Autism Acceptance Month 2016 (Year 6)

Copied and pasted from my Facebook account:

March 27

Hello all,

This April and April 2nd specifically is, for members of the Autistic Culture such as myself, Autism Acceptance Month and Day respectively. Note I say ACCEPTANCE, as opposed to AWARENESS, which are very different, and which is the theme of April and April 2nd for those who believe in the medical model of autism, such as Autism Speaks, the National Autism Association, and the Autism Research Institute. AWARENESS, symbolized with puzzle pieces and blue clothes and lights, generally focuses on autism as a medical disaster causing divorces and taking children from their family, and allows Autism Speaks executives to continue making their six-figure salaries while paying less than 5% of their organizations to any meaningful supports for autistics and their families. The blue lights, alluding to AS's puzzle piece symbol, comes from this fastly discredited notion that there are four autistic boys for every autistic girl, while autistics such as myself reject the puzzle piece as we are not broken pictures to be reassembled, and we, and our diversity, fit together naturally, with no beginning and no end, like the Autistic rainbow infinity piece. ACCEPTANCE, which we launched to take back April, embraces the social model of autism, being a difference to be respected as with homosexuality or any other difference, not caused by vaccines, genetic deformities, bad parents, bacon, tanning beds, and so on, expressed through links, photos, art, poetry, blogs, and events that portray my condition POSITIVELY-certain not as always peachy, as, like with every way of living, life with autism isn't perfect and has its problems, but this should not be the focus of how we view this segment of our humanity. I shall be doing this certainly, but I have one final "piece" to mention. THIS MONTH is celebrated by wearing and lighting GOLD, RED, TAUPE, and ORANGE, for the chemical symbol for gold (AU), the first two letters of the word "Autistic"; red, a heart, to symbolize autism, rather than a puzzle piece; taupe, the Tree of Neurodiversity (various mental wiring, including autism and neurotypicality, being valid); orange, the spark from the Celebrate Autism Foundation. Their is also green from the coil-and-jump logo for Great Britain's Autscape and purple for royal purple (indicating royalness) from Scotland's Autistic Rights Group Highlands, and the rainbow, but, not blue alone. Note, this is different from awareness, for its not just what we see, but the lens (or lack of) with which we are to see them. I have said before, we have enough awareness, but awareness is not enough. We need acceptance, and rather than donating to Autism Speaks, realize their our groups that will allow autistics their socially crucial need of acceptance, such as the Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education, the Autistic Union, the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, the Autism Women's Network, and so on. I realize many may have a lot to learn, and I have a lot not to judge, but note this, throughout the entire month of April, I will not only be wearing gold, red, taupe, and orange (and green and purple), but I will be wearing no blue (except for my rainbow Autism Acceptance Day shirt, which is different, and make sure to put a photo of it on Facebook every day, so you can be sure of my promise. I did this last April from the 5th (when I got the idea) to the 31st, with clothes from the Salvation Army store in Warrensburg, a bottle cap necklace, glow bracelets covered in Cheetos bag strips, and handwoven friendship bracelets. And the results were amazing. All-in-all these posts got at least sixty likes altogether, over half a dozen from the UCM community, and more if you counted the faculty and staff and alumni. This time I shall do it again, all thirty-one days, somehow fitting it all in with school, work, my social life, and working on my novels every day as part of my New Year's resolution. I do not ask that anyone try this, but know that to me, blue does not signal an immediate ally to my solutions, and while everyone can learn more in cultural competence, I will not let my world go unaware of my message when I have the words, actions, and clothes to embody it. So if you see me and you notice I am not wearing blue, I hope this will explain why. ‪#‎AutismAcceptanceDay6

March 28

Today, I went to Ten Thousand Villages, and found this red leather bracelet made from scraps of leather from Columbia's textile industry, which says, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi. I got it because it is red, in honor of 2016's Autism Acceptance Month in three days, and for its quote, which meant a lot to me as an autistic activist at UCM and elsewhere. ‪#‎AutismAcceptanceDay2016

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Acceptance Is

This month (Autism Acceptance Month) the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network is posting signs that people send them that are done on their Autism Acceptance Month templates, which can be found on Facebook and e-mailed to SB@AutisticAdvocacy.org until the end of April.  So I just wanted to share it with readers, and hope you enjoy, though you can also find them on ASAN's Facebook page.

It's an orange fist (orange for the Celebrate Autism Foundations spark logo, which you also see in the background) coming out of a lotus with a rainbow infinity symbol against a winged heart, all much bettersymbols for autism than puzzle pieces, with a quatrain saying:

Guess what.
I'm autistic.
Better get used to it.
I love myself the way I am.
Got it?!

 

Four Autism Acceptance Month Cartoons

Drew them myself.  I think they're alright.

 

 

Happy Autism Acceptance Month!

 

Autism and Dual Messages: A Poem for Autism Acceptance Month

You say to me:

"I support you.

I'm going to get hundreds of signs all over town saying, 'Autism Awareness.'"

I hear:

"I want everyone seeing you as the lion in my circus,

how you're a lonely old ladies favorite past time that her dog chewed up a lot of,

and I get a high out of letting us marvel about how you're the sick little kitten,

while we're the human adults."

You say:

"I'm here for you.

I'm going to wear or light it up blue,

like the CN Tower, the White House, the Hotel Dubai, and the Sydney Opera House."

I here:

"I believe in supporting autistic people based off the first thing I hear off the streets,

and the people you listen to on how to support you

are the same ones who've segregated you, discriminated against you, and shoved you into cages, and you can't make these decisions about your life,

despite being on the Dean's List and twice promoted at work."

You say,

batting your eyes at me from across the gym:

"I'm gonna stay by you.

I'm going to wear my shirt publicizing a celebrity or locally-known individual lending their name to the autism cause."

I hear:

"I expect you to support my clique's,

which probably doesn't over represent autistics in their numbers,

line about people like you at any cost,

which we'll peer pressure people like you into doing,

take the recognition of your struggling autism project's work for ourselves,

and try to get liked by appealing to the lowest common denominator,

which is the only real thing we've done for autism,

while for our fifty-fifty relationship,

I don't have to hear your opinions on yourself,

while you're expected to listen to me ramble on about student parking."

You say:

"I'm on your side.

I've liked Autism Speaks on Facebook,

just so I can know what they’re doing,

and plus, they are the most well-known name in autism,"

when I have repeatedly pointed out ways they're financially irresponsible,

use ignorant people's emotions to tell them what's best for us,

and treat us like children who can never know as well as they do how society should accommodate

people with similar needs to our's.

I hear:

"By my logic, Rain Man's Dustin Hoffman and Playboy's Jenny McCarthy know autism best

not like Temple Grandin or John Elder Robison,

so I'm supporting you by clicking a button to let the world know I approve of their didactic, self-absorbed rambling,

and that I expect a financially murky organization like them to tell me the truth of their activities."

You say:

"You're twisting my words,"

make some subtle plea for me to absolve you of these things.

I hear nothing.

I'm this close to unfriending you.

My Autism Acceptance Day Post 2015

For me, and thousands of my friends in the fold of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network and Autism Women's Network, we view April as Autism Acceptance Month. To many there might be some confusion as you may have heard some call it Autism Awareness Month. For us, we have changed it to Autism Acceptance Month because we feel while "awareness" tends to imply a passive pity for how autistics "don't fit in" acceptance means an active role... of refusing to be people who autistics cannot fit in with. Whereas Autism Awareness Month and a Day on April 2nd has focused on blue lights and puzzle pieces, Autism Acceptance Month focuses on reading poetry by and celebrating autistics, along with art, blogging, positive, unhumilitiating storytelling, and often donating to groups where you see openly autistic members in at least a third of their highest leadership giving the bulk of their funds to services allowing autistics to reach their highest potential and showing a balanced view of autism's strengths while respectfully respecting our challenges, bearing symbols like a rainbow infinity or a multi-colored pie chart showing that while autistics are diverse and part of a larger picture, it is a picture that naturally goes together to make a unified image with no beginning and no end. Double palms are also acceptable symbols, indicating many autistics need to flap their hands to self-regulate while still paying attention to those around them. We operate within a diversity model of disability and pan-disability culture, where all are responsible for any message they send.

I helped spread the word from the window of my dorm, with a sign that says, "Wear Gold for Autism ACCEPTANCE Month April 2, 2015/Gold=Au, Autism Acceptance, Beyond Awareness, and changed my profile picture to that. I also put up signs, one representing hand-flapping; one arm-flapping-two movements done to self...-regulate; one of two people embracing, representing autistics search for connection, like the logo of the National Autistic Society in the UK; one an infinity, representing the fluidity of autistic abilities, rather than being fixed; a brain with butterfly wings that I drew months earlier, along with my Autistic Pride sign, all done in black ink. 

 

I put out on the door of my dorm, in addition to my Autistic Self-Advocacy Network of Kansas City poster that I drew a few months ago, I put up an autism pie-chart logo, a design created by autistic Andrew Lerner, with four slices, one blue, one yellow, one green, and one pink, making a peace sign; with white eyes, the left one with the letter A and the one on the right with the... letter S for Autistic Spectrum or Asperger syndrome; while at the top it reads, "AS PIEces fit in piece." Its colors and pieces represent diversity within the autistic community only, unlike the puzzle piece symbol, they fit together naturally to make a coherent symbol. Along with it is a paint slip with various shades of gold for Autism Acceptance Day's Light it Up Gold as the chemical symbol for gold is Au, the first two letters of the word autism, which I made at a UCM Pinterest party, each part with a place where I might be at the time along with a white button on a red paper clip to point to them, red being for Light it Up Red, created like LIUG in response to blue lights used to raise money from pitiful images of autistics.

I made a cross drawn with blue in the background with rainbow stars along it to represent the autistic blue rainbow stars ribbon created by autistic Carol Ann Acorn (and its also Easter season), along with three drawings: a mandala (Buddhist-Hindu meditation image) that is a representation of Turkey's whirling dervishes, which I hung because of autistic activist Lydia Brown's long-time interest in Sufi music and dance; a triskele, an Asian symbol with three curved lines going the same direction in a circle, with one segment green, one segment red, and one segment yellow-the colors of ASAN's and the Autism Network International's color-coded communication badges, each corresponding to how comfortable you are talking to people at their meetings; another "mandala" that was inspired by a Moroccan tile design with various colors representing the diversity of autism, but diversity that is fluid and makes a complete natural picture, and it also has a yin-yang symbol in the middle representing how autism's existence as a disability and a difference exist in balance, and helping the disability should not be disrespecting the difference; along with a mandala thatis based off a kaleidoscope design, also with various colors representing the same thing, and how diversity of autism, or functioning labels, depend a lot on one's point of view, and it is a picture that can move around a lot, and it also has in it the shape of an eight-rayed star the symbol of the Men of Gondor in The Lord of the Rings, who represented honor and nobility.

 

Today for Autism Acceptance Day, I wore an Autism Acceptance Month t-shirt everywhere I went at UCM and in Warrensburg, that says, "Acceptance is Action," showing I'm not going to hide from who I am regardless of how others might think. Also, in honor of the various movements created in response to blue lights, Light it Up Gold, gold's chemical symbol Au being the first two ...letters of the word autism; Light it Up Red; Tone it Down Taupe; and Light it Up Orange, perhaps because orange is the color of the Celebrate Autism Foundation's autism spark symbol, I wore on my left wrist my red Buddhist prayer beads that I made from straws a year ago, which I don't normally wear; on my right wrist an orange bracelet that I made from cutting an orange bag along the sides and spinning the length and a gold paracord bracelet I made, especially considering Warrensburg is the home of an airforce base; on my neck my Lucky Buddha Beer bottle cap lockets, which are red, from the beers my dad gave me last year for Easter; and on my hoody I wore a gold ribbon pin, which used to be a puzzle piece ribbon, which many autistic's object to due to the idea there's a "missing piece" of them or they need to be put together, at I took apart, turned inside out, colored with a gold sharpie, and glued it back together; my pants today were taupe; and on my shoulder was a red bag, with other gold paracord bracelets I made to give to people for this day. I wore my grey UCM hoody instead of my regular blue hoody, and I made a commitment not to avert stranger's gazes as I walk past them or avoid interaction with people to avoid questions, and will go to eat in town to show this shirt to all I can. I also wore on my wrist a tile bracelet made from cardboard, with one an autism pie-chart symbol, a half-transparent butterfly symbol used by the Hidden Wings autism organization, a blue ribbon with rainbow stars created by autistic Carol Ann Acorn, an autism rainbow infinity symbol, a blue and white infinity symbol used by the Metis in Canada, rainbow scribbles representing "beautiful chaos" by autistic James McCue, the orange spark from the Celebrate Autism Foundation, and a porcupine symbol I created, representing autistics ability to defend themselves against larger groups without being aggressive, their affection even if they don't like physical contact, and the quills representing their voice even if they cannot speak. Through this, I plan to get the word out. Happy Autism Acceptance Day everyone!

 

Towards Real Autism Awareness: a 2014 Autism Acceptance Month Post

For the past nine or so years, a lot of questions and a lot of fascination have been surrounding the world of autism.  Over one hundred million dollars has been raised by various organizations to research causes, treatments, preventions, and cures for autism.  Meanwhile, while all this money has gone to various organizations such as Autism Speaks and the National Autism Association, very little of this money has gone to services that would make a difference in the here and now, when people with autism most truly need it.  The fact is that the overwhelming majority of autistic people have been underemployed (or unemployed), without access to education after college, and many of them not yet living on their own despite being even six or more years over age, and these statistics have not been challenged by the various monies raised to create an understanding of autism.  That’s because you have two different ideas about autism.  One is the medical model, which sees autism as a condition to be treated, prevented, and cured like cancer or AIDS.  Even though autism does not kill or cause you to live in perpetual pain or agony like these conditions, you still have people who want to treat it like that. 

Another model you have for autism is a social one.  This model deals with autism as a difference rather than a medical condition.  More recently, this model has been taken up by psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and political scientists at various prominent universities throughout the world.  It hearkens autistic people’s struggles in employment and education to the struggles of women and ethnic minorities across the world, stemming from our government and other governments where autistic people have relatively low status, seeing that the fact that modern day public schools and health care divisions, while very effective if you are an able-bodied neurotypical people, is not so effective if you have conditions such as Asperger syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and such.  Of all the money that organizations such as Autism Speaks has raised, charity monitor’s and the organization’s own tax return sheets that all charities are federally mandated to publish, show Autism Speaks’ has given only three to four percent of any money it is given to services for autistic people.  It’s 2012 report verifies that statistic (its 2013 report is not yet available).  Autistic activist Amy Sequinza was once quoted as saying, “Autism Speaks’ latest media budget was shown to be $10 million.  With that money they could have provided 14,226 speaking tablets to non-verbal autistic children.”  The bulk of that money has been spent on medical research that for the average under/unemployed and undereducated person with Asperger syndrome, hasn’t changed our standard of living or our levels of happiness and acceptance.  For the problem is that so much investment in things that will theoretically help the autism community in the future, rather than what is shown to help them now, is a perpetual problem of the medical model autism community.  This model was once applied to the homosexual community, and now that it is no longer used on them, it cannot be denied that they have made significant (albeit unfinished) progress. 

Like the LGBT, autistics are not diseased, but different, and by different, I mean that they are not the same as neurotypicals and allistic (having other intellectual/developmental disabilities-AD/HD, bipolar disorder) people who the world does not revolve around.  Have any of you ever seen the Silicon Valley in California?  Do you think it is like that because all the hard-working citizens there are miss prom queen USA?  Do you think this world would function better with constantly static television sets, no knowledge of the theory of gravity, a world without the U.S. Declaration of Independence or Louisiana Purchase?  Maybe you think it’s odd that (some) autistic people will flap their arms and rock their bodies, but in truth, there are many variations of this behavior, which is called stimming, and in many autistics it is too subtle for many to even notice.  And why not ask yourself why you bit your lips or fingernails, or play with your hair or your earrings?  Is it perhaps because you are nervous or uncomfortable around people?  Why does that make you do those things may be what you should ask. 

One could argue that the Cure Autism Movement and the Autism Rights Movement believe in essentially the same thing: a better life for autistics.  Yet in truth, I see two crucial differences that cannot be bridged.  One is the fact that the Cure Autism Movement would only push for bringing universal equality of life towards autistic people on a condition that has not yet been met, that being a cure for autism.  Meanwhile, the Autism Rights Movement believes in universal equality for autistics based on educational and behavorial accommodations that there are already people qualified to facilitate.  I myself was lucky enough to have those accommodations when I was younger (something my mom’s father had provided as they were not free to the public like public schools that seem to be willing to only adapt to neurotypical and allistic learning styles), and for this I believe that I am able to function as effectively and easily as any person who does not share my condition, and with the knowledge that is available to this world now, I believe the same could be true for the over seven million Americans who are autistic today.  And for me to live a fully integrated lifestyle and success, I don’t have to have something about me, whether it’s part of my brain or otherwise, be changed first.  It’s not enough for people to just have mechanically material equality.  They also have to have integrity and live on their own terms, not objective by other people.  So for parents and advocates of autistic children, I have to ask, do you want your children to be equal assuming that a cure for autism will come out of all this money being donated to public charities, or with the knowledge and information that has already been given to the scientific and education community on the development and functioning of autistic people that can be utilized as soon as the world decides that is what is going to be done. 

Someone Stole Your Identity? How Bad Do You Want it Back?

You may be someone who knows how hard it can be to provide for a family? Perhaps you have three kids you’ve struggled to take care of on your own, or watched your mother take two jobs just to keep a roof over your head. In any case, credit cards have made a big difference in the world. You can buy things when you don’t have the money for the same price as long as you can get the money in the right amount of time. You may have to buy groceries soon while you have a mortgage and car payment coming up and now you need credit to buy groceries. Certainly that’s a plus. But of course, credit can also be dangerous. Whatever your financial situation, no one wants to owe money and end up having as much stuff as the beggars downtown in one night. This can in fact happen when you least expect it, and crimes like these can be almost impossible to trace.

                Or at least, that is how it would seem. If you’ve ever seen CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) (which I haven’t), then you may know about DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis. With the A-T-C-G arrangements of genetic codes, investigators fortunately are better off in being able to convict or exonerate suspects of crime. And if this you work for you when you lose something like a credit card, thank goodness! Who would want their children to go hungry for a night or a week? No one would want to put humanity in that direction, right?

                Yes and no. Certainly no one seems like they have that as their chief objective in their plans but what in fact could their plans result in? Well, for that question, why don’t we bring in our pals from Autism Mythbusters? Now what I'm getting from these folks is, “Prof Michael Fitzgerald…stated that Darwin was a solitary child, and even as he grew to be an adult, avoided interaction with people as much as he could. He wrote letters often, but did not often partake in face-to-face communication. Writing letters was his preferred means of communication… Darwin collected many things and was very intrigued by chemistry and gadgets. This fixation on certain topics and objects is another characteristic often seen in autistic people. He was a very visual thinker, as many autistic people think spatially and visually. Fitzgerald describes Darwin in this article as, ‘a rather obsessive-compulsive and ritualistic man.’” Darwin collected samples. I’ve collected stamps. Aren’t we two of a kind? Apparently though, that would cause a funny feeling for most people if ever miss right sitting at the table with the jocks were to see. So surely, aren’t we all perhaps glad he collected all those samples in his journey to the Galapagos Islands? Or would you rather lug around a bag full of fossils for all your colleagues and cheerleader crush to gawk at?

Me Casa Su Casa (If I Can Manage it): A Forum on Autism and Independent Living

For my fourth discussion, I wanted to talk about the issue independent living, which is an important issue for autistic people.  This will involve, preparing to and living independently as an autistic person.  As with last week’s discussion, do consider a few things: 1) this forum is not to demean or belittle any individual participating in it, 2) that through this discussion, I hope to learn what sort of struggles and challenges are experienced by people on the spectrum, so we can design better behavioral and educational interventions for autistic people later in life, and to know what autistic people as a whole, do not need help with, and what therapies and interventions are doing right.  If not, we hope you as the readers gain valuable insights into your love life or that of those close to you, but let them all speak for themselves, as their impression may be entirely different from yours, 3) if you not to feel comfortable sharing your name, that is fine, and if you do not want your personal information to be shared without a need-to-know basis (should that be an issue) please mention that at the beginning of your comment.  If sharing your name could create negative consequences or trouble in the life of you or others do not share it, and 4) that bashful and abusive comments are not welcomed and any will be deleted.  Also do not share any information that is too personal (e.g. sex life) using you’re the names or identifying information of yourself or others involved.  5) Remember that everyone may have different views and on all these forums we are not looking for right answers, but to know what you as an autistic person and their loved ones think, 6) If the question is not relevant, feel free to leave it blank; these questions are merely to help each person format their comments.  With that said, here are my questions:

1.       What is your age?  How long have you been living independently?

2.       Are you employed?  How does your job help you live independently?  How do you support yourself?

3.       Are you a student?  How are you able to go to school and still live on our own?

4.       Have you lived on your own before e.g., in college?  How has that affected your ability to live at home now?

5.       How long have you been living on your own?  If you’ve moved from one location (where you live on your own) to another, how long have you lived in each place?

6.       What kind of living space do you live in (apartment, two bedroom house, condominium)?

7.       Where do you live?  Are there supports and facilities for people with autism there?  How can you obtain them?

8.       Have you ever received any services provided for autistic adults to live independently?  How have you gone about doing that?

9.       What sort of lifestyles and careers have your parents/guardians had?

10.   Do you feel that you are socially involved?  How do you get out and how often?

11.   What reasons motivate you to get out of your home and socialize with the larger world?

12.   What sort of diet do you often have for your meals?  Where do they come from (store, restaurant)? 

13.   What do you do to relax?  List anything that is relevant to you (read, drink, video games).

 

14.   Where or who would you go to for help with life, whether independent living, work, school, or relationships?  Have you gone there before?  How often?  Is it helpful?

15.   How do you feel autism impacts your ability to live independently?

16.   Do you have any other neurological or physical conditions besides autism?  What supports have you received for those now and in the past?

17.   What other factors in your life have influenced your ability to live on your own?

18.   What is the easiest or most enjoyable part of living on your own?

19.   What is the hardest or least enjoyable part of living on your own?

20.   Do you wish to change anything about your lifestyle right now?  Are you confident that it will be achieved?  Is it just a desire you have?

Free at Last! Now What? A Forum on College Life with Autism

For my third discussion, I wanted to talk about the issue of college, which is an important issue for autistic people. This will involve, preparing for, attending, and exploring colleges as an autistic person.  As with last week’s discussion, do consider a few things: 1) this forum is not to demean or belittle any individual participating in it, 2) that through this discussion, I hope to learn what sort of struggles and challenges are experienced by people on the spectrum, so we can design better behavioral and educational interventions for autistic people later in life, and to know what autistic people as a whole, do not need help with, and what therapies and interventions are doing right. If not, we hope you as the readers gain valuable insights into your love life or that of those close to you, but let them all speak for themselves, as their impression may be entirely different from yours, 3) if you not to feel comfortable sharing your name, that is fine, and if you do not want your personal information to be shared without a need-to-know basis (should that be an issue) please mention that at the beginning of your comment. If sharing your name could create negative consequences or trouble in the life of you or others do not share it, and 4) that bashful and abusive comments are not welcomed and any will be deleted.  Also do not share any information that is too personal (e.g. sex life) using you’re the names or identifying information of yourself or others involved. 5) Remember that everyone may have different views and on all these forums we are not looking for right answers, but to know what you as an autistic person and their loved ones think, 6) If the question is not relevant, feel free to leave it blank; these questions are merely to help each person format their comments. With that said, here are my questions:

1.       What is your age? 18-24? 24-30?

2.       What is your gender?

3.       How long has it been since you attended college? How much of the time since then has been in college?

4.       What options have you explored before making a decision on colleges or are you exploring now to help influence your decision? What factors have influenced that decision?

5.       When and how in life did you get diagnosed as autistic?

6.       Where do you live outside of college?

7.       Where do you live while attending college?

8.       Do you commute or live on campus property?

9.       Tell us about your college town. Is it a big city, small town? Are you out of the country, studying abroad, a foreign-exchange student, etc.?

10.   What type of residence do you live in during college (dorm buildings, apartment, Greek housing, off-campus)?

11.   Do you work while you are on campus, whether in your home town or near campus?

12.   Do you have any dependents while you attend college, fiancée, spouse, children? Where do they live? How has that affected your college career?

13.   What kind of educational, professional, or independent living experiences have you had prior to your current college career? How have they affected your current college career?

14.   How, in any way, do you feel autism has affected your college experience?

15.   What supports, if any, have you had prior to your college experience? How were they provided to you –the state, parents, family members?

16.   What other conditions to you have besides autism? How have they been accommodated in the past and through what sources? What kinds of supports do you use, find helpful, or have available on your campus or in your area? When and how in your life did you receive the diagnosis for these conditions?

17.   How would you describe your expenses in college? What, if anything comes to mind?

18.   What type of academic program or major are you enrolled in (e.g. nursing, education, social work, undecided)? Do you have any other type of academic commitment, such as a minor?

19.   Where do you feel you can go to get help with things related to your condition on campus or in your area?

20.   How easy do you feel it is to keep up with the pace of college life? Is it too fast? Slow enough? How do you deal with it?

21.   What sacrifices have been made or have had to been made to attend college life?

22.   Have you been involved with a person romantically before college? How has college affected that relationship? What impact have they had on you as an autistic in college and as an autistic person, college student, and person in general? Have you found new love (boy/girlfriend, fiancée, spouse) in college? What impact have they had on you as an autistic in college and as an autistic person, college student, and person in general? 

23.   What type of social networks or supports exists for people with autism on campus or in your area?

24.   Have you found many friendships or close relationships at college?

25.   Where do you go to meet people (friends, potential dates, etc.)?

26.   Have you joined many clubs, societies, or social organizations (e.g. fraternities/sororities, religious organizations, community service outreach programs, etc.)? How has that affected your college life and experience as an autistic person?

27.   How easy do you find it to start on school projects?

28.   Do any of your friends, professors, Greek brothers/sisters, co-parishioners, Community Advisors, Residence Hall Directors, or anyone you associate with on a regular basis know about your condition? Have you told them? How well do you think any of these possible people understand your condition? How open are you about your condition? How might your acquaintances find out? What is there to be gained from disclosing your condition more? Less?  Differently? How do they affect your college life and experience as an autistic person?

29.   What is your favorite or most enjoyable part of college life (academically)?

30.   What is your favorite or most enjoyable part of college life (socially)?

31.   What is the hardest or least enjoyable part of college life (academically)?

32.   What is the hardest or least enjoyable part of college life (socially)?

33.   Have you been in a committed relationship before college? How did college affect it?

34.   What are you most proud of in college? Is there anything looking back that you wish you could have done differently?

35.   Have any major events in your life made it harder or easier to attend college (death in the family, new marriage, new job, etc.)?

36.   What makes you want to persevere in your college career?

37.   What, if anything, ever makes you tempted to give up on college?

38.   How have you changed in any way since college, whether personally, socially, emotionally, professionally?

39.   What do you feel you have gained from college, in both your life in general and as an autistic person?

40.   What more do you hope to gain from college, both in your life in general and as an autistic person?

41.   Is your experience in college what you’ve planned? What do you wish, if anything, you had been able to do differently?

42.   Where do you hope in life to go and achieve after college? How do you believe college is helping you with or influenced that?