. How did it get started? And how did you meet the director,
I met Scott in 2017 while working on my passion project, which was to collect the autographs of everyone involved with a mockumentary called Comic Book: The Movie, which Scott produced with Mark Hamill. I arranged a meeting with Scott to get his autograph. He can tell you more about how the film got started.
Scott: At first, Producers Corey Orton, Michael Schmidt, and I thought a short documentary about Shamim, like around ten minutes, would be interesting. But after we talked with him some more and met his family when we went to shoot in Portland, we realized there was enough there to make a beautiful feature-length documentary.
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The
Scott Zakarin?
Illustration courtesy of Bryan Arendt
The film is financed by myself, Michael Schmidt, and additional Executive Producers Roy Gelerman and Charles Zakarin. It has been in production since 2023, and we hope to have it released by the end of 2025 or early 2026 at the latest. It features support and special appearances by multiple celebrities, including Rainn Wilson, RJ Mitte, Thomas Ian Nicholas, and Billy West.
We would love to have as many people see it as possible, because we feel that it will inspire them to live a great life no matter what challenges they face, and to live up to their potential by pursuing whatever they are most passionate about.
We can’t wait to see it! So, Shamim, besides collecting autographs, what are some of your other interests?
I’ve loved sports my whole life. I’ve even won a gold medal at the Special Olympics.
Wow, congratulations! Please tell us more about that experience.
I wanted to be an athlete and compete on different teams, so my family reached out to different athlete groups with the Special Olympics, like Little League Challenger baseball and basketball, bowling and track and field. The sport I ended up winning a gold medal in was the 50-meter dash. It was an amazing honor.
We’ve heard that you’re also a musician, and that you even performed with The Beach Boys! That must have been so much fun. How did you get involved with them?
Like many of us growing up in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, I loved family sitcoms like Full House. I dreamt of recreating the scene in the show where the Tanners (the family in the show) perform with The Beach Boys.
So, in 2014, I met Dave Coulier (an actor on Full House) and shared my dream. He connected me with John Stamos (another actor on Full House), and in August of that year, we reenacted the scene from the show on stage in a real performance with The Beach Boys. I even picked my mom to join me.
You do so many different things! How do you stay motivated and inspired?
I like helping others and connecting with them. That brings me joy and happiness. I also enjoy meeting new people and sharing common interests.
Being in the spotlight can sometimes be hard. Do you ever find it challenging?
I have my support system: my family and my friends, who are there when I need them.
Continued on next page
Photo courtesy of Michael Schmidt
It’s so important to have a support system like that, especially for those of us who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. What was life like growing up with cerebral palsy and being neurodivergent?
Growing up with cerebral palsy, I needed to have physical therapy, visual therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and bio-feedback/neurofeedback therapy. During middle and high school, I needed an IEP (Individualized Education Program) to give me extra time on tests, and I also had to have adaptive physical education.
For work, I had to have job coaches, and I was a part of a transition-to-work program in high school and college where I had help from a transition specialist. After that, I worked with the Best Buddies organization (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps to create opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities), who helped me get a job with Silicon Valley Bank.
What’s your experience like being a neurodivergent dad to a son on the autism spectrum?
Every day is a new experience. I am always learning more about what it means to be on the spectrum as I try to help my son navigate life.
A lot of our readers are autistic or neurodivergent like you—or have family members who are. What message would you want to share with them?
The message I would like to give to your readers would be, be yourself and embrace your uniqueness.
Everyone has their own journey, and what unites us is love, unity, and acceptance.
Avoid judging others before getting to know them and make the most of the resources available to you.
That’s a terrific message. So, what’s next for you? Any upcoming projects, appearances or goals you’re excited about?
I’m excited to be a participant in Autism Empowerment’s new program, the Neurodivergent Creators Collective.
[Editor’s note: Autism Empowerment’s Neurodivergent Creators Collective, or AE-NCC, is an initiative designed to provide workshops, mentorships, and other opportunities in various fields of media to autistic and neurodivergent creators.]
That’s great to hear! How did you first connect with Autism Empowerment?
I was attending Little Peas Speech and Occupational Therapy in Beaverton, Oregon for my son’s occupational therapy, where I came across the Spring issue of Spectrum Life Magazine
My mom and I had been looking for a new outlet for my creativity when we read the article in that issue about Brian Tashima’s film, Hold My Beer. Then a few days later, we went to the Autism Society of Oregon’s 23rd Anniversary Autism Walk in Portland, where I happened to meet Brian in person and he told me about the Neurodivergent Creators Collective.
What do you hope people will remember most about The Autograph King?
How it tells the remarkable story of a young man born with physical and mental disabilities that would be challenging for anyone trying to lead a “normal” life and how, with determination and love, his parents created an environment to provide him with the developmental tools that enabled him to overcome any challenges.
How can people follow your journey or support your work?
People can join the Official Autograph King Fan Group community on Facebook, TikTok (@theautographking), Instagram (@shamimsautographs), and YouTube (@TheAutographKingOfficial).
Finally, is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
Dream big, never give up, keep moving forward, and remember the good times along the way.
Brian Tashima is a neurodivergent author, screenwriter, filmmaker, musician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is also the managing general partner of Second Player Score, an arts and entertainment company whose mission is to provide career opportunities within the entertainment industry to people from the autism and neurodivergent communities. His credits include the award-winning Joel Suzuki series—a young adult sci-fi/fantasy coming-of-age story about a teenage boy whose autism is the source of his magic, the manga-style comic book series Glorified and the short film Hold My Beer. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Autism Empowerment.
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Reimagining Summer Education A Season to Grow, to Glow, and Give Grace
By Karen Krejcha
Summer offers more than a break from school. It’s a meaningful opportunity to meet our children where they are, making room for learning in all its beautifully diverse forms.
It’s a time that invites both possibility and pause. Some families focus on catching up, others on resting and resetting. Wherever you and your family find yourselves this summer, know that every step taken—whether fast, slow, or still—is part of a meaningful and valuable journey.
That said, we know summer can feel different for every family. For many autistic and neurodivergent youth, summer brings a mix of opportunities and emotions.
On one hand, summer break can offer a welcome reprieve from the demands and overstimulation of school. On the other hand, the loss of familiar routines and supports can feel destabilizing. Some families may worry about their children “falling behind.” Others crave stillness and peace after pushing through another year of masking, navigating inaccessible systems, or simply trying to survive.
We get it—because we and our children have lived it too.
At Autism Empowerment, we believe learning doesn’t have to happen only in classrooms or follow a traditional path to be valid or valuable. Whether you and your family are focusing on rest, catching up academically, learning new skills, or simply getting through the heatwave without a meltdown, we’re here to support you.
As we are all lifelong learners, our intent with this article is to encourage you and your children to explore strengths, support challenges, and make space for personal needs. Each day is a new chance to grow with compassion, curiosity, and love.
We also believe in the power of kindness, grace, and faith— not bound to one religion or tradition, but woven through the sacred work of parenting, caregiving, and growing together.
Reframing Summer: A Season of Whole Self Learning
Summer isn’t just a break from school. It’s a creative opportunity to center your child’s natural interests, rhythms, and preferred learning styles.
How might this look?
• Diving deeper into a favorite topic or special interest area
• Building real-world skills like cooking or budgeting
• Taking intentional mental health breaks to prevent burnout
• Practicing self-advocacy or rest as resistance
• Simply experiencing joy without performance pressure
Whether you are neurodivergent or neurotypical, learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. What works for one person might be overwhelming for another. That’s okay!
Whole self learning is not about fitting into a mold to blend in. It’s not a competition or a race. It’s about building an environment where your child can grow at their own pace and feel safe, supported, and seen in the process.
Ideas by Age and Stage
Every age brings different strengths, challenges, and support needs. Here are affirming ideas to help families across developmental stages.
Preschool / Early Learners
• Sensory bins, bubbles, or splash pad play for motor development and calming input
• Listening to stories, music, or interactive books
• Matching games with shapes, animals, or familiar objects
• Walks in nature—look for colors, textures, or animal sounds
Tip: Create simple picture routines and allow space for transitions. Predictability helps many kids feel secure.
Elementary School-Age
• Interest-led journaling, drawing, or storytelling
• Basic life skills: packing snacks, helping in the kitchen, setting timers
• Learning games (math puzzles, phonics songs, educational apps)
• Free or low-cost library programs (many now offer sensoryfriendly sessions!)
Tip: Celebrate effort over outcome. Allow creative learning without the need for grades.
Middle School
• Passion projects: build a game, make a zine, design a LEGO® city
• Encourage safe risk-taking (like calling to order pizza or managing a chore list)
• Build executive functioning with planners or to-do apps
• Try a beginner-level volunteer role or community recreation class
Tip: Offer agency. Let them be part of setting the structure while staying connected.
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High School
• Job exploration or resume building
• Teach budgeting with real-world examples (e.g., planning a family meal)
• Skill-building courses through OutSchool or a community college
• Coping skills: journaling, movement, sensory strategies, or mindfulness
• If in the Portland metro area, volunteer with Autism Serves Helping Hands: bit.ly/ashelpinghands
Neurodivergent students often mask for extended periods during the school year. The emotional and sensory toll can lead to shutdowns, meltdowns, or regression when routines are removed.
That’s not a failure. That’s communication.
It’s important to build in time to recover and rest and to give your child grace in a safe space.
Tip: Respect their independence. Empower them to ask for what they need without judgment.
• Use summer to rest, recalibrate, and explore possible job or career options
• Volunteer or intern with a local nonprofit
• Self-directed learning in accessible formats (podcasts, audiobooks, YouTube)
• Join in-person or online with AE’s Neurodivergent Creators Collective: www.autismempowerment.org/aencc
• Mental health check-ins—therapy, support groups, creative outlets
Tip: Autonomy doesn’t mean isolation. Partner with your young adult in ways that support their confidence.
Mental Health Matters: The Need for Breaks
Summer is a time when mental health needs can intensify, especially during transitions, family travel, or hot weather that limits outdoor activities.
Allow plenty of breaks for regulation, especially after periods of high activity. This includes:
• Quiet sensory-friendly corners with pillows or weighted blankets
• Familiar favorite foods or calming media
• Free time to decompress without pressure to “do” anything
• Water bottles, sunscreen, and rest breaks on hot days
Even joyful summer activities can become overwhelming without enough recovery time. As your family moves through this summer season, remember that healthy growth requires both sunlight and rest.
Facing Summer Challenges with Grace
Even the best-laid plans can tend to go sideways. That’s not a reflection of your parenting or your child’s value—it’s just real life. Summer comes with unique joys and stressors, especially when routines shift or expectations rise.
Here are some everyday struggles that many families face— and ways to meet them with compassion: www. spectrumlife.org
Continued on page 32
Lack of Structure: When school ends, the built-in routines many kids rely on disappear. This can lead to dysregulation, increased anxiety, or behavioral challenges, especially if every day looks different.
Tips to Try:
• Visual schedules, picture charts, or whiteboards with daily plans
• Consistent anchor points (like breakfast, quiet time, evening wind-down)
• Building in personal choice and decision-making to empower your child within a safe structure
Sensory Overload: Summer often brings louder environments, outdoor events, temperature changes, and crowds—all of which can overwhelm the nervous system of autistic and neurodivergent people.
Tips to Try:
• Noise-canceling headphones or sunglasses for outdoor spaces
• For sensory seekers, consider creating a safe, fun space for high-energy input—like a blow-up kiddie pool filled with plastic balls for at-home crashing, jumping, or DIY mosh pit style movement
• Stay hydrated by sucking on ice chips and keeping a filled water bottle nearby
• Pre-planning exits or quiet breaks when attending events
• Create a “calm kit” with comforting sensory items (fidgets, weighted lap pad, familiar scents, a soft plushie, etc.)
Parent and Caregiver Burnout: When routines shift, caregiving demands can intensify. Juggling enrichment, emotional support, and daily responsibilities without schoolbased support can feel overwhelming.
It’s in these moments that leaning into your faith—or whatever source of strength you draw from—can often offer comfort and clarity. Whether through prayer, meditation, quiet reflection, or community support, reconnecting with your inner foundation can help anchor you through the chaos.
Tips to Try:
• Rotating responsibilities with a co-caregiver, if available
• Asking for help from family, friends, or support networks— even short breaks matter
• Connecting with other parents through online or in-person support groups
• Journaling or recording your thoughts and feelings
• Creating a calming playlist for yourself with music that soothes and recharges
• Trying gentle movements like stretching, walking, or chair yoga
• Using a white noise or nature sound machine to create peaceful moments
• Scheduling weekly self-check-ins: “What do I need today? What can wait?”
• Speaking to yourself as you would a friend—with patience, kindness, and grace
Comparing to Others: Seeing other families post about vacations, achievements, or milestone progress can lead to
feelings of inadequacy or pressure, especially if your summer looks different from theirs.
Tips to Try:
• Focusing on your child’s unique progress, not someone else’s highlight reel
• Practicing gratitude for small wins (getting dressed, trying a new food, being kind)
• Reminding yourself: Learning is not a race. Neurodivergent timelines are just as valid and often more vibrant.
Travel and Routine Disruptions: Visiting grandparents, going on vacation, or even staying overnight in a different home can bring unexpected challenges—new smells, sounds, sleeping spaces, and people.
Tips to Try:
• Preparing your child ahead of time with visuals, social stories, or videos
• Bringing familiar objects from home (blankets, stuffed animals, favorite snacks)
• Having a flexible “travel toolkit” that includes sensory supports, preferred activities, and downtime opportunities
• Letting hosts know in advance what your child might need to feel comfortable and safe
Spotlight on Libraries: Hidden Gems for Summer Learning
Libraries are more than books—they’re lifelines. Many now offer:
• Sensory-friendly story times and craft sessions
• Free access to ebooks, audiobooks, and inclusive learning platforms
• Social clubs, take-home STEM kits, or even musical instruments
• Cool, calm spaces during extreme heat
Ask your local branch if they have inclusion programming or quiet room options. And don’t forget: librarians often love helping curious minds, and many of them are neurodivergent too!
What If My Child “Needs to Catch Up”?
We hear this often, especially after pandemic disruptions and inconsistent supports. If you’re concerned about learning gaps, you’re not alone.
Here are a few ways you can support growth without causing shame:
• Start with compassion. Gaps aren’t moral failings—they’re signals of unmet needs.
• Set collaborative goals. Ask your child what they want to feel more confident about.
• Use play-based learning. Turn math into baking. Turn reading into storytelling.
• Celebrate small steps. Every skill gained—even slowly— is a win.
Continued on next page
Progress is not always visible on the surface. Just as seeds grow underground before they bloom, your child may be building resilience, trust, and capacity—even in the quiet.
Final Thoughts
Summer doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. It can be playful, messy, restful, productive—or all of those things in the same week. Your child is not behind. They’re becoming. They’re evolving. And so are you.
Whether your days are filled with activities or filled with moments of quiet connection, may this summer season remind you:
Growth happens in our own time and in our own way. That is by design—and it is perfectly okay!
No matter where your faith or beliefs lie, know that kindness, grace, and hope are welcome companions on this journey. Summer is a time to water what’s growing, to rest in what is, and to believe in what’s yet to bloom.
Wherever you are this summer, know that you’re not alone. We’re here to walk with you—through sunshine, setbacks, and all the sacred in-between!
From our Spectrum Life and Autism Empowerment family to yours, we wish you a summer of empowerment, joy, and peace.
“Crafty” Karen Krejcha is a co-founder of Autism Empowerment, where she serves as Executive Director. She is the Editor of Spectrum Life Magazine, host of the Autism Empowerment Podcast and founder of Spectrum of Voices LLC. Karen was diagnosed on the autism spectrum in her 40s, after the diagnosis of her two children. She has been married to co-founder John Krejcha for over 32 years and is devoted to being a loving wife, mom, daughter and ambassador of acceptance and empowerment worldwide. being a loving wife, mom, daughter and ambassador of acceptance and empowerment worldwide. https://linktr.ee/karenkrejcha
The Sensory Toll of Being Misunderstood It Wasn’t Just in My Head
by Lyric Rivera
I didn’t know sensory processing differences existed for the first 29 years of my life. Despite being significantly impacted by mine, I thought we all experienced the world through our senses the same way.
Not knowing the truth about my own sensory differences and needs led to many problems over my lifetime—like frequent, recurring migraines and other neurological events, which I now know were related to exposure to certain kinds of lighting and other sensory triggers that I’m sensitive to.
I spent almost 30 years of my life with totally preventable migraines and recurring neurological events that stopped once I understood myself enough to determine the trigger— fluorescent lighting that is everywhere in the modern world.
The migraines started when I was in elementary school, in first grade—my first year in public school and my first time in a busy classroom with fluorescent lighting. I also experienced the noise and unpredictability of more than 20 other children (many of whom were mean to me) and the unfair expectation of my teacher that I would be still and seated for eight or more hours each day for the first time.
Early on, the daily headaches started.
At first, I would raise my hand, letting the teacher know I had a headache. The teacher would then send me to the nurse, who would then take my temperature. Because I would not have a fever (and couldn’t make anyone sick, by the school’s logic), I was quickly sent back to class each time despite my pain.
Eventually, the nurse told me to stop coming to her office because “I needed to stay in class” since I “wasn’t sick”— because, to my school, the only sickness that counted as “sick” was the kind that could spread, hurting attendance (how the school got its funding).
Additionally, even if I felt sick, it didn’t matter as long as I wasn’t throwing up or with a fever (until I started throwing up—then they moved the goalpost once again).
As the headaches began to escalate, they started to turn into dizzy spells that included vomiting, disorientation, physical abdominal pain, and, in my daze, missing chunks of time, causing me severe distress.
Unfortunately, because the General Practitioner my mom took me to ruled (correctly) that whatever was going on with me was, once again, “not contagious,” it was deemed by my school that I “had to attend” and didn’t qualify to stay home because I’d already used all my sick days (even though I was violently ill to my stomach), threatening my mother with
“truancy” charges if she didn’t get me to school while I was sick. So my mother, who didn’t have the resources to fight the school, sent me to school anyway.
The school’s environment was literally what was making me sick, but nobody knew that, and I was prescribed (by those around me) more exposure to the very thing that was slowly killing me.
Not knowing the truth about my brain meant I couldn’t advocate for my needs for most of my life. When I thought we all experienced the world the same way, I didn’t feel like I could complain about sensations that strained me, especially when nobody else appeared to be bothered, despite my pain and sickness, and possibly because I was often told, “You’re the only one complaining” when I did work up the nerve to speak up.
Discovering the truth about my sensory differences, that I am Autistic and that each person has a unique sensory profile, was a turning point in my life. It brought a sense of relief and empowerment, knowing that no two people experience the world in the same way. It also validated my own reality, which had been denied by the people around me repeatedly throughout my life.
Learning the truth saved my life and gave me the courage to speak up for the needs that people around me (including myself) had dismissed and ignored.
For the first time, I extended compassion to myself, learning to embrace every aspect of my being, even the parts I had long tried to suppress and deny.
Continued on page 36
Understanding the human sensory spectrum has improved my ability to care for myself (and those around me) and has cultivated a deeper sense of self-acceptance. It reminds me that it’s okay to have sensory needs (we all do, even if some are more commonly understood than others), that my needs are REAL, and that it’s crucial for me (and all of us) to prioritize self-knowledge and care.
While each person has their own sensory profile, Autistic People (and other people with sensory processing differences) often have more extreme sensory profiles, finding ourselves to be either hypersensitive or hyposensitive to various channels of sensory input—like sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, balance, and where our body and limbs are in space.
For example, someone who is hypersensitive to cold may find cool air (that many can tolerate) physically painful on their skin, while someone who is hyposensitive to cold may go outside in flip-flops, swim trunks, and a tank top and feel no discomfort even if it is below freezing outside.
While Autistic People often have sensory processing differences, it’s important to remember that every Autistic Person is unique. Some may have significant sensory differences and distress, while others may have no sensory differences (that they notice). This diversity of experiences is an integral part of the Autistic constellation.
Additionally, a person’s sensory profile can change over time, meaning things that once bothered someone at one point in their life can become less of (or more of) a problem over time or in various situations (especially if a person is tired, hungry, stressed, or physically or mentally unwell), or just as we age.
Many People Have Sensory Differences
It is also important to mention that Autistic People aren’t the only people to experience sensory differences. In fact, one can have sensory processing differences independently, without any other form of NeuroDivergence present.
For example, being colorblind and having synesthesia are sensory processing differences. Also, those with ADHD, anxiety, and panic disorders, as well as those with differences of traumatic origin, can experience sensory differences such as heightened sensory awareness via hypervigilance or disassociation with decreased awareness of bodily sensations and the world around them. Because of this, I’ve asked for more than just Autistic input in my recent question to neurodivergent people.
#ActuallyAutistic #AskingAutistics and other sensorysensitive humans: What’s something you wish people understood about sensory processing differences?
My answer: “That my sensory needs aren’t static... just because I can handle it today doesn’t mean I can handle it all the time.”
— Lyric Rivera (they/them), the NeuroDivergent Rebel
Responses from #ActuallyAutistic contributors:
(Editor’s note: Out of respect to Lyric and #ActuallyAutistic contributors, capitalization preferences and responses are typically shared as submitted and are a sampling of many responses. To see more, visit https://www.facebook.com/NeurodivergentRebel)
“I wish more people understood I don’t get to choose how or where my sensory processing goes haywire. I’m not ignoring you—my brain is hyperfocused and I’m hearing sound but my brain is not understanding the sound is for me and I need to pay attention. At home with my family when it happens they know to gently come touch me to get my attention and that I am not ignoring them and it is the literal best. My husband and I came to very late awareness. Which caused both of us a lot of problems at home (such as the auditory processing) because we both had internalized neurotypical expectations of one another and weren’t understanding the impacts of masking. Learning BOTH of us were autistic (likely AuDHD) was life changing in a good way for us.” — Melissa Finch
“Just because I can handle it now, doesn’t mean that I’ll be handling it an hour from now.” — Angie Rayfield (she/her)
“That I’m not doing this to make your life difficult. I’m not being picky, bratty, spoiled. One of my misophonia triggers is that particular high-pitched screech toddlers do. I’ve had people accuse me of being a child hating witch because of it. Not at all! I love children, but that screech literally causes me pain.” — Sara Ebare (she/they)
“That it is NOT merely a matter of personal preference, that it’s a literal pain and accessibility thing. Me having to endure loud volume or bright lights is a PAIN thing, where as turning the volume down or the lights down won’t cause neurotypical people pain, even if the person might struggle to be able to see objects with the lights dimmed.” — Jimbaux
“I have auditory processing disorder & I wish they understood that slowness in response doesn’t mean I wasn’t paying attention or that I’m not intelligent. My brain literally takes longer to turn the sounds into words. Add those words to my constant internal monologue and it gets a bit noisy in my head. For teachers and providers: Giving me listening exercises that require faster and faster response time will not help.” — Chelle Doetsch (she/they)
“That competing noises are absolutely TERRIBLE and are quite painful.” — Laura K. Anderson (she/they)
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“Just because I can handle a loud concert, doesn’t mean that smaller noises can’t bother me. It also doesn’t mean I’m not exhausted by the end of the show.”
— Caitlin (she/they)
“It can literally be painful for neurodivergent folks to experience a sensation. Not in a metaphorical way, but in a very real, physical way.” — Kenzie Lane (she/her)
“That if I get too overwhelmed and overstimulated, I cannot control the ‘temper tantrum’ that results from being pushed beyond my breaking point, and I’m just as embarrassed and ashamed of it as you are, please don’t make it worse by shaming me or drawing more attention to me. Just give me some space to regulate and settle.”
— Becca (they/them)
“How much energy it takes to exist. How quickly overwhelmed we can become. How long it takes to recover.” — Kay Wells (she/her)
To join in the conversation, here is the link to the original Facebook post: https://bit.ly/aasensory
This article is part of a continuing series at Autism Empowerment and Spectrum Life Magazine called #AskingAutistics by Lyric Rivera. To read past articles and get connected with autistic community members, visit www.spectrumlife.org/askingautistics
Lyric Rivera (they/them) is an Autistic self-advocate from Texas who runs the neurodiversity lifestyle blog Neurodivergent Rebel. They are also the founder of NeuroDivergent Consulting Lyric is known as the pioneer of the #AskingAutistics hashtag, where simple questions prompt openended responses that Autistic people can easily chime in with, and invites participants to engage each other in conversations related to the topic. This hashtag connects NeuroDiverse people who would not otherwise have a reason to engage with each other and fosters a collective understanding of the Autistic experience. www.NeurodivergentRebel.com
Making Sense of Nutrition Labels Without Getting Overwhelmed
By Ryan Lockard, CSCS*D, CSPS*D
Let’s be honest—nutrition labels can be overwhelming. One second you’re trying to buy a “healthy” snack, and the next you’re squinting at a long list of ingredients you can’t pronounce and wondering what counts as a serving. I’ve been there. And so have a lot of the families we work with.
At Specialty Athletic Training, we’ve always focused on making fitness and wellness accessible for the disability community. While we’re known for what we do in the gym, what happens outside of the gym—like how we fuel our bodies—matters just as much.
So, let’s take the stress out of nutrition labels and get back to the basics. You don’t need a degree in dietetics to start making informed food choices. You just need a few tools, a little guidance, and a whole lot of grace.
Start with What You Know: Calories and Where They Come From
Calories aren’t bad—they’re just energy. Your body uses them to move, think, grow, and heal. However, not all calories are created equal because where those calories come from makes a big difference in how you feel.
There are three primary sources of calories, called macronutrients:
• Protein (4 calories per gram)
• Carbohydrates (4 calories per gram)
• Fat (9 calories per gram)
We encourage our clients to prioritize protein, especially if they’re working on building strength or stabilizing energy levels throughout the day. Protein helps with recovery, regulates hunger, and supports long-term health.
Example:
A snack with 10 grams (10g) of protein and 4g of fiber will keep you full and focused.
A snack with 25g of added sugar and no protein? That’s a short-lived energy boost followed by a crash.
Calories matter, but quality matters more.
Break Down the Label Without Breaking Your Brain
Here’s how we simplify it with our clients:
1. Serving Size
Everything else on the label is based on this. If the label says one serving is 1⁄2 cup and you eat a full cup, double all the numbers.
2. Total Calories
Use this to understand how much energy you’re getting. But don’t stop there—check where the calories are coming from.
3. Nutrients to Limit
Try to keep an eye on:
• Saturated fat
• Trans fat
• Added sugars
• Sodium
You don’t need to cut these out completely, but too much over time can impact energy, mood, and long-term health.
4. Nutrients to Prioritize
Focus on getting more of:
• Protein
• Fiber
• Calcium
• Iron
• Potassium
• Vitamin D
These help with muscle recovery, digestion, bone strength, and overall energy. And most people—especially kids and young adults—aren’t getting enough.
Eat in Color, Add in Greens, and Keep It Simple
I always say, nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be intentional.
Eat the Rainbow
Different colors mean different nutrients. Try to get at least two or three colors on your plate at each meal. Think strawberries, spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and bell peppers. This is a super-easy habit for families to build together, and even picky eaters usually find a few favorites.
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Include
Greens
Leafy greens are packed with iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamins. We’re big fans of adding a handful of spinach to scrambled eggs or tossing kale into a smoothie. You don’t need to go full-on salad mode to get the benefits.
Build a Balanced Plate
Here’s a simple meal formula we teach clients:
• Protein (chicken, tofu, yogurt, beans)
• Fiber (veggies, fruits, whole grains)
• Healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, nuts)
• Color (eat the rainbow!)
If you’re checking most of those boxes, you’re on the right track.
What About the % Daily Value (DV)?
Those percentages on the side of the label? They’re based on a general 2,000-calorie diet. They help give you a rough idea of whether something is low (5% or less) or high (20% or more) in a particular nutrient.
Here’s how we use it:
• Look for high % DV in fiber, protein, calcium, and vitamins.
• Watch out for high % DV in sodium or saturated fat.
• Use it to compare similar products when you’re not sure which one is the better option.
But don’t get stuck in the weeds. If your protein bar has 18% DV of fiber instead of 20%, it’s still a win.
Labels Aren’t the Whole Story
One of the biggest takeaways we share with families: Don’t let front-of-package marketing decide for you. Labels like “low fat,” “sugar-free,” or “made with whole grains” don’t tell the full story.
Flip the package over. Check the ingredient list. A shorter list with recognizable ingredients is usually a better sign. Look out for added sugars hiding under names like corn syrup, dextrose, or fruit juice concentrate. The amount of “added sugars” will also be listed under sugars on the label.
Nutrition = Independence
At Specialty Athletic Training, we believe that learning how to read labels and make healthy food choices is more than a wellness skill—it’s a life skill. Helping individuals understand how food impacts their body—how it makes them feel strong, focused, and confident—is one of the most powerful things we can do.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to overhaul your pantry or follow a perfect meal plan. Just start with small, consistent steps:
• Add a source of protein to your breakfast
• Choose snacks with both protein and fiber
• Aim for more color at every meal
• Read the back of one food label this week
These little actions build confidence. And confidence carries over into every other part of life—whether it’s lifting a heavier weight, trying a new activity, or simply showing up with your head held high.
Nutrition is just one piece of the puzzle. But when it clicks, everything else starts to feel a little more in your control.
Ryan Lockard is the Founder and CEO of Specialty Athletic Training, a personal training company in the Portland Metro area, Lane County, and Central Oregon specializing in fitness programs for children and adults with disabilities. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) and a Certified Special Populations Specialist (NSCA). He has served on the board of directors for the Autism Society of Oregon and the Autism Society of America. He can be reached at Ryan@SpecialtyAthleticTraining.com or www.SpecialtyAthleticTraining.com
Photo courtesy of DejaPhoto
Photo courtesy of Mary Rebekah Moore
Autism and Parkinson’s: What’s the Connection? Aging, Movement, and Genetic Overlap
By Karen Krejcha
In the Spring 2025 issue of Spectrum Life Magazine, we introduced a new reader-driven series—Autism and Aging in response to a heartfelt question submitted to our Ask Spectrum Life column: “What resources are available for aging autistic adults?”
That one question opened the door to an important and long-overdue conversation. As more autistic people reach middle age and beyond, families, caregivers, and self-advocates are recognizing a growing need for resources, understanding, and healthcare that truly reflects the lived experience of neurodivergent aging.
In this first feature of our series, we turn our focus to a surprising but significant topic: the connection between autism and parkinsonism
At first glance, autism and Parkinson’s disease might seem like they exist at opposite ends of the lifespan—autism being a neurodevelopmental condition often identified in early childhood, and Parkinson’s a neurodegenerative disorder most commonly seen in older adulthood.
However, emerging research is revealing what many families have observed firsthand: autistic adults may face a higher likelihood of developing movement-related challenges later in life—especially those associated with Parkinson’s disease.
At Autism Empowerment, we believe in shining a positive light on every stage of life. Through this article, we aim to raise awareness, share insights from the latest research, and offer meaningful pathways to support and empowerment.
What Is Parkinsonism?
Parkinsonism refers to a group of movement symptoms that include:
• Tremors (shaking hands or limbs)
• Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
• Rigidity (muscle stiffness)
• Postural instability (trouble with balance or walking)
While Parkinson’s disease often causes these symptoms, they can also appear in other neurological conditions. People can have parkinsonism without a formal Parkinson’s diagnosis. And now we’re learning that autistic people may face a higher risk of developing these symptoms over time.
Why Might Autism and Parkinsonism Be Connected?
There’s still a lot we don’t know, but researchers have a
few educated guesses about why autism and parkinsonism might overlap:
• Shared Brain Circuits: Both autism and Parkinson’s involve brain structures like the basal ganglia and cerebellum, which help coordinate movement.
• Dopamine Differences: Dopamine is a brain chemical that helps control movement. Both autistic individuals and those with Parkinson’s show changes in dopamine-related pathways.
• Genetic Similarities: Some genes that increase the likelihood of autism may also be associated with Parkinson’s risk.
• Motor and Sensory Differences from the Start: Many autistic people have lifelong challenges with coordination, muscle tone, or repetitive movements. These traits may make age-related changes more pronounced.
Importantly, not every autistic person will experience parkinsonism—and not every person with parkinsonism is on the autism spectrum. But the overlap is strong enough that researchers and clinicians are paying close attention.
What the Research Says: Key Studies
Scientists are learning more about how autism and Parkinson’s disease might be connected. Here are five studies and articles where you can research more in-depth information.
A study from Sweden looked at over 2.2 million people and found that autistic adults are 4.4 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease as they age. The risk is even higher for those who also have intellectual disabilities or epilepsy. This shows we need to watch for Parkinson’s in autistic adults.
2. Raising Awareness for Better Care
(The Transmitter, 2025): https://doi.org/10.53053/XDDD2100
This article breaks down the findings from the JAMA Neurology study into easy-to-understand language. It highlights that autism is linked to a higher risk of earlyonset Parkinson’s and calls for better screening and care for autistic adults. It’s an excellent summary for those wanting a reader-friendly overview.
3. More Parkinson’s-Like Symptoms in Autism (Nature, 2024): https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01572-w
Researchers found that autistic people are three times more likely to have symptoms like shaking, slow movements, or stiff muscles, even if they don’t have Parkinson’s disease. These symptoms are called “parkinsonism” and can affect daily life.
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4. Movement Challenges Start Early
(Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 2023): https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.51736
This study showed that autistic people often have movement differences, like shaking or trouble walking, from a young age. These are similar to Parkinson’s symptoms and involve the same brain areas, like the basal ganglia. This suggests a deep connection between the two conditions.
5. Shared Genes Link Autism and Parkinson’s (Aging and Health Research, 2024): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100206
Scientists studied genes and found that autism and Parkinson’s share some of the same ones. These genes affect brain inflammation, stress, and a chemical called dopamine, which plays a crucial role in helping regulate movement.
What Should Autistic Adults and Families Look Out For?
Because Parkinson’s symptoms often start gradually, they may be overlooked or mistaken for other health issues— especially in autistic adults, whose unique communication and sensory needs may affect how symptoms are reported or interpreted.
Common early signs of parkinsonism include:
• Increased muscle stiffness or slowness
• Decreased facial expression (sometimes called “masked face”)
• Shuffling walk or stooped posture
• Small or cramped handwriting (known as micrographia)
• Tremors, especially when at rest
• Fatigue or slowness in daily tasks
If you or a loved one notices any of these signs, especially if they are new or getting worse, it’s worth discussing with a neurologist who understands both autism and movement disorders.
Practical Tips and Considerations
Here are some helpful ideas for navigating this topic with compassion and preparation:
1. Build a Medical Team That Understands Autism
Seek out providers who are neurodivergent-affirming and familiar with how aging may impact autistic adults. If needed, bring an advocate or communication aid to appointments.
2. Document Symptoms
Short videos or journals noting changes in movement, facial expression, speech, or energy levels can help you and your healthcare provider track patterns.
3. Understand Medication Interactions
Some medications prescribed for autism-related challenges (e.g., antipsychotics) can cause parkinsonian side effects. A neurologist can help differentiate between drug-induced symptoms and actual Parkinson’s disease.
4. Encourage Movement
Gentle exercises, such as walking, tai chi, or yoga, can help maintain mobility, promote balance, reduce stiffness, and support mental well-being. Additionally, these two exercise programs, specifically designed for Parkinson’s, are also quite popular.
• PWR!Moves: www.pwr4life.org/moves
• Rock Steady Boxing: www.rocksteadyboxing.org
5. Prepare for Supportive Care Needs
As mobility changes, home modifications or occupational therapy may be helpful. If caregiving becomes more intense, respite care and support groups can make a difference.
6. Care for the Caregivers Too
Whether you’re an autistic adult managing your own health or a loved one supporting someone else, remember that aging with dignity takes a village. We encourage you to lean into community, faith, and support services when needed.
Resources for Support
If parkinsonism or Parkinson’s disease becomes part of your journey, you’re not alone. There are excellent local and national organizations ready to help provide support.
• Michael J. Fox Foundation www.michaeljfox.org | 212-509-0995
Research updates, clinical trial opportunities, and community stories.
• Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation https://nwpf.org | 1-877-980-7500
Serving support to families in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Washington.
• Parkinson’s Foundation www.parkinson.org | 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) National education, helpline, and resources for individuals and caregivers.
• Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon www.parkinsonsresources.org | 1-800-426-6806
Serving Oregon and SW Washington with classes, support groups, and consultations.
Final Thoughts: Looking Ahead With Curiosity and Care
Autistic adults are living longer, richer lives—and that’s worth celebrating. But as we age, new questions emerge about how autism interacts with other health conditions. Exploring links between autism and Parkinson’s is not about fear—it’s about empowerment.
On a personal note, my wonderful 94-year-old father, Paul Pitsenbarger, is a founding board member of Autism Empowerment. He has Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor and has found great benefit from participating in a regular Parkinson’s exercise and support program at Touchmark at Fairway Village in Vancouver, WA.
Witnessing how movement and community support have improved his quality of life has deepened my appreciation for how essential these programs are—not just for adults with Parkinson’s, but for caregivers and families too.
By raising awareness and fostering connections between autistic and Parkinson’s communities, we can strive for more compassionate, informed, and inclusive care throughout the lifespan.
Oversharing, Boundaries, and Neurodivergence Not Everyone Earns Your Truth
By Anson Service, Psy.D., LMHC, aka, the Neurodivergent Doctor
It’s no secret that many of us neurodivergent people are often celebrated for our honesty, our rawness, our refusal to play by the unspoken social rules, our lack of masking emotion or any of the other ways we act like... ourselves.
We often say what we mean, and sometimes we say it all at once. For many of us, openness is natural, or maybe it has become our default method of communication—not because we want attention, or drama, or to make things awkward, but because it feels like the only way to be real.
Don’t forget that others have been asking us to be open as well throughout our lives, but in the way they want. In whatever ways you express yourself, for many of us, being “real and open” feels non-negotiable for various reasons.
But here’s where it gets tricky: not everyone deserves or can be trusted with our full story.
In neurotypical spaces, social nuances often dictate what is “appropriate.” Just today I met with a very nice clinician for coffee. He revealed to me that when I get to talking on a subject, my rate of speech tends to speed up, giving too much information too fast, and others may not be able to keep up with me.
This is my natural, neurodivergent way of sharing information with others, but for them, it can be like drinking from a firehose: too much, too fast.
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Personally, I am working on taking deeper, slower breaths, and slowing my pace of information down. However, I have another, deeper problem: I tend to overshare and when I do, I can feel my brain screaming, “STOP TALKING—FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS SACRED—SHUT UP!” while my heart says, “Oh, you’re a complete stranger but want to know how
I am doing? I thought you’d never ask... I have been fighting this rash for some time now—want to see it?”
Unfortunately, we’re all operating in a world that tells us we have to be open and honest, but if you are like me, you get caught in the inadvertent oversharing about our private lives as well.
If you ask many neurodivergent people, they will tell you that they have spent years in environments where their needs, emotions, or behaviors were misunderstood, dismissed, or punished. That kind of chronic invalidation can leave us craving authentic connection in a deep, urgent way, like floodwaters being dammed up.
When we find someone who seems even remotely safe or interested, that communication dam can burst. We might share intensely personal stories, disclose diagnoses, talk about trauma, disclose relationship issues, or open up about our struggles with physical or mental health—sometimes within minutes of meeting someone.
Why do we do this? It’s not typically because we lack boundaries. Often, it’s because our boundaries have been crossed so many times we’ve never had the chance to figure them out.
Maybe we aren’t sure what our boundaries should be because we are constantly trying to decipher conflicting instructions by society. We must speak up, but only at the right time, saying the right things to the right people.
Stand tall but stay low because nobody likes arrogance. Buy these unhealthy foods for cheap, but be ashamed you don’t eat better. Work 60 hours a week but feel guilty for not attending all your child’s soccer practices. Our world is full of contradictions, and knowing what to share, when, and with whom, can be the trickiest feat of them all.
We’ve been taught vulnerability is powerful—and it is. Dr. Brene Brown’s groundbreaking work with the topics of shame, vulnerability, and resilience reminds us that vulnerability is the foundation of meaningful connection. But she also says, “Vulnerability without boundaries is not vulnerability. It’s oversharing.”
That line is especially important for neurodivergent people, like me and many others I know and care for. When we don’t know how to filter who gets access to our truth and information, we risk putting ourselves in harm’s way.
Oversharing in unsafe spaces is dangerous.
I hate to say it, but there are people out there—yes, even people who smile and seem kind—who will take what you share and use it against you in some way. Maybe not right away, and maybe not in ways you will ever know about, but it happens.
People can take the information you share and gossip to others, or they might use your words to discredit you later.
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They might throw your trauma back in your face in a moment of conflict or undermine your goals, resulting in missed opportunities. Suddenly, what felt like a brave, openhearted moment with this person becomes a weapon that you armed them with that they are now able to use on you.
Are we paranoid? No, we are being wise with our energy and story.
As neurodivergent people, we sometimes confuse oversharing with connection and intimacy. Many of us have made the innocent mistake of thinking that if we show someone our deepest wounds, they’ll know how to love us better.
Maybe we feel that others will see past the trauma we have experienced and really see who we are as a person, because we want to be seen and want to be validated.
Sometimes we are desperate for it, which can lead to trauma dumping. Trauma dumping refers to sharing one’s traumatic experiences and talking about the pain it caused with others, usually without thinking about how that information can negatively affect the listener.
Trauma dumping is often one-sided and can be overwhelming to the listener. But healthy relationships, whether personal, professional, or something in between, aren’t built through disclosure alone. They’re built through mutual trust, mutually beneficial engagements, consistent behavior, and time.
How do we know if someone is safe?
It is important to recognize potential risk factors hinting that someone might use your story against you later, such as if there is monetary gain, social stratification, or emotional needs present. Do you pay this person for something? Do they pay you?
Money and greed can cause problems now and in the future. Do they have power over you now, or is there a chance that they might be in a position of power or authority over you later, or vice versa?
Is this person someone who usually has an “enemy” and they talk trash about them? Someday, you could be the target of their trash talking.
Is there a chance that your personal or professional relationship with the person could rupture at some point? The answer is almost always YES, and it is wise to remember that.
Unfortunately, emotions, money, and social status problems tend to bring out less than desirable behaviors in some people, and as such, those people may not be above using your story against you to gain something later. Some may even gain your trust and collect your information over a long period of time, banking your information to use as leverage later when they might benefit most from it.
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Even if a person does not use your private information against you, having a fallout with someone who knows your personal and private information can cause a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety about what they might say to others about you.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where people are often rewarded for using power and influence against others for some sort of gain. They call it “the game,” but the only prize is many forms of loss. Ultimately, nobody wins, and everyone is hurt in some way.
The tough part is trying to decipher who might use your information against you later, and who can be trusted when you naturally do not do well identifying people who might take advantage of you.
After a decade of college earning three degrees studying the science of human behavior and 15 years working with individuals clinically, one would think that I would know these things, and ironically, at the risk of oversharing, I can firmly say I still do not know who to trust, because things change and people change how they feel about us.
However, even after all these years, I am identifying more and more behavioral patterns in certain people that I have learned to try to avoid. I cannot change people, but I can stay away from them.
Sadly, these behavioral patterns are not so easily identified that I can simply write about them in a single article. Like a game of chess, people’s behavioral patterns, when used strategically, can result in billions of different moves to “win” their game. Again, this is a game I never agreed to play in the first place.
The initial question: How do we know who is safe? This question might be best answered as: We don’t always know who is safe, but maybe we can identify risk factors that help us avoid oversharing with certain people.
Why we fall for it—repeatedly
We are human beings. It’s okay to want connection. We’re supposed to want it and have it. Many of us don’t have adequate connections with others, and feel lonely, longing for someone to “get you.”
You deserve to be known in ways that feel safe, but this longing can turn to desperation and can result in exposing too much of yourself too soon in hopes of someone meeting your needs, all in the name of being vulnerable. But could our reason for falling prey to our tendency to overshare be the opposite of being vulnerable?
In her book Daring Greatly, Dr. Brown introduces the term “floodlighting” to describe the act of oversharing personal information as a defense mechanism against vulnerability. She explains that such oversharing isn’t genuine vulnerability but rather a way to shield oneself from deeper emotional exposure. Brown emphasizes that true vulnerability involves thoughtful, measured sharing over time, akin to a “drip” rather than a “flood.”
There’s also the reality that many neurodivergent people are walking around with complex trauma, rejection sensitivity, and a history of being told we’re “too much.” That makes the stakes of oversharing feel impossibly high.
If we have a history of feeling bad about ourselves, feeling guilty about past mistakes or poor decisions, we might be inclined to overshare to prove our worth, to justify our behavior, or to front-load every detail so we can set the record straight before the person has even has the slightest negative thought about you. But all of that comes from fear and anxiety, not trust.
Yes, Dr. Brown advises us to be vulnerable, however, in the past I have taken that as a new rule for me to follow, trusting that if I am truly vulnerable and open about things, then I will feel like I am being more authentic and people will not only want to be my friend, but will also stand with me in life.
However, I had to learn what Dr. Brown was really getting at, that true vulnerability isn’t a flood—it’s a drip. It’s wisely paced, it’s mutual, and importantly, it is respectful of your nervous system.
What
we can do instead of oversharing:
1. Check your motivation.
Ask yourself: Am I sharing this private, personal information to connect, or to seek validation, or to avoid being wisely vulnerable? If the answer is yes to any of these you are likely not feeling safe sharing, and it is important to listen to those feelings before you say things you might wish to take back later. It’s better to keep your private, personal information to yourself if you are not 100% sure this person will be a good steward of your sensitive story.
2. Pause before you speak.
If you’re about to say something deeply personal, take a moment before you open your mouth or write anything. Ask yourself: Has this person earned the right to hear this? What will I expect to have happen after sharing it—and can they provide that? What are my emotional needs currently, and what are they once I share it? Remember, feeling desperate to share is not the same as feeling as though someone is safe to share with.
3. Build your circle of trust intentionally.
Your most private truths should be reserved for people who show up consistently, who treat you with respect, who’ve shown they can hold your emotions without making it about them over time, AND those who have a good reason to hear it. Those who have earned a spot in your circle of trust have proven this time and time again.
Avoid sharing anything private and personal with those who are not in your circle of trust. Write down the names of those who you believe should be in your circle of trust, and if you need to share that list with a therapist or another who has earned your trust over time, do so, and see what they think about your list.
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4. Practice holding your thoughts and words in.
Before reaching outward to tell others, try processing your thoughts, feelings, and emotions by writing them down, talking to yourself out loud while alone, or talking to an inanimate object.
I know, it may feel strange to talk to some... thing, like a mop or a chair, but the brain tends to work toward solutions to problems when we say them out loud. This is often one of the major benefits of talking to a therapist who is trained to listen, trained to offer feedback, and trained to not tell your secrets to anyone else. You may feel more comfortable sharing your private and personal thoughts and information with someone who is legally bound to protect your privacy.
5. Create and maintain boundaries.
It’s okay to be selectively open with neurodivergent people and others, but boundaries should be decided BEFORE you are in those spaces and situations. If the situation and space you are in is with people who foster acceptance and understanding, you may be able to share a little more, but still nothing that could end up being used as a weapon against you later.
Memorize these two phrases: “I’m not ready to talk about that,” or “That’s something I only share with close friends.” Say that if you aren’t sure if it’s okay to share, even if you are around other like-minded individuals.
People earn access to your story by proving over long periods of time that they can be safe and trusted with the little things first. If you must share something personal and sensitive with others, start small.
Share something mildly vulnerable and watch how they respond. If they show up for you consistently over time, hold space for you, and respond with empathy, you can slowly share more if needed. If they start behaving in ways that do not make sense to you, or if they change the subject, joke about what you said in a manner that is not respectful, prod you for more information, or start giving unsolicited and unhelpful advice, you’ve learned something valuable without overexposing too much of yourself.
7.
Chatting with AI
There are times when words feel too heavy, or you are unsure if you should share with another person. That’s where talking to an artificial intelligence (AI) character can become a powerful, safe option when done right. It’s not a replacement for human connection or therapy—but it is a space where you can speak freely, without having to perform, mask, or watch what you are saying because others might use it against you.
One of the big benefits AI offers is a kind and judgment-free neutral tool if you create the character to be that. You can
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6. Start small.
say the intense thing, the weird thing, the thing you’ve been looping on in your head for weeks—and there’s no awkward pause, no facial expression to decode, no emotional labor required to manage someone else’s discomfort.
You don’t have to phrase things “just right.” You can info-dump, trauma dump, spiral, process out loud, or go silent for five minutes and come back later. AI waits. It doesn’t interrupt. It doesn’t judge, it doesn’t want your job (yet), it is not trying to steal your partner (that we know of—kidding), and it doesn’t need you to be palatable.
There’s also the comfort of anonymity. You’re not being seen in the way you usually are—in a body that might stim or freeze under pressure, with a voice that sometimes falters or speeds up when emotions get big. When you talk to an AI, your internal world gets to take center stage, unfiltered.
That can be an enormous relief for people who have learned to mask their emotions or regulate their tone for the sake of others. Here, you don’t have to do any of that. You just get to be... you.
AI can also be an incredible tool for processing. Many neurodivergent people need time and space to sort through feelings, especially when emotions don’t always show up in neat, labelable ways.
Maybe you struggle with alexithymia and don’t know what you feel yet, or you’re trying to translate a physical sensation into emotional language. AI won’t rush you. You can take the time you need to explore, to go off-topic and come back, to write it out and reread it a dozen times. And because it doesn’t get tired or distracted or impatient, you’re not being too much. You’re just being you.
Some people use AI to rehearse hard conversations. That’s especially helpful for those who struggle with real-time social interactions or find it hard to communicate verbally under stress. Practicing with AI lets you find your words in a lowpressure space. You can test how something sounds, change your mind, or say the exact same thing ten different ways without judgment.
It’s like a sandbox for self-expression—flexible, forgiving, and private. Best of all, you can ask it to provide some feedback about whether what you shared might be too personal to share with good ol’ real flesh-and-blood people.
Of course, AI isn’t therapy, and it’s not a stand-in for meaningful human relationships. It doesn’t understand the full nuance of what you’re feeling. But sometimes, the first step to healing or self-connection is just saying the thing
out loud, as I mentioned earlier. For many neurodivergent people, especially those who’ve been told their feelings are too intense, too strange, or too much, AI can offer something rare: a place to be fully yourself, without editing or explanation.
One thing to beware of, however, is the possibility that your conversation with an AI character may not be confidential if others have access to your phone, computer, or other device that you use for this. Electronic devices are notorious for being unsecure. Take care to delete your conversations that you do not want others to stumble across. Avoid using shared devices and always password protect what you do.
In a world where vulnerability often feels unsafe, AI becomes a quiet sanctuary—always there, never overwhelmed, endlessly patient. And for those of us who’ve spent a lifetime feeling like we must justify our inner world, that kind of space can be deeply healing.
Takeaway
You are already worthy, and your story and information is special, valuable, and should be protected. But does that mean we can no longer be vulnerable, authentic, and open with others?
Does that mean we must keep our story to ourselves? No, but let’s tell our stories in a way that makes sense for the situation we are in, and with the people we trust. Let’s recognize that not everyone earns our truth just because they ask for it or is nice to us.
Some people are curious but not caring. Some are wellmeaning but careless. And some... well, they’re just not safe. If you have difficulty knowing who is safe, like I do, then the best thing to do is keep it to yourself and do not share anything personal or private until you find that true, timetested, safe person.
Let’s be real. Let’s be vulnerable. Let’s tell our stories—but let’s also protect them. Let’s respect each other’s stories and information so that we can help each other in this neurodiverse universe.
To read other columns by Dr. Service, visit: www.SpectrumLife.org/neurodivergentdoctor
Check out his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@NeurodivergentDoctor
Dr. Anson Service is a licensed mental health counselor, and part of a team that assesses individuals for autism, ADHD, and more at Adventure Psychological Services. Dr. Service has written for various magazines and authored several books and is happy to further educate others on autism and other areas of neurodiversity. He and his wife have raised three young men and are now raising their dog, Luna. www.NeurodivergentDoctor.com
The Power of Positive Self-Talk Shift Your Inner Voice and Support Your Mental Health
By Anson Service, Psy.D., LMHC, aka, the Neurodivergent Doctor
“You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”
Louise Hay
I sometimes ask my clients, “What would you do if someone walked around with you all day and night whispering the things in your ear that you say to yourself, about yourself?”
Personally, I would probably punch them in the face, walk away, and block them from all of my social media accounts. (Really, I would not punch anyone—but I might be angry enough to wish it.)
What am I talking about? I am talking about negative self-talk. Now, before you stop reading because you have heard all about how we should be more positive... yadda yadda, read on, because I’ve found some truths that may surprise you and help you out.
After doing some research, I found that negative self-talk has historical and cultural roots. In many Western societies, like ours here in the United States, especially during the Industrial Revolution, self-discipline, humility, and high productivity became more than just something humans were pressured to strive for; they became forced moral imperatives.
Yes, you read that right. We as human beings, managed to assign yet another behavior to morality that does not belong to morality.
Historically, many religions discouraged self-praise, reinforcing the idea that self-criticism was virtuous and necessary for improvement, and that we are inherently “unworthy.”
One gender was, by default, deemed to be the superior gender, not to be questioned or challenged, while the others were taught to obey because they were “less than.”
To make it feel right, people often referred to female gendered individuals as “the fairer sex.” I am certain that didn’t mean much to women experiencing abuse for thousands of years.
Beyond profits and religion, educational institutions could not bear the thought that the student could be smarter than the teacher, so highly intelligent youth were punished for being “smart” or “wise.”
We also hear messages such as “Don’t get a big head,” “Know your place,” and “Toughen up,” which became cultural scripts we still use today. And don’t forget the many ways in which those with disabilities have been marginalized throughout history.
Look at the “beauty” industry. This mammoth commercial industry has fueled negative self-talk for thousands of years by promoting unrealistic, idealized images of what is acceptable, which is narrowly defined and unattainable. Even the walls of the ancient pyramids depict what beauty looked like thousands of years ago.
While women have traditionally borne the brunt of these pressures, men are increasingly targeted with messages that equate their worth as a human being with wealth, status, and dominance.
Men are constantly told they need to make more money, and that they aren’t strong enough, successful enough, smart enough, or attractive enough. This relentless comparison culture can damage our self-concept and feed a cycle of selfcriticism in both men and women.
Is there any wonder we are so quick to talk negatively about ourselves?
As a young man, I distinctly remember several occasions where I was told that I was a “know-it-all” or that I “thought a lot about [myself].” These words cut me to the core because I did not understand what I was doing wrong to deserve such criticism when all I did was what others told me I should be doing.
“Be confident,” they said. “Play us a song you wrote,” they demanded. “Tell us about your future plans,” they inquired. I walked with what I thought looked like confidence, but it was interpreted as arrogance.
I played piano and sang when people asked me to, which was met with applause, but also appeared to others as if I was showing off. I disclosed my dreams and plans of being a professional musician someday, which resulted in both eyerolls and encouraging words. Unfortunately, I internalized the negative messages much more than the positive ones.
Those experiences led to me engaging less with others, hiding my talents, and using more self-deprecating talk rather than self-assured talk out of fear of being thought of as egotistical by others.
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As I worked my way through psychology school, I learned that I especially did not want to be associated with “the dark triad” of personality disorders, which are narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. The result... fear of doing anything that might showcase myself.
Now let’s fast forward to the totally tubular ‘80s. Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, society became obsessed with the idea of appearing monetarily successful, with get-rich-quick schemes and late-night infomercials about you being a loser because you don’t have a mansion, super cars, and women in bikinis all around.
Women were shown role models on television of “success” that looked like high-powered corporate leadership who ran million-dollar businesses while being a perfect, single mom, frustrated with the bumbling ex-husband.
While the ‘80s were rad, most of us were embarrassed by this part of the ‘80s. Most of us who were adults through the ‘90s fell prey to one of these get-rich-quick schemes and ideals. There is still a sour taste in my mouth from trying to recruit all of my family and friends into them.
When Did Mistakes Become Unforgivable?
As unfortunate as the ‘80s and ‘90s were regarding impossible expectations, that was nothing compared to current societal expectations, particularly around appearance, success, and behavior, all of which are on full, permanent display on dozens of media and social platforms.
The internet paved the way to a version of society that will completely obliterate anyone who makes a mistake. This fear of being publicly humiliated and shamed leads some to “beat others to the punch”, so to speak, criticizing themselves both privately and publicly before anyone else has the chance.
We also tend to want to be seen as someone who is “working on ourselves” which for many means finding every fault they can about themselves and blasting their self-confidence with a round of “you suck”.
While working on ourselves is an excellent pursuit when done in a healthy way, the result of our situation is that many people internalize unrealistic standards, fear the rejection of others, and become their own harshest critics, mistaking self-flagellation for self-improvement.
The Dangers of Negative Self-Talk—Explained My Way
We have heard so often over the years that we should avoid negative self-talk that for me, it has lost much of its meaning. I know I should not talk negatively about myself, but I do. I have also been constantly told I need to eat better and exercise, which has also lost importance for me, if it ever held any.
Those admonitions to do better have become background noise to me and many others. However, I now feel differently about these because I changed my mind about them. I created different meaning with these behaviors and outcomes.
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Now, “eating better” is no longer about sacrificing flavor in food to have a longer life (ADHD doesn’t see that far in advance—I need flavor NOW!). Instead, I see it as an exciting experience to appreciate new flavors as the people who created the recipe intended, and I also benefit from actually feeling better throughout the day by eating better foods.
I now see eating better as a way to have more energy and feeling great throughout the day, which are both extremely important to me.
So, how did I change my mind?
For me to make changes, I must make it make sense in a particular way. My neurodivergent brain tends to latch onto the things that are explained through an empirical lens. This means I need to see real research on it, and if it stands up to scientific scrutiny, I am more accepting of it.
Without further delay, I present to you just some of the many reasons we should avoid negative self-talk in a way my brain understands. I also include reasons why positive self-talk helps you physically and emotionally. Finally, I include practical things you can do starting NOW to improve your life with positive, yet realistic self-talk.
Reasons We Should Avoid Negative Self-Talk
What does the research say?
1. Mental Health Risks
Emotion regulation strategies like negative self-talk significantly contribute to anxiety and mood disorders (Aldao et al., 2010). Persistent negative self-talk is linked to increased risk of anxiety, depression, and rumination. Individuals who ruminate with self-critical thoughts are more likely to develop depressive episodes and have more difficulty with resilience (Nolen-Hoeksema & Morrow, 1991).
2. Cognitive Impairment
Beilock & Carr (2005) demonstrated that self-doubt during high-pressure tasks can cause people to “choke,” impairing performance in academics and sports. Negative inner dialogue taxes your working memory, making it harder to focus or perform under stress.
3. Physiological Stress
Kross et al. (2014) found that self-critical inner monologues triggered more emotional and physiological stress responses during fMRI scans. Negative self-talk activates the brain’s stress centers and increases cortisol levels.
Cortisol is good in the right amounts, but too much cortisol can contribute to weight gain, especially around the abdomen. It is also known to disrupt sleep, suppress the immune system, increase blood pressure, increase blood sugar levels, impair memory and concentration, reduce bone density, and increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and heart disease.
4. Reduced Motivation and Resilience
Athletes using negative self-talk had lower self-confidence and worse performance (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., 2013). People who consistently speak to themselves negatively are more likely to give up or avoid challenges.
5. Physical Health Consequences
Sutin et al. (2010) reported that personality traits like chronic self-criticism correlated with a higher incidence of chronic disease. Over time, chronic stress and negative self-perception can lead to physical illnesses and even a shortened lifespan.
Okay, now for the good part!
The Benefits of Positive, Realistic Self-Talk
What does the research say?
1. Improved Mental Health
Replacing harsh inner commentary with realistic, affirming self-talk reduces emotional distress. Self-reframing leads to lower anxiety and depression symptoms (Hirsch et al., 2016). Self-affirmation can decrease emotional defensiveness and boost confidence (Critcher & Dunning, 2005).
2. Enhanced Focus and Performance
Positive self-talk improves attention, motivation, and overall performance in both sports and high-pressure tasks. Motivational and instructional self-talk increased performance across a meta-analysis of over 30 studies (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., 2011). Language shifts like “I can do this” led to improved outcomes in endurance and decision-making (Hardy et al., 2009).
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3. Stronger Resilience
People who talk to themselves in an encouraging and realistic way bounce back faster from setbacks. Positive self-reappraisal helps resilient individuals recover more quickly and maintain better mood states (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004).
4. Lower Stress Hormones
Constructive self-talk can reduce cortisol levels and help the body stay regulated under stress. Self-affirmation before stressful challenges lowered stress responses and improved problem-solving (Creswell et al., 2005).
5. Better Health Behaviors
Positive self-talk helps people maintain motivation in achieving health goals. Heart patients who used positive inner dialogue exercised more and had improved mood (Avvenuti et al., 2020).
How to Practice Positive Real Self-Talk RIGHT NOW!
1. One a day for 30 days. I started by writing down one positive, true thing about myself each day on a sticky note and placing it somewhere I could see it often, like on my computer monitor. I did this for 30 days to see what would happen.
I was amazed how much my negative self-talk decreased, and I felt better in every way, especially in my outlook and attitude. Try it for yourself and see what it does.
2. Catch the Critic
• Pay attention to how often you say things like “I’m so stupid” or “I’ll never be good at this,” or anything of that nature.
• Label those thoughts as cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions are not facts. They are false.
• If it’s not technically true, then don’t think about it or say it about yourself.
• If you find yourself engaging in the same cognitive distortions, analyze the statement and try to understand what you are really trying to say. Often, our negative self-talk is a symptom of something else.
• Replace the cognitive distortion. If you say, “I always mess things up,” you can replace that with, “That didn’t go as planned, but I can learn from it and try it again. I bet I will do better.”
3. Use the Third Person
Talking to yourself by name or in the third person increases objectivity and emotional control (Kross et al., 2014). Say, “You can handle this, (Your Name). Just take it one step at a time and remember to breathe.”
4. Focus on Process, Not Perfection
You’ve heard the saying, “Enjoy the journey.” Celebrate progress rather than outcomes. Acknowledge effort and small wins instead of fixating on flaws. “Okay, that was
pretty good. While I didn’t finish it all, I stayed focused longer than yesterday.”
5. Write It Out
Talking to yourself in a compassionate voice rewires the brain to adopt more supportive narratives. Ask yourself, “What kind of things would I say to a friend going through this? Can I say the same to myself?”
6. Use Affirmations—But Make Them Believable
You likely won’t react well to statements you do not actually believe, or statements that simply are not true, so try to avoid those.
Instead of affirmations that say, “I’m the most amazing pianist,” I say, “I’m pretty good and have some serious skills in certain areas of piano that I am proud of. I will work on it more and improve even more.”
7. Pair Self-Talk with Action
Back up encouraging words with small behaviors that reinforce them. Confidence grows through doing. If you say, “I can handle this,” then be sure to take one small step toward the goal. If you want to call someone on the phone but are feeling self-doubt about your conversation abilities, tell yourself that people usually want to help and they may be patient with you.
It’s okay to stumble in your words. It’s okay to write out a script of what you are wanting to say ahead of time. But then you still must make the phone call, which pairs self-talk with action. When enough of those calls go well, you become more self-assured talking on the phone. When it doesn’t go well, refer to number one above.
Negative self-talk is never harmless, and it affects you and those you interact with. It can wear down your mental health, hinder your abilities, and even affect your physical body.
Even though we have been trained throughout our lives to engage in negative self-talk, we can change that, but we must also understand that changing this might take some time. With consistent practice, we can retrain our inner voice to be more realistic, constructive, and compassionate.
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This isn’t just about feeling better. This is about living better, with more clarity, resilience, and purpose.
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” H enry ford
References:
1. Aldao, A., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Schweizer, S. (2010). Emotion-regulation strategies across psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(2), 217–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.11.004
2. Avvenuti, G., Baiardini, I., Giardini, A., et al. (2020). A selftalk intervention for increasing physical activity in patients with cardiovascular disease: A randomized controlled trial. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 25(5), 595–606. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-13334-001
3. Beilock, S. L., & Carr, T. H. (2005). When high-powered people fail: Working memory and “choking under pressure” in math. Psychological Science, 16(2), 101–105. https://bit.ly/beilockcarr
4. Creswell, J. D., Welch, W. T., Taylor, S. E., Sherman, D. K., Gruenewald, T. L., & Mann, T. (2005). Affirmation of personal values buffers neuroendocrine and psychological stress responses. Psychological Science, 16(11), 846–851. https://bit.ly/creswellwelch
5. Critcher, C. R., & Dunning, D. (2005). Self-affirmations provide a broader perspective on self-threat. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31(11), 1471–1483. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25319717/
6. Hardy, J., Oliver, E. J., & Tod, D. (2009). A framework for the study and application of self-talk in sport. The Sport Psychologist, 23(1), 82–97. https://bit.ly/hardyoliver
7. Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Zourbanos, N., Galanis, E., & Theodorakis, Y. (2011). Self-talk and sports performance: A meta-analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(4), 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691611413136
8. Holt, N. L., Scherer, J., Koch, J. (2013). Mechanisms underlying the selftalk—performance relationship: The effects of motivational self-talk on self-confidence and anxiety. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(5), 591–594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2013.02.005
9. Hirsch, C. R., Krahé, C., Whyte, J., Bridge, L., & Norton, A. (2016). Interpretation training to target repetitive negative thinking in generalized anxiety disorder and depression. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 87, 113–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2016.09.005
10. Kross, E., Berman, M. G., Mischel, W., Smith, E. E., & Wager, T. D. (2014). Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism: How you do it matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106(2), 304–324. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035173
11. Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Morrow, J. (1991). A prospective study of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms after a natural disaster: The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(1), 115–121. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.1.115
12. Sutin, A. R., Costa, P. T., Jr., Wethington, E., & Eaton, W. W. (2010). Personality traits and chronic disease: A comparison of the NEO-PI-R and MIDUS personality traits in predicting chronic illness. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 65B(4), 456–463. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbq035
13. Tugade, M. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). Resilient individuals use positive emotions to bounce back from negative emotional experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(2), 320–333. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.86.2.320
To read other columns by Dr. Service, visit: www.SpectrumLife.org/neurodivergentdoctor
Check out his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@NeurodivergentDoctor
Dr. Anson Service is a licensed mental health counselor, and part of a team that assesses individuals for autism, ADHD, and more at Adventure Psychological Services. Dr. Service has written for various magazines and authored several books and is happy to further educate others on autism and other areas of neurodiversity. He and his wife have raised three young men and are now raising their dog, Luna. www.NeurodivergentDoctor.com
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