Today’s Autistic Moment: A Podcast for Autistic Adults by An Autistic Adult

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com to find the transcript. You can click on the episode on the website and read the transcript there, or you may click on the link provided and be taken to that transcript in a document that you can download and print to follow the show. David Gray-Hammond reworked his essays from his blog on emergentdivergence.com and put them into an anthology entitled: The New Normal: Autistic Musings on the Threat of a Broken Society. Throughout the book, David writes that the suffering that many Autistics experience is because of a society that is broken. David talks about the word Neuroqueer, and how Autistics are Neuroqueering language. David wrote his book as a love letter to the Autistic community that helped him through drug and alcohol addiction and is still helping him to this day.

Looking for the transcript for this tailer? Go to todaysautisticmoment.com. Here are some samples of what you will hear on the next episode of Today’s Autistic Moment: The New Normal with my guest David Gray-Hammond

Go to todaysautististicmoment.com for the transcript. Autism Acceptance Month is supposed to be about Autistics.  However, Autism Acceptance Month has become commodified for merchandise and arguments about Autism.  Many Autistics dread the month of April because we find ourselves explaining and defending ourselves with neurotypicals who claim to be “Autism experts” but do not give Autistics the chance to use our voices or they ignore us completely. Becca and Doug will give some great advice for how Autistics can take care of themselves during what can be the worst month of the year for many.

Go to https://todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.  Carole Jean Whittington joins me to talk about how Autistic women define success.  Carole is a burnout strategist who helps Autistics work through their burnout.  Carole Jean Whittington is the director and host for Mind Your Autistic Brain. Her company helps with education and supports for late diagnosed Autistics and other Neurodivergents.  Carole is recognized as one of the top 50 Neurodiversity Evangelists by Theo Smith and Neurodiversity World.

Michelle Markman is a Neurodivergent relationship coach and a late diagnosed Autistic woman.  Michelle was aware of social differences and experienced the social challenges in her  childhood, but was unclear on their explanation until college.  MIchelle has been through spinal fractures, chronic pain, an autoimmune disease and through it all has refused mediocrity. Michelle's greatest personal accomplishment was climbing Kilimanjaro the world's tallest free standing mountain in Africa.  Michelle is a mother, world traveler, foodie, bibliophile and bon vivant.  Don't miss this great show as Michelle will talk about her greatest pleasure in helping others form and nurture social relationships.

Oluwatobi Odugunwa works with the Autistic People of Color Fund will be my guest for The Strengths and Achievements of Black Autistic Adults. The news and media tends to focus on the difficulties of having Autism, and black people are sadly classified as troubled and/or inferior to white people. In keeping with the theme for this year, my guest Oluwatobi Odugunwa and I are going to talk about the great work that Black Autistics are doing to foster a society of anti-bias towards Autistic Black individuals with disabilities.

Autistic Adults are pioneers on their own journeys. Lisa Morgan is a pioneer as part of a family with a history of suicide because of Autistic needs that were not being met. Lisa is an example of someone who met their tragedies and used them to build herself up and founded her own company to support Autistics in moments of crisis. Lisa’s story will move and inspire you in whatever situation you find yourself in, to work with and through it as an Autistic Adult to create and live your own life as you are. Don’t miss this special show.

Today's Autistic Moment is recognizing Black History Month with this special show. The movement for Neurodiversity like many others has it's own version of systemic racism.  Many of the programs, classes, presentations and schedules are created by and for the white majority.  If the movement for Neurodiversity is to be inclusive, then we must listen to the stories of Autistic people of color and learn from them how we can address the issue of racism.  Precious Lesley is a black Autistic Adult who will be talking about this sensitive topic.  In keeping with the theme for 2023, Precious will talk about the strengths and Achievements of Black Autistic Adults.

Today's Autistic Moment reaches a major milestone with the 50th show.  The podcast began in 2021 with a goal of creating some real social changes for the Autistic Adult Community.  The past two seasons have brought Autistic Adults and professionals who work with Autistics together to talk about the topics that matter most to us. Today's Autistic Moment and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions are giving Neurodivergent the chance to use their voices that are so often left out of the conversations about us and having our say.  It is having an impact.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Ana Aragon is my special guest for this premier to discuss the context of the theme for Today's Autistic Moment in 2023.  The Strengths and Achievements of Autistic Adults.   The guests and topics during 2023 on Today’s Autistic Moment’s podcast and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions will do more than talk about our many challenges; we will talk about how so many amazing Autistic Adults are using their challenges to build up their strengths so that we can set reasonable goals and achieve them successfully. There are so many talented and skillful Autistic Adults that are authors, educators, mathematical geniuses, advocates, who are using their tenacity to help the movement for Neurodiversity create community to support and encourage one another. In 2023, you will be meeting and hearing from many of them on Today’s Autistic Moment and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions.