Author: Glen Jennings
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How an Autistic Advocate Turned Personal Loss into Lifesaving Work
Caleb Rader was 13 when his cousin died by suicide. He remembers the funeral vividly—and the decision it sparked in him. “There was wailing, people were fainting,” he said. “That sort of sparked something in me of ‘I don’t want this kind of thing to happen to other people.’ As I learned more about suicide…
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Thoughts from HDI’s Walt Bower On Autism Acceptance Month
For Walt Bower, Preservice Training Coordinator for HDI, there’s an important first step to take when talking about how best to support autistic people. “People need to learn what autistic people want them to know,” Bower said. “That is why I prefer to talk about autism acceptance instead of autism awareness.” Bower’s perspective falls in…
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From Dungeons & Dragons to Romance: Writing, Identity, and the Power of Representation in Disability and Mental Health
“I think the first stuff I ever really wrote were backgrounds for my D&D character when I was in high school,” Jaz Brown said. As a fellow pen and paper role-playing game (RPG) enthusiast who likewise enjoys a detailed backstory, I can understand that. I came to writing through a different pathway, but still ended…
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Flexibility and Accessibility at Work: One Data Analyst’s Journey at HDI
As we move past October’s Disability Employment Awareness Month, meet Jacob Mason, a data analyst at the Human Development Institute HDI whose experience shows how an inclusive, flexible workplace boosts both productivity and well-being. His story highlights the power of accessibility. Jacob is a data analyst for HDI’s evaluation department. It’s his job to enter…