⚠️ Disclaimer: OUL is not composed of medical or educational professionals. This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Please consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. April is Autism Acceptance Month — and while the calendar has turned, the conversation doesn't stop here. It never really should. Over the past few years, the CCCBlog has been quietly building something. Article by article, we've put together a library of writ

This article is Part 3 of our Autism Awareness Month series. If you're just joining us, start with Part 1: Autism Looks Different in Every Child or jump back to Part 2: When Two Worlds Overlap. A note before we begin: OULDHH is a community, not a clinic. We are not doctors or specialists. We are people who care about the Deaf and neurodivergent community and want to share what we have learned. Please work with professionals who know your child for advice specific to your situ

This article is Part 2 of our Autism Awareness Month series. If you're just joining us, start with Part 1: Autism Looks Different in Every Child . Disclaimer: OULDHH is not made up of medical or educational professionals. This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Please talk to a qualified healthcare provider, educational specialist, or advocate for guidance specific to your child's needs. Have you ever felt like something was being missed about your

April is Autism Awareness Month — and this year, we wanted to do something a little different. Instead of a single post, we put together a short series looking at autism through the lens of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community: what it looks like, why it's so often missed, and what families can do when they suspect something more is going on. This is Part 1 of 4. You don’t need to read them in order—each post can stand on its own—but the series builds over time. We’ll be

Autism awareness has come a long way — but awareness alone isn't enough. For our community, this topic is personal. Many Deaf and Hard of Hearing people are also autistic, and too often, their experiences sit at an intersection that mainstream autism conversations don't address. At OUL, we believe understanding autism means understanding the whole person — their communication style, their sensory world, their strengths, and the very real barriers they face. This article is a

Note: This resource guide is written directly for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism. If you're a parent or educator seeking strategies to support neurodivergent students, see our companion guide " When Education Becomes Trauma: A Guide for Parents and Educators. " To understand the systemic issues in education that create trauma for neurodivergent students, see our advocacy piece " When Education Becomes Trauma: Why Our Schools Are Failing Neurodivergent

Note: This is an advocacy piece calling for systemic change in education. If you're looking for practical strategies to help neurodivergent students right now, see our companion guide " When Education Becomes Trauma: A Guide for Parents and Educators. " Key Points If you read nothing else, know this: The crisis is real : Neurodivergent students face 10x the mental health risk of their peers, with autistic children 46x more likely to experience severe school distress. The num

This is the first post in a new series exploring education trauma and its impact on parents, educators, and neurodivergent learners. Every Wednesday, we'll dive deeper into a different aspect of this critical topic—from a guide for parents and educators (this post) to why school is failing neurodivergent students to a resource guide for students with LD, ADHD, and autism. Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or advocate, this series will provide you with the knowledg

" Masking is an autistic trait, but autistics don't mask because we are autistic. We mask because we have been traumatized from being in a society where everything we do is criticized because we don't fit the norm. " - autistic advocate Morgaan Foley. This quote shows what many autistic people experience: masking isn't a natural part of being autistic. It happens because society treats autistic behavior as wrong and constantly criticizes it. This is what autism masking really

First: take a breath. Whatever you're feeling right now is okay. You might feel overwhelmed, relieved, confused, or scared. Maybe all of these at once. That's completely normal. You might be thinking about what comes next. Or looking back at your life in a new way. You might worry that things just got more difficult. We understand. Many of us have been right where you are now. This diagnosis isn't the end of something. It's the beginning of finally understanding yourself. Her

"You're smart. You just need to work harder." If you've heard this—or said it to someone—you know it feels good and bad at the same time. For millions of people with learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism, this phrase doesn't help. It's a lie that stays with them for years. It says their problems are their fault. That if they just tried harder, everything would be okay. But learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism don't work that way. Why This Label Is So Damaging When you te

Hello everyone, I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts and reflections about the presentations that took place last month. On September 19, 2025, I had the privilege of joining a Zoom meeting that was focused on the important topic of " Autism in Deaf Education. " The presentations were absolutely wonderful, and I found that I learned something valuable and meaningful from each and every one of them. Scarlett's Park in the Silent Garden at Fresno State is

Disclaimer: We are not scientists or researchers, and this article simply collects and presents information available at the time of...

Disclaimer: We are not scientists or researchers, and this article presents information collected and available at the time of writing....

We want to remind you that presentations on "Autism in Deaf Education" are coming soon! Each year, Fresno State's Scarlett's Park in the...

Parents of autistic children, this is for you! I recently stumbled upon an amazing article that offers invaluable guidance on what...

In the big world of human neurology, Autism and Deafness are often misunderstood. They're complex conditions that can create challenges,...

World Autism Awareness Day, recognized on the 2nd of April each year, is a globally acknowledged occasion...

When your adult friend gets diagnosed with autism, you can do a lot to help them out. The first thing to know is that autism is different...

I always look for new books on Learning Disabilities, Autism, or ADHD to add to my reading list. Sarah Kurchak’s memoir, “I Overcame My...