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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism

@thinkingautism.com
18K followers 892 following 4.5K posts

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.

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 21/09/2026
Today! At 4:35 Pacific! Our panel on Respectful Parenting of High Support Neurodivergent Children featuring the phenomenal quartet of Jess Wilson from Diary of a Mom, @lollardfish.bsky.social, Tiffany Hammond of Fidgets & Fries, and our very own Carol Greenburg @autisticenough.bsky.social.
Panel flyer.

At the top is a graphic on a red background. On the left is a rainbow tree with a brain at the top.

On the right, white text reads, “Stanford Neurodiversity Summit 2026, Building Strengths through Neurodiversity Community Innovation, September 19, 20, & 21, 2026”

Next is text on a white background, reading, “RESPECTFUL PARENTING OF HIGH SUPPORT NEURODIVERGENT CHILDREN
Monday Sep 21, 4:35 pm - 5:30 pm Pacific”

Next is four circular photos of the speakers, next to their text descriptions.

“Carol Greenburg, Thinking Person’s Guide To Autism” is a smiling white woman with short platinum hair and glasses.

“Tiffany Hammond, Fidgets and Fries” is a smiling Black woman with long curly black hair and glasses. She is holding a copy of her book A Day With No Words.

“David M. Perry, University of Minnesota” is a white man with a brownish mustache and beard, wearing a brown cap.

“Jess Wilson, Diary of a Mom” is a smiling white woman with long wavy brown hair.

Text in the lower left reads, “Registration and full program info:
tinyurl.com/StanfordNDsummit26”

Text in the lower right reads, “Virtual panel; attend from your computer
or device!”
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 19/09/2026
What a treat to meet Color of Autism’s Camille Proctor and @supernovaparenting.org’s Natasha Nelson in person at the Stanford neurodiversity Summit. Camille’s safety toolkit work is incredible; we will be talking about that more soon. And Natasha’s Stanford keynote is Monday, can’t wait.
Camille Proctor and Natasha Nelson, two Black women with long thin locs, standing in front of Proctor’s poster on community safety.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 19/09/2026
Your faithful TPGA editors @autisticenough.bsky.social Eli Rosa @shannonrosa.bsky.social and our colleague @ieidle.bsky.social are covering the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit for the next three days. Follow our dispatches right here. [image: four smiling white people posing for the camera.]
four smiling white people posing for the camera.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 09/09/2026
These two nerds just got their flu shots! Remember, vaccines have nothing to do with autism; in fact, vaccines protect autistic people and their parents too. [image: TPGA editor Shannon Rosa and her son Leo happily posing outside of a vaccine clinic after having received their seasonal flu shots.]
TPGA editor Shannon Rosa and her son Leo happily posing outside of a vaccine clinic after having received their seasonal flu shots.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 07/09/2026
Supporting our community members with complex support needs can be ... complex. At the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit, professionals, self-advocates, and family members will be coming together for a panel to discuss best practices for living fulfilled lives, and getting through crises. 1/
Panel flyer.

At the top is a graphic on a red background. On the left is a rainbow tree with a brain at the top. 

On the right, white text reads, "Stanford Neurodiversity Summit 2026, Building Strengths through Neurodiversity Community Innovation, September 19, 20, & 21, 2026"

On the left are three circular photos of the speakers on a red background, above their text descriptions.

"Amanda Vivian, MSA, Social Worker" is a smiling white woman with long dark blonde hair.

"Diana Pastora Carson, Educator, Author, Podcaster, Go Beyond Awareness, Inc" is a smiling Spanish-American woman with long wavy dark brown hair.

On the right, text on a black background reads, "HUMAN RIGHTS: SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX SUPPORT NEEDS"

Sunday Sep 20, 5:35 pm - 6:30 pm Pacific"

Next, text reads, "Professionals, self-advocates, and family members discuss creating good support networks, fostering autonomy, advocacy during crises, and communication."

Text in the lower right reads, "Hybrid conference: attend in person
or online!"]

Text at the bottom reads, "Registration and full program info: 
tinyurl.com/StanfordNDsummit26"
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 05/09/2026
If we don't understand WHY an autistic person is having difficulties, then we may not be teaching them useful coping skills. This is a fundamental issue with even "new and nicer" Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). From Rebecca Engle, at @endseclusion.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/QuestioningBehaviors
Graphic with a yellow background.

Text reads, "Questions to Ask About an Autistic Child’s “Behaviors”

"What is this child’s nervous system experiencing?
What sensory information is overwhelming them?
What physiological need has gone unmet?
How is chronic stress affecting executive functioning?
What developmental experiences shaped this response?"

"These questions do not reject behavior. They simply recognize that behavior is downstream from the brain."

Smaller text in the lower left reads, "Rebecca Engle at @EndSeclusionOrg
tinyurl.com/QuestioningBehaviors"

The current Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 24/08/2026
Next month's Stanford #Neurodiversity Summit panel on Respectful Parenting of High Support ND Kids includes @fidgetsandfries.bsky.social, @lollardfish.bsky.social, @jessdiaryofamom.bsky.social, & @autisticenough.bsky.social. (IKR?) Deets: stanfordneurodiversityproject.stanford.edu/stanford-neu...
Panel flyer.

At the top is a graphic on a red background. On the left is a rainbow tree with a brain at the top. 

On the right, white text reads, "Stanford Neurodiversity Summit 2026, Building Strengths through Neurodiversity Community Innovation, September 19, 20, & 21, 2026"

Next is text on a white background, reading, "RIGHTS-BASED PARENTING OF HIGH SUPPORT NEURODIVERGENT CHILDREN
Monday Sep 21, 4:35 pm - 5:30 pm Pacific"

Next is four circular photos of the speakers, next to their text descriptions.

"Carol Greenburg, Thinking Person's Guide To Autism" is a smiling white woman with short platinum hair and glasses.

"Tiffany Hammond, Fidgets and Fries" is a smiling Black woman with long curly black hair and glasses. She is holding a copy of her book A Day With No Words.

"David M. Perry, University of Minnesota" is a white man with a brownish mustache and beard, wearing a brown cap.

"Jess Wilson, Diary of a Mom" is a smiling white woman with long wavy brown hair.

Text in the lower left reads, "Registration and full program info: 
tinyurl.com/StanfordNDsummit26"

Text in the lower right reads, "Virtual panel; attend from your computer
or device!"
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 21/08/2026
Eagle-eyed @christineajenkins.bsky.social found a typo in the original graphic. Hopefully this one's clean.

Graphic with a black background.

Text in alternating rainbow colors reads,

"IN THE TPGA COMMUNITY, WE BELIEVE"

"AUTISM ACCEPTANCE SAVES LIVES

"VACCINES WORK, AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH AUTISM

"COMMUNICATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT

"ADHD IS REALLY REAL

"LGBTQ+ PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED

"ACCESSIBLITY SHOULD BE BAKED IN

"AUTISM “CURES” ARE ALWAYS A SCAM

"RACISM HAS NO PLACE HERE

"THE “PROFOUND AUTISM” LABEL HURTS MORE THAN IT HELPS

"NO ONE IS A COST OR A BURDEN"

In the lower left corner, smaller text reads, "@ThinkingAutism
www.ThinkingAutism.com"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 20/08/2026
Well hell. Just realized we never did one of these. Represent like it's 2020, y'all! But please know: Deadly serious. And also: What else would you add? -SR #autism #autistic #neurodiversity
Graphic with a black background.

Text in alternating rainbow colors reads,

"IN THE TPGA COMMUNITY, WE BELIEVE"

"AUTISM ACCEPTANCE SAVES LIVES

"VACCINES WORK, AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH AUTISM

"COMMUNICATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT

"ADHD IS REALLY REAL

"LGBTQ+ PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED

"ACCESSIBLITY SHOULD BE BAKED IN

"AUTISM “CURES” ARE ALWAYS A SCAM

"RACISM HAS NO PLACE HERE

"THE “PROFOUND AUTISM” LABEL HURTS MORE THAN IT HELPS

"NO ONE IS A COST OR A BURDEN"

In the lower left corner, smaller text reads, "@ThinkingAutism
www.ThinkingAutism.com"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 19/08/2026
Just got a jump scare in my orthopedist’s office. Why can’t people be more careful with the deployment of blue puzzle pieces in their educational literature! [image: Photo of a pamphlet on Basal joint arthritis, featuring a Black adult and child playing with a pile of blue puzzle pieces.]
Photo of a pamphlet on Basal joint arthritis, featuring a Black adult and child playing with a pile of blue puzzle pieces.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 13/08/2026
Are you neurodivergent, a parent of someone ND, or an educator with ND students? Would you like to help create ND-friendly educational settings? Do you have ideas for improving ND educational experiences? Yes? Then please take Stanford's #neurodiversity survey: redcap.stanford.edu/surveys/?s=D...
Image: Flyer with a pale yellow background and yellow blobs in three corners.

In the upper right corner is the Stanford Medicine logo next to small text reading, "Stanford Center for Neurodiversity and Human Potential"

The title is in all-caps and reads, "Developing community and expert consensus on neurodiversity-informed education"

Next, text reads, 
"• Are you a neurodivergent individual, a parent of someone who is neurodivergent, or an educator who works with this community?
"• Would you like to contribute to creating neurodiversity-friendly educational settings?
"• Do you have ideas for improving educational experiences for neurodivergent students?

"Participate in an online survey on neurodiversity! We are inviting neurodivergent individuals (age 13+), parents/guardians of neurodivergent individuals, and educators of neurodivergent students who currently reside in the US, UK, Canada, EU countries, Taiwan, or Hong Kong. Total participation time is less than 1 hour."

"Principal Investigator: Lawrence Fung MD, PhD
Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University"

Next, a brown button reads, "LEARN MORE"

Text at the bottom reads, "Email us at stanfordneurodiversityproject@stanford.edu or scan the QR code to check out!"

The QR code leads to the URL https://redcap.stanford.edu/surveys/?s=DKW8APRJHM3CTTND

In the lower right corner is an illustration of an adult showing a drawing to three seated children, two of whom are raising their hands.

Below the drawing, small text reads, "For complaints, concerns, or participant's rights, contact 1-866-680-2906."
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 04/08/2026
We'll be The National Autistic Society's Anger Translator: "F*** you, Uta Frith—stop trying to use your expired authority on autism to hurt autistic people, you absolute plonker." *Frith published a new paper wrongly claiming autism is overdiagnosed. NAS response: www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/n...
Graphic with a purple, pink, and red curved intersecting background.

Text reads, " We need to focus on how to improve understanding and support for all autistic people who need it, rather than dividing autistic people into categories. Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Influencing"

the National Autistic Society logo is in the lower left corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 14/06/2026
"Belonging means more than being included. It means feeling understood, accepted, and able to participate without constantly having to explain yourself, hide parts of who you are, or push past exhaustion just to keep up." By @neuroscientist.bsky.social: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... #autism
Graphic with a light gray background. 

Text reads, "Loneliness is about feeling disconnected, not just about how much time you spend with others. An autistic person can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if their participation does not feel meaningful, safe, or sustainable. -Hari Srinivasan”

In the lower left corner, smaller text reads, "@ThinkingAutism
tinyurl.com/AutisticLoneliness"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 13/06/2026
"I cannot fathom how autistic people coped before Google, and I am quite sure that all the weirdest questions on Google are asked by autistic people." -Sarah Hendrickx, writing about The Joy of Autism. aeon.co/essays/why-b... #autism #joy #neurodiversity
Graphic with a pale green-blue horizontal gradient background.  Text reads, "Many autistic people cite nature as being a place of deep calm and joy for them—there, the noticing and atypical sensory experience can grant access to a heightened world of sensory joy rather than be a barrier to a comfortable experience. -Sarah Hendrickx"  Text in the lower left reads, "@ThinkingAutism  tinyurl.com/JoyInAutism"  The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right.]
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 07/06/2026
When people say “But my autistic child learned how to do this from ABA!” They probably mean their kid benefitted from 1:1 teaching. Autistic kids do NOT need ABA therapy to learn. But they may need individualized supports. Fight for funding those supports. thinkingautismguide.com/2025/03/when...
Canva graphic with a pale yellow background.

Text reads, "When people say “But my autistic child learned how to do this thing from ABA”
 
What they probably mean is that their child benefitted from 1 to 1 support and instruction.

Autistic children do NOT need ABA therapy to learn. But they may need
individualized supports.

Fight for funding those supports.

#BetterWaysThanABA"

Text in the lower right corner reads, "

"@ThinkingAutism
 tinyurl.com/ABAoptions"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 06/06/2026
What does a "good life" look like for autistic kids (and adults)? Well, we can guarantee that if you don't ask autistic people themselves, you're probably going to miss the mark. Thankfully researchers DID ask autistic people, and their parents. Here's what they reported: osf.io/preprints/os...
Canva graphic with a pale pink background.

Text reads, "What Helps Autistic Children Live a “Good Life”?
 
Researchers asked autistic adults
and parents of autistic children,
who mentioned four important areas:

1. Autistic children being accepted as their real or true self
2. Autistic children finding the things that they enjoy & that energize them 
3. Autistic children having a sense of control in their life, and 
4. Physical environments that suit autistic children’s sensory needs"

Small text in the lower left reads, "From Simpson, Allen, Wheeley, Pellicano, Heyworth, den Houting, Bowen, & Adams
tinyurl.com/GoodAutisticLives"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 05/06/2026
However: "This rule is not final. CMS is taking comments on the rule. They take comments until July 31st. People and organizations can tell CMS this is a bad rule that will hurt people. CMS might change the rule because of comments." From @autisticadvocacy.org: autisticadvocacy.org/2026/06/pres...
Image with a blue background. White text reads, "New Medicaid Expansion Changes Hurt People with Disabilities".
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 04/06/2026
Esther Warwick and "many other disability rights activists have condemned Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) project as harmful, and it has concerning resonances with past policies in American history." threewayfight.org/disability-a... #disability #autism #neurodiversity
Graphic with a light green background.   "Text reads, "We talk about how, for many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, your life is that you go from your “special school” to your “special home” to your “special job,” and your whole life is “special,” but what’s really special about it is how you are treated especially badly. -Esther Warwick"  In the lower left corner, smaller text reads, "@ThinkingAutism tinyurl.com/EstherWarwick"  The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 30/05/2026
Kaligirwa is a noted autistic autism advocate. They recently had their motives challenged after they asked an autism diagnosis and resources company whether it was behaving unethically in coaching people on how to take an online autism screening test. We asked questions: tinyurl.com/kaligirwaAtTPGA
Graphic with a coral-colored background.

Text at the top reads, "Why did Black Spectrum Scholar have their advocacy and motives challenged, after they asked whether an autism diagnosis business was behaving unethically in coaching people on how to take an online autism screening test?"

Next is a Screenshot of a Threads post by Black Spectrum Scholar quoting an Embrace Autism post. The Black Spectrum Scholar quote reads, “There are serious ethical concerns with what Embrace Autism is doing here: giving advice that effectively teaches people how to increase their RAADS-R score. “The purpose of a screening questionnaire is to answer as accurately and honestly as possible based on one’s actual experience."

Next, text reads, "We wanted to know more, so we talked with Kaligirwa (Black Spectrum Scholar) about the incident and its repercussions both for them, and for the already-questioned validity of
autistic self-diagnosis."

Text in the lower left reads, "@ThinkingAutism
tinyurl.com/kaligirwaAtTPGA"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 28/05/2026
“Nothing about us without us” shouldn’t be read as exclusion. After all, every community needs allies. Instead, it should be understood as a call for more accurate, grounded, and accountable leadership. From @johnmarble.bsky.social, at TPGA: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/05/neur... #neurodiversity
Screenshot of the top of a TPGA article titled, "Neurodiversity Needs Neuroinclusive Leadership" by John Marble.

The background is a graphic with an orange-red background. On the left is a silhouette of a person helping another person up to a mountain peak. Above them is an orange sun and a silhouetted flock of birds.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 28/05/2026
The AASPIRE Measurement Toolkit is now available! This is a set of accessible, participatory-generated questionnaires that can be used to measure the outcomes that are most important to autistic adults. They can be used in clinical, community, and/or research settings. aaspire.org/measurement/
Graphic with a background in AASPIRE lavender.

Text reads, "We know autistic adults experience health disparities.  
But most existing health survey measures are hard for autistic people to use, or not tested
with autistic people."

Next is a graphic with the AASPIRE logo on a white background with text reading, "Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Eduation"

Next, text reads, "Now the AASPIRE Measurement Toolkit is available! This is a set of accessible questionnaires that can be used to measure the outcomes most important to autistic adults. They can be used 
in clinical, community,
and/or research settings."

In the lower left corner, text reads, "@ThinkingAutism
www.aaspire.org/measurement"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 13/05/2026
What if, instead of always worrying about how autistic people can be "productive" members of society, we recognize that our autistic community peeps are already contributing members of society? TY @mx-joyner.bsky.social. #autism #autistic #neurodiversity
Graphic with a green background. 

"Text reads, "A small but crucial shift: Let’s support our autistic and disabled students to be ‘contributing’ members of society. instead of ‘productive’ members of society.

“'A person can contribute through their presence, their perspective, their shared joy, their ideas, their supportive energy, or their actions, just to name a few. Focusing on making sure all our students are ready to shine in the world is what that word means to me.'

“'Productivity is, for me, linked to producing for capitalism. Disabled people and many others have been greatly harmed through eugenic mindsets that connect humanity with ability to produce.'” 
"-Joyner Emerick"

Text in the lower left corner reads, "@ThinkingAutism
www.facebook.com/Neuromess.blog"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 10/05/2026
"If you are careful to only portray your kid as the hero—even if that hero is facing challenges, such as structural or societal problems—you will be starting in a good place." Our interview with @katierosepryal.bsky.social re: her book Your Kid Belongs Here: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/05/your...
Graphic with a pale yellow background.

Text on the upper right reads, "Anything less than the unconditional love we have for our autistic kids is just details.
 
"Katie Rose Guest Pryal,
interviewed at TPGA"

Underneath is the cover of Pryal's book Your Kid Belongs Here.

Text in the lower left reads, "@ThinkingAutism
tinyurl.com/YourKidBelongsHere"

On the right is a photo of the author, a white women with long wavy blonde hair coming over her right shoulder.

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 10/05/2026
Have you seen the delightful Hulu series Dinosaur? We interviewed its autistic creator/star Ashley Storrie for season one in 2024, and now the equally delicious season two is out! TPGA interview with Storrie: tinyurl.com/AshleyStorrieTPGA #autism #storytellers #neurodiversity
Photo of actress Ashley Storrie, a white Scottish woman with long curly dark brown hair with the front pinned up off her face.

On the right is a TPGA article title text box, reading, "Talking With Dinosaur Star and Co-Creator Ashley Storrie"
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 07/05/2026
Safe Food for autistic people is not about being 'picky': "It wasn’t just that I was picky, though that was true. It was that when I was already in sensory overload, certain foods weren’t safe. I would rather not eat at all." Kari Burroughs Kraakevik at TPGA: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/05/safe...
Graphic with a light blue background, and a photo of plain noodles on a blue plate.

Text above the photo reads, "Safe Foods
 
"Most people have a version of safe food, even if they don’t name it that way. For Kari Burroughs Kraakevik, safe food is 'how I make eating possible.' At TPGA."

Text in the lower left corner reads, "@ThinkingAutism
tinyurl.com/SafeFoodsTPGA"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 05/05/2026
@ejwillingham.bsky.social shoots down recent claims of an "autism overdiagnosis," and explains why what we really need is a tent big enough to accommodate and support all autistic people. In this week's TPGA newsletter. Share and subscribe if you can! tinyurl.com/BiggerTentTPGA #neurodiversity
Graphic with a white background.

Text at the top reads, "Autism Overdiagnosis, my ass
 
Emily Willingham explains how misleading recent “autism overdiagnosis” proclamations are, & why we need a bigger diagnosis tent, not a smaller one, in this week’s TPGA newsletter.

Next is a photo of a circus tent reflected in water, credited to Robert Penaloza on Unsplash.

In the lower left corner, text reads, "@ThinkingAutism
tinyurl.com/BiggerTentTPGA"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 03/05/2026
Bloomberg's recent ABA therapy article featured many perspectives, but centered pro-ABA voices. We think people need to hear from autistic ABA survivors first & foremost, such as Ido Kedar's take that, "How many toddlers like toiling at bullshit 40 hours a week?” Gift link: tinyurl.com/BloombergABA
Graphic with a white background. 

Text at the top reads, "Bloomberg’s recent ABA therapy article leads with pro-ABA voices. We think you should hear from autistic survivors first."

Underneath is a screenshot from the article. On the right is a photo of Kaitlin Phelan, a white woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair and bangs.

Text on the left reads, "Kaitlin Phelan, a 26-year-old library worker in Los Angeles, began ABA therapy for autism at age 3 and continued for about four years. She says the rewards system, which often involved crumbled-up Oreo cookies, led to disordered eating and other traumatic experiences. “Having ABA in my primary years, I think it definitely rewired my brain in a way that made me not trust my instincts, not trust my feelings—dissociating from my body and not feeling like my body is mine,” she says.

"The fundamental problem with ABA, many opponents say, is that it treats behavior as something to be controlled rather than as a form of communication. It may address symptoms, they argue, but it doesn’t resolve underlying issues. “ABA frames itself as teaching skills, but it’s not,” Hunt says. “They’re conditioning responses.”

Text in the lower right reads, "@ThinkingAutism
tinyurl.com/BloombergABA"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 28/04/2026
Today is the meeting of the IACC, the federal advisory panel on autism which, under RFK Jr., is now stocked with some of the most notorious pseudosciencers of the 21st century. @ejwillingham.bsky.social tells of the flaws of the current committee, for our newsletter: buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
Screenshot of the heading of a TPGA newsletter. 

Text at the top reads, "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.”

A photo at the bottom shows 19th century bottles of poisons and fake remedies.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 27/04/2026
We are home from reporting on INSAR, the meeting of the International Society for Autism Research in Prague, and have SO MUCH to report—but need to sleep first. In the meantime please enjoy this timelapse of a Czech train going along the Elbe river. #insar2026
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 25/04/2026
Your intrepid editors spent four days covering #INSAR2026, the International Meeting for Autism Research. We're exhausted now, but conference coverage will be up shortly at our site. Sincere thanks to all the researchers doing good work and the autistic people without whom that work would not exist.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 24/04/2026
Thank you INSAR for not only listening re: how much your autistic attendees loathe the jet engine shrieking of air-propelling hand driers, but actually doing something about it. #INSAR2026
Sign taped on a public bathroom mirror, reading “hand dryers are currently switched off to reduce noise for participants with sensory sensitivities. Paper towels is dead. Thank you.”
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 24/04/2026
Since INSAR was not able to provide a room for the 2026 #AutINSAR chat (no foul; they tried), we will be meeting IRL in the Level 1 Club Foyer space tomorrow, Saturday April 25, at 12:45 - 1:45 Prague time. As we will be on BlueSky too It is fine to respond asynchronously!
Map of part of Prague Congress Center Level 1, with the Club Foyer area circled in red.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026
CN: Police killing Alex LaMorie, an autistic man, called the police for help. Instead, they shot him. At least two of the three officers who shot Alex went through autism training. It was not enough to stop them from killing him. By @autisticadvocacy.org: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/04/auti...
Graphic with a dark brown background.

At the top is the ASAN icon of a spiraling rainbow heptagon.

Text reads, "The Death of Alex LaMorie: Autism Training for Police Is Not Enough.

"There is very little data to suggest that autism training for police improves police interactions with autistic people, or reduces violence against our community. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) has been saying this for a very long time."

Text in the lower left corner reads, "@ThinkingAutism
tinyurl.com/AlexLaMorieASAN"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 18/04/2026
Hey there non-autistic siblings of autistic people! Want to participate in research about your lived experience? Contact researcher Rebecca.Scully@myport.ac.uk. More info on flyer/in alt-text.
Flyer with a light gray background. 

On the upper left is a purple silhouetted human head in profile. On the upper right is the neurodiversity rainbow infinity symbol. 

Text reads, "Research Participants Needed.

"Non-autistic siblings required who have grown up with Autistic siblings.

"I am a final year MSc student at University of Portsmouth. I am seeking to recruit non-autistic siblings who grew up with autistic siblings to take part in research for my final project. 

"This would be an excellent opportunity for non-autistic siblings to share their lived experience about growing up with non-autistic sibling(s). If you are interested and meet the criteria below please get in touch.

"Criteria Required:
"•18 years+ and be non-Autistic 
"•Sibling(s) must be diagnosed autistic and require some level of support 
"•Available to be interviewed through Zoom/Teams

"Interested? If you would like to take part or are interested to find out more, then please message me or email Rebecca.Scully@myport.ac.uk"
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 17/04/2026
The International Meeting for Autism Research #INSAR2026 is next week! We'll once again be hosting the #AutINSAR discussion on autistic priorities for autism research, since most research does …not consider those priorities. Join us Sat, April 25. 2025 recap: thinkingautismguide.com/2025/05/what...
Photo of Most of the IRL attendees of AutINSAR 2025, posing as a group. Text in a box in the center reads, "What Autistic People Want From Autism Research: AutINSAR 2025 Recap"
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 17/04/2026
There is no such thing as “mild” autism. If an autistic person is not “obviously” autistic, either they are masking for their safety or others’ convenience, or they are actually getting the supports & accommodations they need—so they aren’t forced to demonstrate distress or dysregulation. #autism
Graphic with a dark red background. 

Text reads, "There is no such thing as “mild” autism. 

"If an autistic person is not “obviously” autistic, either they are masking for their safety or others’ convenience—which in the long term imperils their mental health—or they are actually getting the supports and accommodations they need, so they aren’t forced to demonstrate distress or dysregulation."

Smaller text in the lower right corner reads, "@ThinkingAutism
ThinkingAutism.com"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 12/04/2026
Help TPGA Support Our Writers and Artists! We are an all-volunteer #neurodiversity & autism resource, but we do pay our writers & artists. You can help us keep on doing that, while also wearing (or gifting) cool TPGA gear! Pls spread the word if you can. TinyURL.com/TPGAtees #AutismAcceptanceMonth
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 11/04/2026
Focusing on the visual & auditory skills of autistics with speech divergence (A-SD)—including those w/ID—can help them demonstrate intelligence, learn to read, and acquire communicative language skills. @drstevenkapp.bsky.social & @juliettegudkne1.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Graphic with a light gray to white horizontal gradient background.

Text reads, "Many autistics speak late, a little, or not at all. This is called being “autistic with speech divergence” (A-SD). 

"A-SD people, even with intellectual (dis)abilities, often have strong visual and hearing skills. These skills are key to how A-SD folks understand and communicate—but are not always recognized in the usual assessments (e.g., IQ testing).

"ND-informed assessments & supports can build on A-SD strengths instead of trying to “fix” A-SD autistics."

Smaller text in the lower left reads, "Steven K. Kapp &Juliette Gudknecht
tinyurl.com/AutisticSpeechDivergence"
The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 07/04/2026
April is Autism Acceptance Month. Here's a short reading list for you, plus guidance on suspect autism organizations. From @ejwillingham.bsky.social, in the latest TPGA newsletter: buttondown.com/TPGA/archive... #AutismAcceptanceMonth #Autism #Neurodiversity
Screenshot of the top of the April 6th TPGA newsletter. 

Text at the top reads, "Autism Acceptance Month: recommended reading and a warning

"April is Autism Acceptance Month. Here's a short reading list for you, plus guidance on suspect autism organizations."

Underneath is a photo of a field of Joshua trees in front of a mountain range. A yellow diamond-shaped sign in the foreground has graphics of bees, and text reading "Warning ahead"
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 04/04/2026
“The breaking point came when I was instructed to withhold food & drink from my toddler until she produced specific verbal responses. I ended services that same day. Henny Kupferstein, on her pursuit of truth and fight for patient-led accountability re: Medicaid: tinyurl.com/AutisticPatientUprising
Graphic with a light pink background.
Text reads, "“The breaking point came when I was instructed to withhold food and drink from my toddler until she produced specific verbal responses. I ended services that same day.
"Henny Kupferstein, on how
one autistic mother’s pursuit of truth is part of a broader shift toward patient-led accountability, ethics, and reform. At TPGA."
Smaller text in the lower left reads, "@ThinkingAutism
tinyurl.com/AutisticPatientUprising"
The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 02/04/2026
It’s Autism Acceptance Month! Want to participate? Excellent. The best choice is to listen, learn—and lean back to make space for autistic people & autistic-informed resources. We have advice about good (and bad) autism orgs: tinyurl.com/UsefulAutismOrgs #AutismAcceptanceMonth #neurodiversity
Graphic with a dark red background. 

A rainbow infinity symbol is at the top.

Text reads, "It’s Autism Acceptance Month!
 
"Want to participate? Excellent. The best choice is to listen, learn—and lean back to make space for autistic people and autistic-informed resources.
 
"We have advice about good 
(and bad) autism orgs: tinyurl.com/UsefulAutismOrgs"

Smaller text in the lower left reads, "ThinkingAutism
#AutismAcceptanceMonth"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 01/04/2026
It happens every year, and somehow it rarely sucks less. Yep, it's April: The Month You Can't Avoid Autism. So, if it will help, by all means let us know what you hate the most about autism "awareness" efforts. We probably hate the same things. #autism #AutismAcceptanceMonth #neurodiversity
Graphic with a white background.

Text reads, "Content warning:

"APRIL STARTS TOMORROW

"For 2026, we want to know what annoys you the most about April’s Autism Awareness Avalanche.

"Go on, let it out."

Smaller text in the lower left corner reads,"@ThinkingAutism #AutismAcceptanceMonth"

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 17/03/2026
We do not like change in our house. And walking into a beloved comfort diner and finding it demolished without knowing ahead of time was a blow. And then having to find another place to eat was anxiety attack-inducing! It all worked out. But no, bad, no thank you no change please. #RoutineIsLife
 Graphic with a photo of a restaurant's demolished interior. Piles of black trashbags are in one corner, and wooden debris is piled along a wall.

Overlaid text reads, "Yesterday my autistic son and I walked into our favorite comfort restaurant and saw... this. Closed. Demolished. No notice.
GAAAH WE DO NOT LIKE CHANGE!
(He took it better than I did.)"

Along the bottom, smaller text reads, "@ThinkingAutism". The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism logo is in the lower right corner.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 11/03/2026
"We can’t keep underfunding health and social care and then blame the consequences on autistic advocates on TikTok who in all likelihood aren’t getting any supports themselves." TY @embergreen.bsky.social. Video + transcript at TPGA: tinyurl.com/DebunkingAntiNeurodiversity #neurodiversity #autism
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 07/03/2026
Here is a timeline cleanse for you, of The Mandalorian and Grogu meeting a delighted small child at Disneyland—before I get into taking on the autism news and nonsense of the past few days.
Photo of The Mandalorian and Grogu meeting a delighted small child at Disneyland. The child is looking up at Mando and he is grasping their hand.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 04/03/2026
We will be mostly offline for the next couple of days, doing our best to give our favorite person the best time ever. ;) -SR [image: Mickey Mouse pancake on a white plate.]
Mickey Mouse pancake on a white plate.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 03/03/2026
Our spectacular new TPGA FB banner is a watercolor by artist @scrappapertiger.bsky.social. TY Sonny! We thought AI-generated art was fun a few years ago, and used it for many of our graphics. Reader, we were so misled. We are now replacing those graphics with art from real artists & photographers.
Watercolor image of red and black fidget spinners, on a white background.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 26/02/2026
Hey clinicians! By engaging in an affirming differential diagnosis process, you can discover what communities might be most helpful for their clients and connect them to the right ones. Like this one! :) By Sara Eileen O'Neil Woods, at TPGA: tinyurl.com/DifferentialDiagnosisTPGA #neurodiversity
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/02/2026
What could be more fun than an entire wall of cogs that one can turn with a crank? Grateful to @janetkl.bsky.social for showing us around the magical Autistry Studios, and feeding us Double Rainbow ice cream from their incredible workshop and cafe in downtown San Rafael, CA. #neurodiversity #autism
White man with thinning short dark brown hair, seen from behind, cranking a wall full of white cogs—as Janet Lawson, a white woman with shoulder-length light red hair and glasses, laughs.
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 21/02/2026
"It’s so obvious that I was autistic when I was a kid. But because I was a little girl in the ’70s & ’80s, no one picked up on the fact; they just called me “weird” & “intense” & “emotional” & “too sensitive,” among other unpleasant things." By Leah Welborn: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/02/i-wa...
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