Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Many parents and businesses are flooding buildings with blue lights to promote that awareness. Many other people are linking to facts, statistics, and accounts about autism -- what it means to be autistic, and what it means to be a family that loves an autistic family member. Still others are explaining ...

Earlier in the week, I linked to the amazing site Autism and Empathy, which already has several posts dispelling common myths about autistic individuals lacking a sense of empathy. Today, however, I'd like to focus on what I believe may be another common misconception -- that autistic individuals lack imagination. I remember very clearly when I ...

A. is nearly twelve years old, and I thought she was a little old to be a flower girl. I wanted her to play a major role in my wedding, but I was preparing for her to be a Junior Bridesmaid, or perhaps even my Maid of Honor. However, A. wanted to be a flower girl, and so I decided to let her perform in whatever capacity she chose in order to be a ...