Politics | Neurodiversity

Politics

Can American democracy survive what seems to be an alarming concentration of wealth and power? That’s a question often asked nowadays, as statistics show that income inequality has become much more... ...[Read More]

Gwen McKay on 08/25/10 | 1 Comment | Read More

Autism’s Overton Window

I don’t think any of us would call it a game, but I’ve noticed a number of people who write or comment on autism sites seem to approach the issue of defining autism as a “zero-sum game,” in th... ...[Read More]

Mark Stairwalt on 07/30/10 | 11 Comments | Read More

Children of Lilith (autism contemplated from a silent and considerable height)

“Longevity, like intelligence or good looks, is largely a matter of heredity,” writer Edward Abbey noted, adding, “Choose your parents with care.” Our parents also pass on to us their stories... ...[Read More]

Mark Stairwalt on 06/18/10 | No Comments | Read More

… It’s Hard to Remember Your Original Objective Was to Drain the Swamp

(continued from When You’re Up to Your A** in Alligators) With that in mind then, how to make full and best use of a site like Shift Journal? Actually a tiny, excellent example happened just thi... ...[Read More]

Mark Stairwalt on 03/12/10 | 4 Comments | Read More

When You’re Up to Your A** in Alligators …

One thing I’ve kept an eye on over the six months since Shift Journal launched has been, “What can we be doing here that isn’t already being done well elsewhere?” Last weekend KWombles and I e... ...[Read More]

Mark Stairwalt on 03/12/10 | 2 Comments | Read More

++ungood

Sometimes I ask for feedback on pieces I’ve written before I post them, and sometimes I’m lucky enough to get a reply that’s in itself more compelling than what I’d intended to post in the fir... ...[Read More]

Mark Stairwalt on 03/5/10 | 2 Comments | Read More

Geeks and Nerds: Autism’s Proxy Warriors

Two articles from the New York Times and one from Wired.com this week have been taking a look at what I’ve long seen as a proxy war between the autistic style in American culture and its detractors.... ...[Read More]

Mark Stairwalt on 12/25/09 | 1 Comment | Read More

Time for this Elephant to Leave this Circus

Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, and Limbo. Those were the four big places to go. The weirdest of all was Limbo. Limbo was where they sent unbaptized babies. The reasoning was, “It wasn’t their faul... ...[Read More]

Mark Stairwalt on 11/13/09 | 3 Comments | Read More

Notes on Three Dursleys

I THINK IN PICTURES. Words are like a second language to me. I translate both spoken and written words into full-color movies, complete with sound, which run like a VCR tape in my head. When someb... ...[Read More]

Mark Stairwalt on 10/9/09 | No Comments | Read More

Emergence

On the autism rights and neurodiversity blogs in July last year, fury erupted around the radio show host Michael Savage’s comments that autistic kids were brats. Savage said that autism was a “fra... ...[Read More]

Andrew Lehman on 08/31/09 | No Comments | Read More

About Shift Journal

Autism has been here all along.

Considered as an evolutionary condition with far-reaching social implications, its full presence and impact remain hidden in plain sight, unrecognized and uncredited.

Part neurological mystery, part social construct, and part secret society unbeknownst even to its own members, autism does not lend itself to explanation by those who hold it apart from society, from themselves, or from consciousness itself. Definitions are revised, overhauled, and abandoned all while efforts to explore and examine this condition on its own terms are only now gaining momentum.

Shift Journal aims to showcase and encourage such efforts. Entertaining the notion of autistic as a legitimate way to be in the world, from the crossroads of theory, society, and personal experience, Shift welcomes relevant contributions from all comers.

Mark Stairwalt

Editor and Publisher

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New or established writers wishing to contribute original or previously published posts may use the submissions page or contact us directly.

Autism Speaking

Who Speaks For Who?
“There is a lot of talk in the autism “communities” about who has the right to speak for autistic people. What this usually means is something more like who has the right to speak up for autistic people.” ~ Bev … Continue reading → […]

The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism

Autism, An Equal Opportunity Disorder
Frances Vega-Costaswww.viviendoenotradimension.comdimensionautismo.blogspot.comAutism is a very complicated disorder and not only affects each individual differently, it strikes anywhere in the world. Never in my life would I imagine that I would be a special education advocate nor that would I use the “A” word almost on a daily basis. Almost ten years ago t […]

Journeys with Autism

Left Brain / Right Brain

Damages awarded in the Poling case?
A document has recently been posted the Court of Federal Claims website, describing an award in a vaccine injury case. The document is redacted, but the following paragraph indicates to me that this involves the case of Hannah Poling: Respondent has conceded that petitioners are entitled to compensation due to the significant aggravation of Child’s [...] […]

Countering…

Neurodiversity – The Book

Review of Neurodiversity in Publisher's Weekly
The following review of my book Neurodiversity appeared in the April 26, 2010 edition of Publisher's Weekly: Neurodiversity: Discovering the Extraordinary Gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Brain Differences Thomas Armstrong. Da Capo, $26 (288p) ISBN 978-0-7382-1354-5 "Armstrong (7 Kinds of Smart), an educational consultant turned author, a […]

Neurodiversity.com

OSR: Off The Market [11]
The following message attributed to Boyd Haley, addressed to wholesale distributors of OSR, and posted to several autism discussion lists, reveals that Prof. Haley has elected not to challenge FDA’s June 17, 2010 determination that OSR is a drug subject to the same regulations for premarket approval as any other drug sold in the United States, and that CTI S […]

Incorrect Pleasures

Edward Heath and Asperger syndrome
Below is the text of an entry for my enormous list of famous autistic or possibly autistic people that I am going to add some time, whenever I find the time. What do you think? Any errors?Sir Edward “Ted” Heath KG MBE (1916-2005) former Conservative Prime Minister of the UK from 1970 to 1974, leader of the Conservative Party from 1965-1975, Deputy Chief Whip […]

Action for Autism

MMR Settlement - too little, too late
Justice delayed is justice denied and for Robert Fletcher justice was denied for over seventeen years. He was 13 months old when he received his MMR vaccination. Ten days later he had a severe convulsion and went on to develop epilepsy and severe developmental delay. His mother, Jackie Fletcher told the Daily Mail, ‘Robert is [...] […]

Neurodiversity