The Autistic Voice Blog

It is written by Alex Haley, and it was originally published in the October 1986 issue of Reader's Digest . J ohn N ewton was born in London on July 24, 1725, to a pious and shy mother and an authoritarian father. To the boy's relief, his shipmaster father would spend only a few weeks at home between year-long voyages. When John was seven, his mother died of tuberculosis, The shipmaster, practical man that he was, remarried before his next voyage; for John, however, the loss of his mother was devastating. He became stubborn, disrespectful and difficult, and soon was packed off to a boarding school. There he was confronted with a headmaster who wielded a cane and a birch rod. The experience "almost broke my spirit," he later confided in a letter. But more torment was in store. At age 11, John was put to sea as an apprentice sailor on his father's ship. During this time he strayed further and further from his mother's religious teaching...

By Patricia S. McCormick WHEN RUMORS had spread through London about the play, a lollapalooza of five sets, actors playing a dog, a crocodile, pirates and Indians and a slew of other characters, some Of whom flew in and out of windows by means Of an unreliable mechanical contraption. Spectators, including many professional critics, packed the Duke of York’s Theatre on opening night. The theater’s lights dimmed. Behind the last row of seats, a small figure paced nervously. At first glance, he appeared to be a boy in an oversized greatcoat. But the face was that of a man—J. M. Barrie, the 44-year-old Scottish playwright whose Peter Pan was being performed for the first time. Although one of London’s most celebrated playwrights, Barrie was sick with worry. The improbable story of a boy who refused to grow up was a risky and expensive theatrical venture. Barrie had rewritten the script a dozen times and was aware of talk that he had gone mad. But now the playwright knew that ...

I will always remember how it felt when she spoke up for me. As told by Colin Ryan from The Moth . Reader's Digest , July/August 2016 When I was in fifth grade, you could have told me, “Colin, it’s not cool to wear the same pair of sweatpants every single day of school,” but I was comfortable. And you could have told me, “Colin, it’s not cool to go to the school dance and do the Macarena for the entire duration of Guns N’ Roses’ ‘November Rain.’” I would not have stopped. You could have even told me, “Colin, it’s not cool to be an active member of your local church’s clown troupe.” Then I went to sixth grade, middle school, and all of a sudden, it was clear there were only two options. I could somehow be cool, or I could somehow be invisible. And I have to say, I was doing pretty well at option two. Until third period on the first day, when a teacher had us fill out a questionnaire with “get to know you” questions. I assumed that she would be reading the...

Performed by Rachel House and Auli'i Cravalho From Moana: Original Soundtrack [GRAMMA TALA] I know a girl from an island She stands apart from the crowd She loves the sea and her people She makes her whole family proud Sometimes the world seems against you The journey may leave a scar But scars can heal and reveal just Where you are The people you love will change you The things you have learned will guide you And nothing on earth can silence The quiet voice still inside you And when that voice starts to whisper "Moana, you've come so far" Moana listen, do you know who you are? [MOANA, spoken] Who am I? (sung) I am a girl who loves my island And the girl who loves the sea, it calls me I am the daughter of the village chief We are descended from voyagers Who found their way across the world They call me I've delivered us to where we are I have journeyed farther I am everything I've learned and more Still it calls me And the call isn't out there at a...

The Disney megahit was almost a disaster, until a series of creative brainstorms saved the day. By Charles Duhigg from the book Smarter Faster Better Photo: Claire Benoist/Reader’s Digest In 2014, the Disney movie Frozen became the top-grossing animated movie of all time. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, and “Let It Go” won the Oscar for Best Original Song. The film contained all the elements of a traditional Disney plot—princesses and ball gowns, a handsome prince, a wisecracking sidekick, and a stream of upbeat songs. But throughout, these elements had been disturbed, just enough, to let something new and different emerge. We assume such original storytelling comes from the innate genius of its creators, but here’s how Frozen really got its fairy-tale ending. The siblings were playing ‘Frozen Backward Mash-up’ on the piano. (YouTube) It’s 2012, and the screening-room audience is all Disney employees. As the lights dim, two sisters appear on the ...

Jacob Sanchez, diagnosed with autism doesn’t speak at age 3. (YouTube/Autism Speaks) Autism Speaks’ multi-year Ad Council public service advertising campaign stresses the importance of recognizing the early signs of autism and seeking early intervention services.  Recent research   confirms that appropriate screening can determine whether a child is at risk for autism as young as one year. While every child develops differently, we also know that early treatment improves outcomes, often dramatically.  Studies show,  for example, that early intensive behavioral intervention improves learning, communication and social skills in young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). One of the most important things you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of autism and become familiar with the typical developmental milestones that your child should be reaching. The following “red flags” may indicate your child is at risk for an autism spectru...