TED Talk: The Forgotten History of Autism
All parents need to understand the history of autistic spectrum diagnoses for the health of ALL children. Thanks to the misinformation spread during the 1990s and early 2000s about the rising rate of autism diagnosis, some parents chose not to vaccinate their kids....
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Show Me the Music: A FutureTalk on Autism & Music
Music turns out to be an important mode of expression for self-advocates on the autistic spectrum. Anyone who has listened to my daughter Samantha sing knows that she can communicate on a deeper and more passionate level when performing on stage. But she is not...
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Election Day Experience – by guest blogger Samantha Elisofon (my daughter)
This week, I voted in my first election. My mom strongly believed that it was essential for me to vote for Hillary Clinton because she was the only candidate who cares about supporting people like me, with various developmental disabilities. Donald Trump is a bully...
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Autism and Authenticity in the Movies
With so much attention focused on autism these days, I was hoping that The Accountant, a recent movie featuring a protagonist on the spectrum, would help break through autism stereotypes. But that’s NOT what happened when the role of Christian Wolff was played by...
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Autism Families – 5 Tips for Enjoying a Happier Halloween
Choose a Comfortable Costume—If your child on the spectrum is old enough to pick out a costume, take her with you before the stores are too noisy and crowded. Encourage her to choose a simple costume—that doesn’t have lots of accessories or complicated closures—so...
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Behavioral Solutions – Comedy, Tragedy or Horror Show?
This week I’m sharing my recent email to Behavioral Solutions, the government agency that was assigned to find life skills and vocational support for my high-functioning daughter on the autistic spectrum. Why am I posting this email? First and foremost, I would like...
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Teaching Young Adults on the Spectrum to Speak Appropriately in a Crazy World
Never has there been a more challenging time to teach my 25 year-old, fairly independent, daughter on the spectrum how to communicate politely AND effectively with the neurotypical world than NOW. Like many young adults on the spectrum, Samantha sometimes struggles...
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Teaching Young Adults with Autism to Vote
Although my daughter on the autistic spectrum is 25, she has never voted in an election. Hopefully, the 2016 presidential election will be the first of many elections where Samantha will make her voice heard. Like many other parents of young adults on the spectrum, I...
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Advice to the Disabled – Vote for Hillary
Two years after my daughter on the autistic spectrum graduated from Pace University (cum laude), she still has no job, no comprehensive vocational training, and no life skills help. After mountains of paperwork have been signed, approved and shuffled back and forth,...
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Autism, Airports and Apples
Aside from the letter “a,” how are autism, airports and apples related? Trust me, this is NOT a trick question, but one from which all autism families can learn. No matter how carefully you plan your vacation to accommodate a family member on the autistic spectrum,...
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About Marguerite
Marguerite Elisofon is a New York City writer and the author of My Picture Perfect Family, a memoir about how her family navigated life with a child on the autistic spectrum before the internet and support groups existed. She also blogs about parenting young adults and disability related issues in The Never Empty Nest. Her writing has been featured in a variety of publications, including Time and NY Metro Parents magazine, and her family’s story has been featured by the NY Post, Fox News, The Daily Mail, and on Jenny McCarthy’s Dirty Sexy Funny radio show. A Vassar graduate, Marguerite was born and raised in New York City, where she still lives with her husband, Howard, in their mostly-empty nest. She is available to speak about a wide variety of issues relating to twins, parenting, and autism. 