Switching to a Smartphone
Phones have gone through an evolution over the years. As a young kid, I remember chatting with friends via a phone tethered with a cord and my mother picking up another receiver in the house telling me she had to make a phone call. Things like cell phones were expensive back then and bulky, so […]
Read moreDating Q&A with Dr. Melissa Brown
Q: I’m really nervous about dating, especially approaching someone for the first time. I have a hard time reading other people’s body language. Do other people not on the Autism Spectrum have similar experiences? A: Absolutely. Most people are quite nervous to introduce themselves to someone they are interested in. It is a natural human need […]
Read moreBlack History and Autism – MMA Fighter John “Doomsday” Howard
Black History Month is a time where we recognize the contributions of African Americans in American history. I once wrote about Roland Johnson, a former patient of the infamous Pennhurst state hospital and how he became of a proponent for disability rights to ensure that those with disabilities would be able to reside and stay […]
Read moreSuper Bowl
A big social event is happening in February: the Super Bowl. While I’m not a football fan, I really enjoy watching the Super Bowl commercials. I never really understood what the big deal was for many years but I think I understand now. This annual game is important because it’s the culmination of many games […]
Read more2018: A Year in Review
A review of all the great blogs and activities from ASDNext over 2018.
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Curious Case of the Dog in the Nighttime Reading Review
So, there was a meeting that I had about 2 years ago that caused me to relate to the issues of Christopher Boone’s Character in Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. I have found it hard to discuss all the scenarios that went into the book. It’s about a young 15-year-old […]
Read moreHosting a Party
This December my parents hosted a Christmas party at the retirement home that my grandma lives in. Both of my uncles on my mom’s side were invited with their families along with my sister’s boyfriend. This was the first family reunion that we’d had in several years and we wanted to make sure it went well. In the […]
Read moreA Diagnosis Doesn’t Invalidate Your Opinion
Discussions are a part of life. Debates, arguments, even conversations, those are things that happen daily. You can learn a lot from them and others from you. Sometimes, people don’t have the best intentions. They may try to troll (harass) or even use your diagnosis against you. Those types of individuals can be challenging to […]
Read moreTime to Change
I need to change things in my life so I waited to New Years to say “Yes, I’m going to change this year!” I feel a bit silly waiting til’ the start of a new year to think about making important changes in my life, but I wasn’t ready to admit that I need to […]
Read moreHighlight of 2018: Picture Perfect
During the 2018 Annual Philadelphia Autism Project Conference: Lighting the Way through Transitions on November 30, 2018, I had the chance to talk with and interview public speaker and self-advocate, Kerry Magro. As we shared small tidbits about our lives, joked and had a really good time, there was one thing I felt as though […]
Read moreA Year of Progress
Throughout life’s struggles, we often can over focus on traumatic events. Something can occur where your life changes drastically and trying to find another perspective can be a grueling task. Even though I’ve been through tough times, I’ve also accomplished a lot. I made great strides with volunteering locally and earning another certification in mental […]
Read moreManaging a Social Group
Managing a public Meetup social group is not an easy feat. The meetup that I established with a friend has reached over one hundred members in nearly two years. With so many members we have to cater to different personalities and preferences when organizing events while maintaining control of the site itself. The meetup itself […]
Read moreSaying No
I found that speaking up for yourself is difficult and that saying “no” is not a popular response. Sometimes others encourage me to do something that I don’t feel comfortable doing. Sometimes when I say “yes”, there is a high price I pay for being so agreeable. I used to say “yes” even when it […]
Read moreThe Journey of Grief: Learning and Healing
On ASDNext, in the past, I’ve written about the loss of both of my parents. The death of both of them and my father being the most recent weighs heavily on my heart. My parents shaped me into who I am today, and I can only work hard to honor their memory. I must also […]
Read moreSalsa Friday’s
This month has been pretty interesting, but kind of eerie at that same time. It started off with some pretty uninviting times where I experienced a great deal of boredom that I put myself into. Do I enjoy it? Sometimes. Do I want it to change? Indeed! Out of all the things that I had […]
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