Cassandra's Novelty Shop

FAAAS is a group that disseminates false and harmful information about autism and autistic people. Please sign this petition requesting that Dr. Tony Attwood and Dr. Isabelle Hénault disassociate themselves from this disgraceful group. Learn more about FAAAS and the Cassandra Affective Deprivation Disorder invented by Maxine Aston here, here and here.

More Autistic Awareness

Autistic Awareness Video

Autistic Awareness, not "Autism Awareness."

Autism Awareness!!!

This re-design was requested by Angela at Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy. It is based on an Autism Speaks/Toys R Us advertisement that is making the rounds. Thank you for the suggestion, Angela.

True Stories of Autism Awareness: Part One

An agency asked me to write about issues for adults on the spectrum. This was to be included in a publication for Autism Awareness Month. I was wary; I don’t tend to think “awareness” is a reasonable goal. I told the person who asked me that I didn't want my name associated with what usually goes by the name Autism Awareness. But I was told I could write this from my own perspective. I insisted I needed to have final control over any edits, and this was accepted. I wrote the piece. It took a day and a half of my life. Then I was told they wouldn’t be using it. Although this was early in March, although the meeting in which this decision was made occurred on the very day I submitted the work, there simply wasn’t going to be time to include it. What did they choose to publish instead? Something on recognizing the first signs of autism. Because no one has heard that story before, right?

Happy Autism Awareness Month! This has been a true story, not an April Fool’s Day prank.