Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
@thinkingautism.com
The greatest autism info you will ever find, from autistic people, professionals, and parents. www.ThinkingAutism.com & buttondown.com/TPGA. Pro-neurodiversity. Even more TPGA community discussions on IG and FB.
In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting Instagram accounts that enlighten and inform about the Black neurodivergent and disabled experience. From @ejwillingham.bsky.social, in the latest TPGA newsletter:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autistic #neurodiversity #BlackHistory
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autistic #neurodiversity #BlackHistory
Black history is also neurodivergent history
Highlighting Instagram accounts that enlighten and inform about the Black neurodivergent and disabled experience.
buttondown.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:33 PM
In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting Instagram accounts that enlighten and inform about the Black neurodivergent and disabled experience. From @ejwillingham.bsky.social, in the latest TPGA newsletter:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autistic #neurodiversity #BlackHistory
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autistic #neurodiversity #BlackHistory
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Please: We need to help caregivers understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them.
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
February 7, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Please: We need to help caregivers understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them.
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
"Being in crisis is not the same as being a failure. Nor is it a personal failure to admit you and your child need help. So we need to work past fear and misinformation, and get educated about what our support options are." At TPGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2019/05/pare... #autism #parenting
thinkingautismguide.com/2019/05/pare... #autism #parenting
Parenting Kids With Disabilities: How to Get Through Tough Times — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM
Shannon Des Roches Rosa www.squidalicious.com Content note: This article discusses abuse and murder. Photo © Steve Silberman [image: a white woman, standing behind a white teen boy with brown curly sh...
thinkingautismguide.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:49 PM
"Being in crisis is not the same as being a failure. Nor is it a personal failure to admit you and your child need help. So we need to work past fear and misinformation, and get educated about what our support options are." At TPGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2019/05/pare... #autism #parenting
thinkingautismguide.com/2019/05/pare... #autism #parenting
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Today in Hell Yes, Research! A new study suggests NO link between Covid exposure during pregnancy and having an autistic child. This, and more Autism Information You Need to Know, from @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the latest TPGA newsletter:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity
Federal autism advisory stocked with outdated wannabes
Some names on the IACC list are such musty public health threats that they trigger an Obi Wan–like feeling of “Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”
buttondown.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Today in Hell Yes, Research! A new study suggests NO link between Covid exposure during pregnancy and having an autistic child. This, and more Autism Information You Need to Know, from @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the latest TPGA newsletter:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
"I was carried face down […] by my cuffed arms and legs while yelling that I had a brain injury and was disabled. I now cannot lift my arms normally. I was never asked for ID. Never told I was under arrest. Never read my rights and never charged with a crime." -Aliya Rahman
youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
WATCH: Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen Aliya Rahman describes being detained by ICE
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 12:54 AM
"I was carried face down […] by my cuffed arms and legs while yelling that I had a brain injury and was disabled. I now cannot lift my arms normally. I was never asked for ID. Never told I was under arrest. Never read my rights and never charged with a crime." -Aliya Rahman
youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
Medicaid matters because it "enables me to oversee my own caregivers—including friends and other people I trust. That control matters deeply. It means I am not just receiving care; I am directing my life." -Marisa Conners with @communicationfirst.bsky.social:
communicationfirst.org/medicaid-the...
communicationfirst.org/medicaid-the...
Medicaid: The Quiet Force Behind My Independence
Guest Blog by Marisa Conners
communicationfirst.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:53 AM
Medicaid matters because it "enables me to oversee my own caregivers—including friends and other people I trust. That control matters deeply. It means I am not just receiving care; I am directing my life." -Marisa Conners with @communicationfirst.bsky.social:
communicationfirst.org/medicaid-the...
communicationfirst.org/medicaid-the...
Autism, race, culture, and systemic bias: "The average age of diagnosis for individuals with autism remains about 4 years old. This is especially true for children from traditionally underserved communities, although this gap has narrowed in recent years."
www.vanderbilt.edu/autismandinn... #autism
www.vanderbilt.edu/autismandinn... #autism
Meeting Families Where They Are: Dr. Amy Weitlauf on Rethinking Autism Diagnosis
Dr. Amy Weitlauf is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Associate Director of Research at TRIAD (Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum D...
www.vanderbilt.edu
February 9, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Autism, race, culture, and systemic bias: "The average age of diagnosis for individuals with autism remains about 4 years old. This is especially true for children from traditionally underserved communities, although this gap has narrowed in recent years."
www.vanderbilt.edu/autismandinn... #autism
www.vanderbilt.edu/autismandinn... #autism
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Today in Hell Yes, Research: It's not that there are fewer autistic girls/AFAB people/women. It's that they present differently than boys/AMAB peeps/men, so there's a "catch up" diagnosis increase/rebalancing during & after adolescence:
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/... #autism #neurodiversity
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/... #autism #neurodiversity
Women have the same rates of autism as men – but get diagnosed less
A new study on autism prevalence in both genders suggests that ‘clinical biases contribute to under-recognition of women and girls’
www.independent.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Today in Hell Yes, Research: It's not that there are fewer autistic girls/AFAB people/women. It's that they present differently than boys/AMAB peeps/men, so there's a "catch up" diagnosis increase/rebalancing during & after adolescence:
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/... #autism #neurodiversity
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/... #autism #neurodiversity
How are you spending your Superb Owl afternoon? #superbowl
[image: two men on a hilly green trail looking at a black cow and her calf.]
[image: two men on a hilly green trail looking at a black cow and her calf.]
February 9, 2026 at 1:30 AM
How are you spending your Superb Owl afternoon? #superbowl
[image: two men on a hilly green trail looking at a black cow and her calf.]
[image: two men on a hilly green trail looking at a black cow and her calf.]
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Have you ever caught yourself or someone else casually using the R-word? It might seem harmless, but it’s far from it. The R-word is loaded with hurt, discrimination, & a painful history. Here’s why it’s time we ditched it for good, from @thearcus.bsky.social:
thearc.org/blog/the-r-w... #disability
thearc.org/blog/the-r-w... #disability
The R-Word: Why Language Matters and How We Can Do Better - The Arc
The R-word is loaded with hurt, discrimination, and a painful history. Here's why it's time we ditched it for good.
thearc.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Have you ever caught yourself or someone else casually using the R-word? It might seem harmless, but it’s far from it. The R-word is loaded with hurt, discrimination, & a painful history. Here’s why it’s time we ditched it for good, from @thearcus.bsky.social:
thearc.org/blog/the-r-w... #disability
thearc.org/blog/the-r-w... #disability
"While leucovorin is generally well-tolerated when used for chemotherapy, it isn’t risk-free either. […] it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and alopecia. And there’s at least the possibility that it could have more serious complications when used long-term for autism."
gizmodo.com/what-rfk-jr-...
gizmodo.com/what-rfk-jr-...
What RFK Jr.’s Unproven Autism Treatment Could Mean for Autistic Patients and Their Families
RFK Jr. has stated leucovorin will help
gizmodo.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:56 PM
"While leucovorin is generally well-tolerated when used for chemotherapy, it isn’t risk-free either. […] it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and alopecia. And there’s at least the possibility that it could have more serious complications when used long-term for autism."
gizmodo.com/what-rfk-jr-...
gizmodo.com/what-rfk-jr-...
How can we make schools more sensory-inclusive? Some ideas: Providing flexible access to low-sensory spaces, such as rooms or dens; improving lighting and sound absorption, plus "sensory-inclusive design should be considered when new schools are being built."
theconversation.com/schools-aren...
theconversation.com/schools-aren...
Schools aren’t designed for autistic children – these are the sensory challenges they face
Loud classrooms are a key cause of distress for autistic children.
theconversation.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:40 PM
How can we make schools more sensory-inclusive? Some ideas: Providing flexible access to low-sensory spaces, such as rooms or dens; improving lighting and sound absorption, plus "sensory-inclusive design should be considered when new schools are being built."
theconversation.com/schools-aren...
theconversation.com/schools-aren...
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
"It’s as though Kennedy opened a long-sealed Pandora’s box labeled “Antivaxxers & other perils to autistic people” and released all of the little demons contained therein. Hope lies at the bottom, awaiting resuscitation, one presumes." From @ejwillingham.bsky.social:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
Federal autism advisory stocked with outdated wannabes
Some names on the IACC list are such musty public health threats that they trigger an Obi Wan–like feeling of “Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”
buttondown.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:50 AM
"It’s as though Kennedy opened a long-sealed Pandora’s box labeled “Antivaxxers & other perils to autistic people” and released all of the little demons contained therein. Hope lies at the bottom, awaiting resuscitation, one presumes." From @ejwillingham.bsky.social:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
Autistic people often process information differently, and grief is no exception. We have tips for navigating grief as an autistic person, in a new article by @martinemussies.bsky.social on how she is handling the death of her cat, at TPGA.
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/02/the-... #autism #grief
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/02/the-... #autism #grief
The Day My Cat Died: On Autism and Grief — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM
Autistic people often process information differently, and grief is no exception. Here are tips for navigating grief as an autistic person.
thinkingautismguide.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Autistic people often process information differently, and grief is no exception. We have tips for navigating grief as an autistic person, in a new article by @martinemussies.bsky.social on how she is handling the death of her cat, at TPGA.
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/02/the-... #autism #grief
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/02/the-... #autism #grief
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
As we mourn the murders of autistic teens Otis and Leon Clune at the hands of their parents, we are forced to again state that however difficult it may be for families to support their disabled loved ones, murder is never excusable. There are always other options. Always.
tinyurl.com/NoExcusesTPGA
tinyurl.com/NoExcusesTPGA
February 5, 2026 at 2:21 AM
As we mourn the murders of autistic teens Otis and Leon Clune at the hands of their parents, we are forced to again state that however difficult it may be for families to support their disabled loved ones, murder is never excusable. There are always other options. Always.
tinyurl.com/NoExcusesTPGA
tinyurl.com/NoExcusesTPGA
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Help us by accepting us. Help us by taking us seriously, however we communicate our needs and wants. #SeeUsAsWeAre #AutisticsAreFullHumanBeings
Please: We need to help caregivers understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them.
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
February 7, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Help us by accepting us. Help us by taking us seriously, however we communicate our needs and wants. #SeeUsAsWeAre #AutisticsAreFullHumanBeings
Please: We need to help caregivers understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them.
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
February 7, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Please: We need to help caregivers understand that autism is inborn, meaning that trying to “cure” autism will not help their child one bit—though it will likely traumatize that child while warping their parents’ attitude towards them.
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
Article: tinyurl.com/supporting-caregivers
#autism #parenting
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Today in Ableism Obstructing Autistic People's Health Care: "It’s become increasingly normal for health professionals to challenge my autism diagnosis, sometimes seconds after I’ve sat down in front of them." By @elsawilliams.bsky.social:
medium.com/@elsalwillia... #autism #neurodiversity #autistic
medium.com/@elsalwillia... #autism #neurodiversity #autistic
Diagnosed but not believed: Autistic women and the medical gaze
A GP I met for the first time three minutes ago is glancing over my electronic health record, trying to match it with the woman before him…
medium.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Today in Ableism Obstructing Autistic People's Health Care: "It’s become increasingly normal for health professionals to challenge my autism diagnosis, sometimes seconds after I’ve sat down in front of them." By @elsawilliams.bsky.social:
medium.com/@elsalwillia... #autism #neurodiversity #autistic
medium.com/@elsalwillia... #autism #neurodiversity #autistic
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Echolalia may help autistic & non-autistic kids learn language, & almost all autistic kids & youth may engage in it. But when people see echolalia as a repetitive behavior—not as communication—they may miss connection opportunities. By @drstevenkapp.bsky.social:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...
Frontiers | Sensory–movement underpinnings of lifelong neurodivergence: getting a grip on autism
While the autism diagnosis emphasizes “deficits” in social communication, the article advances that sensory–movement differences underpin autism through a re...
www.frontiersin.org
February 4, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Echolalia may help autistic & non-autistic kids learn language, & almost all autistic kids & youth may engage in it. But when people see echolalia as a repetitive behavior—not as communication—they may miss connection opportunities. By @drstevenkapp.bsky.social:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...
Today in Hell Yes, Research! A new study suggests NO link between Covid exposure during pregnancy and having an autistic child. This, and more Autism Information You Need to Know, from @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the latest TPGA newsletter:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity
Federal autism advisory stocked with outdated wannabes
Some names on the IACC list are such musty public health threats that they trigger an Obi Wan–like feeling of “Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”
buttondown.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Today in Hell Yes, Research! A new study suggests NO link between Covid exposure during pregnancy and having an autistic child. This, and more Autism Information You Need to Know, from @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the latest TPGA newsletter:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #autism #neurodiversity
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
This is an absolutely delightful story by @slooterman.bsky.social about the older gay hockey fans who love Heated Rivalry.
19thnews.org/2026/02/heat...
19thnews.org/2026/02/heat...
Older gay men built their own hockey fandom. Then came 'Heated Rivalry.'
The hit show is an unexpected invitation for some older gay hockey fans to reflect on love, acceptance and coming out.
19thnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:03 PM
This is an absolutely delightful story by @slooterman.bsky.social about the older gay hockey fans who love Heated Rivalry.
19thnews.org/2026/02/heat...
19thnews.org/2026/02/heat...
"I was carried face down […] by my cuffed arms and legs while yelling that I had a brain injury and was disabled. I now cannot lift my arms normally. I was never asked for ID. Never told I was under arrest. Never read my rights and never charged with a crime." -Aliya Rahman
youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
WATCH: Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen Aliya Rahman describes being detained by ICE
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 12:54 AM
"I was carried face down […] by my cuffed arms and legs while yelling that I had a brain injury and was disabled. I now cannot lift my arms normally. I was never asked for ID. Never told I was under arrest. Never read my rights and never charged with a crime." -Aliya Rahman
youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
It’s not just that the cruelty is the point—it’s that cruelty towards children, disabled people, and the most vulnerable in society is the point.
The point is to utterly destroy all social infrastructure and its moral underpinnings so that we have no one to turn to and can be more easily exploited.
The point is to utterly destroy all social infrastructure and its moral underpinnings so that we have no one to turn to and can be more easily exploited.
There’s a reason the Right hated any notion of mental health or safe places with children. As authoritarians they wanted to destroy any semblance of support for children so that they could continue the cycle of emotionally and psychologically and physically hurting children.
February 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
It’s not just that the cruelty is the point—it’s that cruelty towards children, disabled people, and the most vulnerable in society is the point.
The point is to utterly destroy all social infrastructure and its moral underpinnings so that we have no one to turn to and can be more easily exploited.
The point is to utterly destroy all social infrastructure and its moral underpinnings so that we have no one to turn to and can be more easily exploited.
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Welcome to the premiere spot for public health, the United States of America, where measles is back, COVID never left, & they're trying to use lard as a cure for schizophrenia.
February 5, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Welcome to the premiere spot for public health, the United States of America, where measles is back, COVID never left, & they're trying to use lard as a cure for schizophrenia.
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Black autistic women live at the intersection of racism and ableism. We don’t lack courage to unmask we lack safety. And that truth needs to be said out loud.
February 5, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Black autistic women live at the intersection of racism and ableism. We don’t lack courage to unmask we lack safety. And that truth needs to be said out loud.