A collection of Leo in Bloom pieces that feature perspectives and information on the experiences of nonspeaking and minimally-speaking autistic folks who use Spelling to Communicate and other forms of AAC.
An interview with Ben Crimm, a strategic mastermind & friend
When I chose the theme of “advocating as a nonspeaking autistic,” Ben Crimm was the first friend I thought of to contact for an interview. Ben and I are part of the Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network, for which Ben is a true leader! He is a master of strategy and is so determined and…
Family matters: We all need support
When my body is all dysregulated and my mind is wild with compulsions, I feel almost removed from my body. I can only watch in horror as my body runs amok. Shouting and screeching continuously, stomping and slamming, bullying my family with my compulsive behaviors, sending my dogs into hiding. I am a monster in…
Anxiety, Depression, & Self-Sabotage
Friends, today I want to write about anxiety, depression, and self-sabotage. What fun, right? These are huge topics, and I am not an expert beyond my personal experiences. I want to share my own journey and insights, in the hopes that it is helpful. I struggle with all three, especially anxiety and self-sabotage. This is…
Ask Danny, Issue 02
This is Danny’s regular Q&A column, where he welcomes questions of all sorts and shares his insights as a minimally-speaking autistic man, mixed race immigrant, social justice advocate, and ever-curious soul always seeking greater mindfulness and understanding in the world! Submit questions for future issues here. Question: Hi Danny! I have a question. I’m curious as to why…
To Reach Acceptance
How can we move toward acceptance with true awareness?
Ask Danny, Issue 01
This is Danny’s regular Q&A column, where he welcomes questions of all sorts and shares his insights as a minimally-speaking autistic man, mixed race immigrant, social justice advocate, and ever-curious soul always seeking greater mindfulness and understanding in the world! Submit questions for future issues here. QUESTION: We would love to build empathy and understanding…
Meditation & Motor
Meditation can do wonders for anxious minds. But for those of us who have motor control challenges, sitting still and focusing can be a huge and impossible undertaking. I want to share some thoughts on how I am approaching meditation. I hope it is helpful! I am not a seasoned meditation practitioner. But I have…
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