Happy Disability Pride Month 2022 from Samantha Craft

Happy Disability Pride Month from George Bailey and Me. I am part of the diverse disability community. Beyond being a #neurodivergent, I have been physically disabled for over two decades. Disability Pride Month holds a unique meaning depending on the individual. For me, it is about holding space for others’ dignity and truly reflecting on what…

Samantha Craft: ‘Whole Lot of Somethings’ and TikTok

Hello All, Ramble warning. Pinball-like writing, official AuDHD style! Shall we proceed? I recently got a bumper sticker for my 2017 silver Honda CRV automobile that reads: I may be old but that’s ok . . . I got to see all the good bands. I wanted to laugh, but then Sir Brain thought, “Is…

My mind is a beautiful variant of the neurotypical mind. I’m neuro-variant.

A variant of a particular thing is something that has a different form from that thing, although it is related to it. “The quagga was a strikingly beautiful variant of the zebra.” (Collins Dictionary) This makes me think: “The Autistic individual’s way of thinking was a strikingly beautiful variant of the neurotypical’s mind.” The sentence…

Autism in a Briefcase: Straight Talk about Belonging in a Neurodiverse World

“…I’m looking for the face I had, before the world was made…” — William Butler Yeats, Irish poet, one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature Hello All, I have been busy, which is a blessing, during these difficult and challenging times. I wanted to share with you something profound in my life. About a…

Nothing About Us Without Us: The Neurominority Dilemma

A distressed young child held down to a chairThey say he’s “just being a brat”They clearly don’t careThe teen they think is too shy to speakIs aware they are differentAnd may be more powerful than meekThe adult struggling to find lasting workIs discriminated againstOver their many ‘weird’ quirksWe may not always look others in the…

Being Autistic in a World of Watchers

“I deeply regret sharing my diagnosis. My coworker thought Aspergers was an extremely awful disability that makes people uncomfortable. He had no reference point. And nothing was ever the same again. It resulted in the end of our working relationship. If I was ever to go into another job, the last thing I would ever…

8 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Job Candidates on the Autism Spectrum by Samantha Craft

8 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Candidates on the Autism Spectrum by Samantha Craft Here are several strategies for attracting and retaining autistic job candidates, based on my experience working as a job recruiter and community manager for an innovative technology company that provides employment for individuals on the autism spectrum in the USA. 1.…

From the Inside Out: An Autistic Shutdown

 From the Inside Out: An Autistic Shutdown Autistics have shutdowns. It’s part of life. There are multiple root causes for a shutdown, including the result of sensory overload, physical and mental exhaustion, unexpected news, anxiety about an upcoming event, and upheaval in our schedule. Sometimes it comes in combination; other times it comes down to…

11 Tips for Job Seekers on the Autism Spectrum from an Autistic Recruiter!

11 Tips for Job Seekers on the Autism Spectrum from an Autistic Recruiter  by Samantha Craft, M.Ed. At the 2016 Autistics Present Conference in the state of Washington, USA, hosted by Bellevue College, a member of the Microsoft Autism Inclusive Hiring Panel stated that he was “afraid to take the next step of finding a…

“Aspie” Rant: Integrity within Autistic Groups and Networks

The original start of the title was Master Mind Fu** . . . Which still works. I abide by the philosophy of take what you need and leave the rest behind. I was taught manners and live by the golden rule of treat others how you wish to be treated. I take pride in my…