The internet sees rampant bullying of autism parents but Tom McKean is calling BS. Diagnosed with autism in his teens, Tom, now in his mid-50s, became one of autism’s very earliest self-advocates, along with Temple Grandin and a few others. Grounded in his desire to help those less fortunate than himself, he now writes and blogs about autism and its bizarre culture wars. Highlights:

• His (bitter) experience being institutionalized in his late teens

• His unexpected journey toward becoming an autism advocate

• He has decades of witnessing parents’ sacrifice and love for their children, but some of the newer and more vitriolic advocates are ignorant of the broader world of autism

• Interviewer Jill Escher has been chatting with Tom about guitar for several months, and the two perform an impromptu and fairly ear-offending duet!

Links:

Tom McKean on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thomasamckean

Blogpost about the autism puzzle piece logo: The Autism Puzzle Piece Logo: What It Really Means