Autism Women's Network » FAIM

By Cheryl Vazquez-Cheatham
I learned I had autism shortly after my 24 birthday.
I had recently run into a high school crush whom I would stare at awkwardly from afar even though we were technically friends. I was well known as the odd one amongst my corillo, the group I hung out with in high school. We were the rockers, devil worshipers with black nails, or so everyone whispered behind our backs. But I wasn’t really a part of the group, I was just too “scary” to hang out with anyone else.

By Karen Halabura
I came to Canada from Chile in May 1977. I was 5, almost 6 years old. Chile didnt have kindergarten and my brothers and I were put into school for the rest of the year which wasn’t much time. I don’t remember grade 1 except learning English then we moved to the south part of the city and went to school in that area. I have a twin brother and they put us together in grade 2. He was easily accepted everyone loved him and I started my journey of being teased and bullied I was called all sorts of names like ugly dog. [Read more...]

By Angela aka mtmomma
In April of 2004 I gave birth to a wonderful little girl. I was on cloud nine because I now had two
great little girls. Seeing the world through my daughter’s eyes has helped me to grow and learn. So
many doors for learning, loving and understanding, have been opened up to me. I just had no clue
how many doors I would face with my youngest daughter. [Read more...]

By Elesia Ashkenazy
Sometimes, a person will look at me, shake his or her head, and say, “You don’t strike me as someone who could be autistic and deaf.” I smile and answer, “Perhaps you need to alter your mental references of how autism and deafness should appear.” [Read more...]

By Valerie Paradiz, PhD
I am an adult diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. I am 47 years old but didn’t always know or understand that I was on the autism spectrum. I only found this out seven years ago, when I participated in a study at a major university research hospital in New York City. The first years after receiving the diagnosis were especially hard years. I lost jobs, I had to move several times, and attempts at relationships seemed to inevitably fail. [Read more...]

By ABFH
When stereotypes are applied broadly to an entire group regardless of gender, such as the stereotype that autistics play video games all day, this has the effect of creating gender disparities in how people see the group. In Western culture, women are expected to be concerned about their appearance and are discouraged from playing video games for long periods because that is seen as unfeminine. [Read more...]

By Karen
I was diagnosed a little over a year ago, which was a significant moment of relief and confirmation. It’s been a long journey. In the 80s there was no name for a little girl like me, and as a ‘genius’ (but not emotionally ready for the gifted program), my learning disabilities were masked. I was an intense, shy, and intelligent child who was recognized as smart and talented. [Read more...]

By Arlene Taylor
Autism is a word a never thought I would become associated with. While I had quite pronounced social difficulties in school, it wasn’t anything that the teachers worried might be due to something other than my general intelligence and geek like persona; I openly enjoyed studying and learning and had little time for the social aspects of attending school. I’m sure most people would have thought my neglect of socialising was because I wanted to spend more time on academics. Few people realised then, or even now, that my general lack of involvement with social events is more to do with the inordinate amount of energy these occasions drain from me. [Read more]

By Lydia from Autistic Speaks
Frequently, while I intend to be nice to someone, it comes off the wrong way. For example, there was a new girl at my job, and I would give her what I thought were helpful tips so that she didn’t get in trouble with the higher-ups. She ended up going to the boss and complaining that I corrected her all the time. [Read more]

By Susan E. Richardson(aka @alterna-mom on Twitter)
I would like to introduce you my daughter, Sahara Grace. Sahara is six years old and just started kindergarten. She likes her teacher, follows directions well and declares that she loves school each time she gets off of the yellow bus. Sahara is funny, witty and even sarcastic. She loves animals, bats, watermelon, Curious George and Mr. Bean. She enjoys riding her bike, swimming and playing hide-and-go-seek. She has self determination, a sense of adventure and the patience of a saint.