by Anne Johnson-Oliss
Near the end of one particular school year, I met with the mother of a graduating young woman who had been diagnosed with autism as a toddler. At the end of a long conversation, I wished her well and asked what she would say to other parents about her journey.
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VR is a technology that creates a new environment for the user. In this new environment, the user interacts with surroundings to complete tasks, play games, or engage in experiences. Here's the cool part: in virtual reality, we can create activities that remove the consequences of real life. In virtual reality, the focus can remain on learning the skill.
Read Moreby Anne Johnson-Oliss
Minds Untapped is pleased to launch the Blue Hope App for Autism, a video-based platform for families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our age-agnostic, broad platform begins with explainer videos and how-to tutorials as well as live streams and events!
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
Children begin learning and developing from birth. As they grow, children need social interaction with other children, as well as an environment where they can learn foundational knowledge to help them succeed as they continue through life. According to the First Five Years Foundation, “The overwhelming evidence shows that children who enter kindergarten behind are likely to remain behind throughout their educational careers and beyond” However, even with the knowledge, attending preschool gives children the foundations to thrive socially and academically throughout their lives. Preschool is still not widely accessible throughout the United States…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
For a large portion of the 20th century, there was a common misconception in the U.S. medical community that those with autism spectrum disorder did not experience sexual attraction or that they were not interested in romantic relationships. However, research and personal testimonies of those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have provided evidence that people with ASD have just as wide of a spectrum of sexual orientations, gender identities, and types of romantic relationships as people who do not have ASD…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health issues experienced globally, especially in those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Though not every person with autism spectrum disorder has an anxiety disorder, it is estimated that anywhere from 11-84% of youth with ASD experience some symptoms that are related to an anxiety disorder. Research suggests that, “anxiety seems highest in fluent speakers with autism, although fewer studies exist of people with nonverbal autism and anxiety.” About 40% of people with ASD that experience anxiety symptoms have an anxiety disorder…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
Loyola University Chicago is known for their basketball team’s impressive rise to the Final Four in the NCAA’s 2018 March Madness tournament and the gentle Jesuit Catholic nun, Sister Jean, that is their most vocal supporter…
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In 2016 researcher Sarah Bergiela and her cohorts shared that “Compared to males, females are at substantially elevated risk of their ASD (autism spectrum disorder) going undiagnosed: their difficulties are frequently mislabeled or missed entirely.” In the United States, the ratio of girls to boys diagnosed with autism is one to four. For decades, healthcare professionals and researchers have struggled to find conclusive answers as to why girls are supposedly less affected by autism spectrum disorder than boys…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
Despite the unique and varied capabilities that people with autism have, a large amount of people with autism in America have a difficult time finding work or being hired in workplaces that aren’t made specifically for people with disabilities. In 2017, the Drexel University A.J. Adrexel Autism Institute found that only 14% of adults ages 18-64 with autism spectrum disorder in America had a paid job in their community in a workplace that did not exclusively employ those with disabilities…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
An estimated one in five adults in America live with a mental illness (“Mental Illness Statistics”) However, only about 66% of U.S. adults living with a mental illness are actually receiving treatment for it (“Mental Illness Statistics”). That means that there is a large percentage of people in the United States that are not receiving the proper treatment for their mental illness…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
Disabled people in the United States experience disproportionately higher unemployment rates compared to abled people. Gerry’s Café of Arlington Heights, Illinois, is trying to change that. Natalie Griffin, a former Special Education teacher, and Amy Philpott, a businesswoman with a degree in Behavioral Science, are the co-founders of Gerry's Cafe. Their mission is to open a café that will “provide competitive employment for exceptional individuals with intellectual disabilities ages 22 and older. Geralyn Wehmer, the late aunt of Amy Philpott, who was born with Down Syndrome, is the cafe's namesake…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
Gifted children exceed expectations for children their age in various ways. Similar to children that have autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other related conditions, the needs of gifted children are unique and complex. There is no blueprint for supporting children that are gifted or neurodivergent. Many children with ASD, ADHD, or other related conditions are also considered gifted but, their giftedness or their disability goes unnoticed…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
Ableism is the term for discrimination against disabled people, whether they have a mental illness, intellectual disability, or physical disability. Like all other forms of discrimination, ableism is integrated into the fabric of society…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
Tolerance is a concept that is taught widely in classrooms, universities, workplaces, and shared among the general population. Tolerance between all people and of all people is widely understood to be a tangible goal to work toward for a safer, more harmonious society. However, it is crucial to distinguish between tolerance and acceptance…
Read Moreby Kalliope Bessler
In 2017, Dr. Rik Lemoncello, an Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, started Sarah Bellum’s bakery. Dr. Lemoncello’s mission for Sarah Bellum’s is to support adults with brain injuries by giving them a helping hand as they return to work and life after their brain injury…
Read Moreby Anne Johnson Oliss
Handwashing can be more challenging for people with autism and their caregivers. There is help and hope. Check out this blog post for some suggestions to support short-term task completion or long-range, capacity-building and independence.
Read Moreby Dr. Lisa B. Thomas
The disability community has unmet needs and untapped potential. Thankfully, people are starting to notice.
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