From time to time I check out Quora to find out questions people have.
Here’s a question someone asked me.
Asperger Syndrome: Who are the best people on the Internet to follow (reddit, Twitter, Facebook, Quora, blogs, other social networks) if I’m interested in Asperger’s?
The more I thought about it, the more I thought, “Why not make this answer into a blog post?
I think the best people to follow are autistic/Aspergian bloggers.
I’m not saying these are the absolute best (how does anyone define best?) people to connect with, but they are the best people I have had personal contact with. And because I know most of them, I recommend them to you.
Since Aspergers is now classified as Autism, here are the top 10 autism blogs you need to see.
So here they are, in no particular order of importance:
1. Lynn Soraya
Blog: Aspergers Diary: Life through the lens of Asperger’s Syndrome
Social Networks: Find her on Twitter and Facebook.
Lynne Soraya is her pen name. Lynn has helped me better better understand Aspergers. She is a gifted writer.
She explains the purpose of her blog:
The aim of my writing is to use stories, mine and others’, to build awareness and help others like me. It is my hope that the stories, information, and resources I share will help the world at large to learn that while life on the spectrum can be a difficult at times, it can be a rich and valuable life.
Lynn writes with keen insight and intelligent opinions on a range of topics.
Her article , The Pain of Isolation: Aspergers and Suicide, spoke volumes about loneliness.
It illustrated how challenging feeling excluded can be. But she also talks about realistic optimism in her article, Living a Life of “Yes”: Is Disability Just About Deficits?
She’s written the book, Living Independently On The Autism Spectrum.
2. John Elder Robison
Blog: Look Me In The Eye
Social Networks: Find him on Twitter and Facebook.
John was diagnosed with Aspergers in his 40’s.
He’s a prolific writer and tireless autism advocate.
When he’s not running his high-end vehicle restoration shop, he can be heard speaking around the country.
If you’d like to learn a little bit more about John, check out this CBS interview, also posted on John’s blog.
Books:
Look Me In The Eye (John’s autobiography)
3. Cynthia Kim
Blog: Musings of an Aspie
Social Networks: Find her on Twitter and Facebook.
Cynthia Kim was diagnosed with Aspergers in her 30s . She shares stories from her life, some strategies she’s used to navigate life in a neurotypical world, and “optimism and positivity tempered by reality.”
Her blog addresses Adult Diagnosis, Asperger’s and Marriage, Asperger’s and Motherhood. She also shares Aspergers and Autism resources and “working definitions” for different autism spectrum terms [allistic, Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Central Coherence, Executive Function, Neurotypical (NT), Perseverative, Stimming.]
Her Books:
Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate: A User Guide To An Aspergers Life
I Think I Might Be Autistic: A Guide To Autism Spectrum Diagnosis and Self-Discovery For Adults
4. Bob Yamtich
Blog: Connecting With The Neurodiverse
Social Networks: Twitter and Facebook
Bob Yamtich, diagnosed later in life with Aspergers Syndrome, is a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in nonviolent communication coaching and neurodiversity. He talks about his life experience and tips for better communication in this podcast episode.
Bob also specializes in helping families best educate and relate to twice exceptional children.
5. Shawna
Blog: Thoughts Of An Introverted Matriarch
Social Networks: Twitter and Facebook
Shawna is a stay at home mother, educator, and blogger. She has three children, one with mild autism, one with dyslexia, and one with severe autism. I’ve appreciated her writing about her personal experience on the autism spectrum, but also as a parent of children on the spectrum.
I talked to her on episode 6 of the Thrive with Aspergers podcast: Shawna On Parenting, Friendship, and the Autism Spectrum. Have a listen, then go to her blog!
6. Philip Wylie
Blog: http://www.pw.ninedegrees.pw/
Philip was diagnosed with Aspergers later in life. On his blog and podcast, he shares some of the harder realities of “going public” with his Aspergers diagnosis. Other topics covered: how to get published from an Aspergers viewpoint, what late diagnosed adults need to know, his own life story, and more.
You can also listen to two great interviews he did for the Thrive with Aspergers podcast:
Philip Wylie: A Very Late Adult Aspergers Diagnosis, and Tips To Empower Aspergers/Autistic Children, Parents, and Partners.
His Books:
Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome
Psychobiography of a Systemiser: The Wylie Family.
7. Liane Holliday Willey
Blog: Aspie.Com
Social Networks: Twitter and Facebook
Liane was one of the first women to write about her life growing up with undiagnosed Aspergers.
She’s an author, autism consultant, keynote speaker, academic researcher, and avid horsewoman/owner of an equestrian barn. She has a Doctorate of Education with a specialty in psycholinguistics and learning style differences. (Aspie.com)
You can listen to my interview with her here – What Liane Learned: Pretending To Be Normal.
Her Books:
Pretending To Be Normal
Safety Skills For Aspergers Women
Asperger Syndrome In The Family: Redefining Normal
8. Daniel Wendler
Personal Site: http://www.danielwendler.com/
Blog: Improve Your Social Skills
Social Networks: Find Daniel on LinkedIn, Twitter or Google+. Also check out his Reddit AMA.
Daniel shared how he discovered his neurodiverse wiring in high school, how he decided to decode the world of social skills, and then went on to share his information with the autism community at large in this interview.
His Book:
Improve Your Social Skills, Kindle Ebook (22 five start Amazon reviews and counting!).
9. The Autism Women’s Network
Blog: The Autism Women’s Network Blog
Social Networks: Find them on Twitter and Facebook
In their own words:
The mission of the Autism Women’s Network is to provide effective supports to Autistic women and girls of all ages through a sense of community, advocacy and resources.
The Autism Women’s Network is dedicated to building a supportive community for Autistic women of all ages, our families, friends and allies. AWN provides a safe space to share our experiences in an understanding, diverse and inclusive environment.
You’ll find both the blog and health care for autistic women page very helpful.
10. David Finch
Website: http://davidfinchwriter.com/
David’s Psychology Today Blog
Social Networks: Find David on Twitter and Facebook
David inspires me because of his realistic and yet optimistic take on life and marriage.
His marriage was struggling mightily, when he happened to a take a quiz that opened his eyes to Aspergers.
How he chose to respond made a big (positive) difference in his marriage. He records the ups and downs of his personal growth journey in his book, The Journal of Best Practices.
His Book:
The Journal of Best Practices
Get to know these great bloggers and authors. Read their books, comment on their blogs, and you’ll learn great things about Aspergers.
photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons – xioubin low
AS & Noise Sensitivity
Learn about autism and noise sensitivity, along with 1000+ Thrive with Aspergers/Autism readers.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.