Tag: merge
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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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“I hate being treated like an emergency waiting to happen.” UK student Bailey Patterson speaks on her experience with suicide and wanting to help others
The following article discusses suicide, suicidal ideation, miscarriage, and sexual abuse, which some readers may find distressing.
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“Mental health isn’t a one-size fits all.” Austin Nugent speaks on her experience with OCD and how it may look different from what you think.
What do you think of when you think about OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder? Is it someone who has to obsessively organize their whole book collection by author? Or someone washing their hands, over and over and over for fear of catching an unknown disease? According to Austin Nugent, a Disability Program Administrator at HDI, even if you’re…
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Austin Nugent reflects on her experience in therapy, misdiagnosis, and the importance of finding a therapist you trust
Austin Nugent remembers the moment when someone first suggested she try therapy. “I was in Europe, and I called my mom from a four-star hotel on all-expense paid trip…and I called my mom from the hotel bathroom crying,” Nugent said. “She’s like, ‘why are you crying? Why are you so anxious? You’re on this once…
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Thoughts from HDI’s Brittany Granville On Autism Acceptance Month
While it’s important that autistic people have their place in society, Brittany Granville believes autism acceptance goes beyond that. She thinks it can save lives. “So many autistic people, particularly autistics of color, have died because people don’t understand common traits of neurodivergent people,” Granville, who works with HDI’s Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW)…
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Thoughts from HDI’s Bev Harp On Autism Acceptance Month
Bev Harp, Project Director for HDI’s Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers, remembers the days when the only rhetoric about autism was awareness rhetoric. And she remembers that awareness could mean radically different things to different people. “To some people that meant being aware that autistic people exist and that autism is a disability and needs…