Posts by Kerry Magro
Autism and Nutrition: “They Will Eat When They’re Hungry”
Oh vey, if it only were that easy. Has anyone made a comment when you were trying to feed your child and said, “Oh, don’t worry so much. They’ll eat when they’re hungry?” I can relate to this all too well. Growing up, I was obsessed with bologna sandwiches. Nothing else would compare to the positive feeling I’d get whenever I’d be presented with another bologna sandwich. It wouldn’t matter if it was breakfast, lunch or dinner. That easily became one of my norms around the time I was diagnosed with autism at 4. This is a common…
Read MoreMy Journey as a Mentor for Individuals with Autism & Special Needs
“I wanted to help individuals who felt alone.” When I first learned about my autism diagnosis at 11 1/2, I often wished for a role model on the autism spectrum, someone who had navigated a similar path and could offer guidance and understanding. At that time, my awareness of the broader autism community was limited. I wasn’t yet familiar with the influential voices in the field. Now, as an adult who has navigated many challenges and has established a career as a professional speaker and author, I am privileged to…
Read MoreNavigating Holiday Gatherings with Autism
Don’t judge. It’s everyone’s holiday season. With the holiday season upon us, I’ve been reflecting on my autism journey as a younger child. It looked much different than it does now as an adult. Whether it was during Christmas with the family or a holiday gathering, I’d often be alone in the corner, trying to avoid too much social interaction and strong sensory input. While my family would be eating beef, chicken, or some other holiday feast, I’d be snacking away on my favorite snacks like cheese doodles and goldfish.…
Read MoreBeyond Stereotypes: Leadership Potential of Autistic Individuals
For years, I’ve been on a mission to change perceptions about autism as an advocate and professional speaker. From my own experiences during my autism journey, I’ve realized that autistic individuals aren’t just capable of working in traditional jobs but can soar to leadership roles, turning the conventional thinking about our community upside down. During months like October for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, where our society has more conversations around disability employment, I hope we can focus on this topic. When people think about autism, they often associate it…
Read MoreEmbracing Abilities: Celebrating Disability Pride Month and Advocating for Inclusion
Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and strengths of people with disabilities? It’s also a month to remind people of the spectrum; to educate them that some with disabilities face lifelong difficulties and need support. This was started in 1990 adjacent to the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed on July 26, 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability and seeks to ensure equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. Now people worldwide observe…
Read MoreGrowing Up With Autism: Putting My Mental Health First
One of the best things I ever did for myself was to put my mental health first and not be afraid to talk about it. Please teach our society that seeking support for mental health challenges doesn’t make someone ‘crazy.’ When I was a kid growing up on the autism spectrum, I saw a therapist for a short time due to my challenging behaviors. Being bullied in school, I would avoid mentioning this as getting help and seeking good mental health was often labeled as being ‘weird.’ Some of my…
Read MorePride Month: Autistics in the LGBTQ+ Community
We are all human and deserve to have our voices heard. Far too often, autistics in the LGBTQ+ community fall through the cracks leading to misconceptions, stigmas, and a lack of overall services. During Pride Month in June and all year round, I stand with our entire community to receive reliable autism resources across the lifespan so each autistic individual can live the best life possible. While I’m not part of the LGBTQ+ community, growing up with autism, I’ve met many fantastic individuals in this community. Here are some ways…
Read More5 Reasons Why We Should Never Force Eye Contact From Autistic People
Growing up on the autism spectrum, eye contact was challenging. Often it felt like an internal pressure from sensory stimulation. As a professional speaker who now gives talks with companies as part of professional development, I often mention getting rid of the interview process because of challenges like this. Instead, I recommend companies do a 1-day job trial to show what autistic employees may be capable of forgoing this challenge. Here are 5 reasons why we should never make autistic people force eye contact: It can be distracting. The structure was…
Read More5 Misconceptions About Autistic Employees
What if I told you there are some harmful misconceptions out there leading to some talented and deserving autistic employees not receiving job opportunities. I can relate to this as someone who is autistic and sometimes had challenges finding meaningful employment. Today, after overcoming many of my obstacles, I’m a certified professional speaker who gets to talk with companies as part of professional development about tapping into untapped talent pools. One untapped talent pool we need to talk about is the autism community. The reason it’s untapped? While the unemployment…
Read MoreThis Month Celebrate the Women of the Autism Community
Without the voices of strong autistic women in our community and the support of people like my mom, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I was recently contacted by an autism mom who told me about her 30-year-old daughter on the autism spectrum and is about to have a baby. She said that she was proud of me for using my voice as a public speaker and self-advocate to spotlight others. If you are reading this, I don’t know why but this instinctively made me think of Women’s…
Read More