Blog
ADA 35th Anniversary
We hope you are having a safe Disability Pride Month so far. One where you have been able to find solidarity and solace. The Arc, a disability rights organization, is celebrating Disability Pride 2025 with…
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Pride Month 2025 from the Perspective of an AuDHD Lesbian
Happy Pride Month to all my fellow queer women and non-binary people! My name is Kayla Maria Rodriguez (she/they) and I’m AuDHD (autistic and ADHD). I’m a Puerto Rican (though I was born and lived…
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Meet Mary
*Mary is a composite character based on autistic women’s lived experiences. She is not a real person and any real connection is coincidental. Meet Mary. Mary grew up feeling different than everyone else. On the…
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Leading Autism Organizations Release Joint Statement on Upholding Scientific Integrity and Supporting the Autism Community
April 17, 2025, Washington, D.C. – As national organizations dedicated to advancing the well-being of Autistic individuals, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, The Arc of the United States, Autistic Women…
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The Loper Bright Decision Explained in Plain Language
Lea este artículo en español. Imagine you are a federal judge. You have been asked to decide a case about Medicare reimbursement. The law says that hospitals should be reimbursed in amounts reflecting “differences in…
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La decisión de Loper Bright explicada en lenguaje sencillo
Read this article in English. Imagínese usted la autoridad judicial de una corte federal. Se le ha pedido que decida sobre un caso relacionado con el reembolso de Medicare. La ley dice que los hospitales deben…
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Autism, Eating Disorders, and Gender
As an autistic Latine woman and nonbinary person who lives with multiple eating disorders, I wish there was more representation of people like me.
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AWN Honors Black History Month 2024
Learn more about the four artists and activists we are honoring for Black History Month 2024: Octavia Butler, Sonia Sanchez, Josephine Baker, and Alvin Ailey.
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Day of the Dead in Guatemala and Mexico: Honoring Our Ancestors
Hi, I’m Kayley Whalen, a Guatemalan-American trans and disabilities scholar, activist, and communications consultant for the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network. I’m here to talk about Día de [los] Muertos, or “Day of the Dead”…
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Paid Trans HIV Prevention Study
As a nonbinary trans woman, I know how hard-hit my community is with HIV — with trans women having HIV rates 66 times higher than the general population. That’s why I’m proud to be part…
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A Note to Parents
I started writing about autism and disabilities over 10 years ago. At the same time, I started reading what other disabled people were writing. I met many of them, most of them Autistic. I attended…
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Changelings and the Folk History of Autism
For hundreds of years, children with autistic and neurodivergent traits were often believed to be “changelings,” children swapped at birth for evil fairies or other monsters. Looking back at this folklore can uncover the roots of modern ableism, as well as show us how autism and neurodivergence has always existed. Kayley Whalen traveled to Ireland to create a video about changeling folklore, adapted into this blog.
Read More →* All articles on this website are offered as personal viewpoints of the author and should never be a substitute for your medical recommendations. Always consult your personal healthcare professional before making changes to your prescribed or recommended health care plan.
