autismresearch – Spectrum for Life Research

The Question is: Why has the NIH refused to fund research on autistic adults’ physical health?

Structural discrimination is discrimination that results from the policies, rules, institutional practices, funding priorities, decision-making systems, and built-in assumptions of organizations or systems. It does not require any person to intend harm. It occurs when those structures consistently disadvantage a protected or marginalized group. That is the definition at the center of Chapter Four ofContinue reading “The Question is: Why has the NIH refused to fund research on autistic adults’ physical health?”

Structural Discrimination in the Very Laws Meant to Protect People with Disabilities

In this post, I am raising the alarm about structural discrimination in the very laws meant to protect people with disabilities. I’m sharing the podcast link because I’m grateful this story is being discussed. There is one part of the experience that was not covered, and I completely understand why: it is legally complicated, andContinue reading “Structural Discrimination in the Very Laws Meant to Protect People with Disabilities”

The reason to risk it all by whistleblowing? Autistic Adults are suffering and dying from chronic physical health conditions and face structural discrimination from NIH funding.

The third chapter of When Autistic Kids Grow Up, the new 5-part podcast series from Brady Huggett at The Transmitter, is out now. Chapter 3, “Would there be data?,” gets to the heart of why I began this work—and why I refused to look away. Autistic adults are suffering—and dying—from chronic physical health conditions atContinue reading “The reason to risk it all by whistleblowing? Autistic Adults are suffering and dying from chronic physical health conditions and face structural discrimination from NIH funding.”

My Journey of Surviving Homelessness while Autistic

Chapter 2 of When Autistic Kids Grow Up goes places many people would rather not look. I’m grateful to Brady Huggett for telling this story without flinching from the truth. This is a packed episode—psychedelics, homelessness, pool halls, the birth of my son, our road to his autism diagnosis, and my battle to get throughContinue reading “My Journey of Surviving Homelessness while Autistic”

Chapter 1: When Autistic Kids Grow Up

I’m honored to be featured in When Autistic Kids Grow Up, a 5-part podcast series by Brady Huggett for The Transmitter. Part one shares my early life story, and one of the things I love most about it is hearing my father talk about homesteading in Alaska before and just after I was born. ThisContinue reading “Chapter 1: When Autistic Kids Grow Up”