Identity-First Language

Since it is a common question that comes up during my presentations, I wanted to put together a list of resources about identity-first language and using euphemisms to talk about disability. Start Here Autistic People Speak About Person-First Language – BuzzFeed News On Identity-First Language To everyone who tells me not to say “autistic person”

Neurodiversity in Our Libraries – School Librarians United Podcast

Interviewed on: School Librarians United podcastEpisode Date: May 7th, 2021Show Notes: http://bit.ly/SLUNDLib Description: Adriana L. White guides us in understanding neurodiversity and how our library spaces, collections and teaching can embrace all our neurodiverse students.

We Need (Neuro)Diverse Books – Literacy for Texas Webinar

To Be Presented at: Literacy for Texas WebinarPresentation Date: June 15th, 2021Presentation Slides: TBARegister for the webinar. Description: According to the CDC, 1 in 6 children have been diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental condition such as autism. Most of us already serve these patrons in our libraries! How can we update our collections to better represent

We Need (Neuro)Diverse Books!

To Be Presented at: The TLA Annual ConferencePresentation Date: April 23rd, 2021Presentation Slides: https://bit.ly/NDBTLA21Register for the conference. Abstract: It is estimated that 1 in 54 people are autistic. Many of us are already serving autistic patrons in our library! How can we update our collections to better serve this growing population? With neurodiverse books, we can share stories

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

It’s been four weeks since we found out about the death of my friend Scott Bradford. And as I struggled with my grief over these past few weeks, I’ve also had the amazing opportunity to share Scott’s story with over 100 Texas librarians. A week before we learned about Scott’s passing, I was invited to

We Need (Neuro)Diverse Books: Building Empathy for Children’s Mental Health and Neurodiversity

Presented at: The Region 20 Learning & Libraries Virtual ConferencePresentation Date: November 5th & 6th, 2020Presentation Slides: https://bit.ly/NDB1120 According to the CDC, 1 in 6 children have been diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder (such as autism). Most of us already serve these children in our libraries! How can we update our collections

Social-Emotional Learning and the Power of Stories

To Be Presented at: The TCEA Convention & ExpositionPresentation Date: January 31st, 2021Presentation Slides: https://bit.ly/SEL0221Register for the conference. Social-emotional learning, or SEL, involves teaching our students incredibly important life skills, such as managing emotions, developing empathy, and fostering relationships. As librarians, we can help our students improve their SEL skills through the power of stories.

Celebrating Neurodiversity: Insights from an Autistic Educator and Self-Advocate

Presented at: The Inclusion Works! Virtual ConferencePresentation Date: October 26th, 2020Presentation Slides: bit.ly/ND1020 Our understanding of autism has changed greatly over the past few decades. Once thought to be a rare disorder that primarily affected non-speaking boys, we now know that autism encompasses a wide spectrum of diverse individuals. Today, autistic people are writing books,

Tongue-Tied

Hi, everyone! I’ve added a new tag called “Tongue-Tied.” These posts are excerpts from a Young Adult novel that I’m currently working on. It’s the story of two very different young women who both happen to be autistic, and what happens when they unexpectedly enter each other’s lives. I’ve thrown a bit of science fiction

A Site Refresh, and More Info on Autistic Authors

The site has a new look, with a new theme that will hopefully be more accessibility-friendly. It’s still a work-in-progress, so forgive any missing alt-text, wonky headers, etc. I’m still learning the ins and outs of accessible web design! I’ve also added more links to resources about autistic books and authors, and I’ve updated my

And We’re Back!

Hello, readers! It has been awhile. I did not intend to take an extended hiatus from this site, but here we are. Life happens!

Autism, Neurodiversity, and More: Insights from an Autistic Educator

Presented at: The South San Antonio ISD Special Programs SymposiumPresentation Date: October 26th, 2019Presentation Slides: bit.ly/AWAutism Description of My Symposium Session: Our understanding of autism has changed greatly over the past few decades. Once thought to be a rare disorder that primarily affected nonverbal boys, autism today encompasses a wide spectrum of individuals. Autistic brains

Eulogy for My Father

My father passed away on this day, February 5th, back in 2011. In honor of the anniversary of his passing, I have decided to share the eulogy that I wrote for his funeral.

Día de Muertos

The older I get, the more I appreciate Día de Muertos. Years pass, loved ones pass, and I grow to understand more fully the philosophy behind the Day of the Dead. Holidays can be tough, for years after you’ve lost someone. Memories of the past can come flooding to the surface, and in these moments,

September 25th

September 22nd, 2018. A cool, fall day. My husband drives us across town to visit his ailing grandmother. He’s been preparing me, or himself, or the both of us, all morning – telling me who else might be there, what we’re going to do, what to expect… And finally, he says to me: “The location