Resources

Below are some of Melissa’s favorite resources for learning, connecting, and supporting emotional and social well-being. This page includes local meet-ups, activities, helpful videos, and recommendations designed to support individuals with autism, their families, and their communities.

New resources are added regularly.

Local Meet-Ups & Community Activities

• Autism Families CONNECTicut

• Bridge the Spectrum - Connecticut (Cheshire/Southington)

• Meetup: Nest Gatherings - Southeastern Connecticut

• Apex Psychological Services - Adult ADHD and Autism Support Groups - Woodbridge

Recommended Instagram Videos & Creators

Autistic Women Creators:

• Paige Lyle (@paigelayle):Known for educational content about autism

• Chloé Hayden (@chloeshayden): Author and advocate highlighting neurodivergent experiences.

• Kaelynn Partlow (@kaelynnvp):Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum cast member and advocate.

Autistic Male Creators:

• Jeremiah Josey (@jercookingadventure):A pastry chef, author, and advocate sharing his life and culinary journey.

• Chris Bonnello (@autisticnotweird):Writer and speaker behind "Autistic Not Weird," focusing on education and advocacy.

• Neurodivergent Lou (@neurodivergent_lou): Shares content regarding life as an autistic individual.

• The Joshie Man (@thejoshieman): Shares personal experiences and insights.

• Tyler White (@checkmyfreshh): A DJ/MC who advocates for autism.

• Trevor Carroll (@trevorcarroll): Shares personal experiences.

• James B. Jones (@jamesbjones87): A content creator focusing on his life with autism.

Key LGBTQ+ Autistic Creators:

• Pari Kim (@pari.w.kim):Featured on Netflix's Love on the Spectrum, she highlights her relationship and autistic pride.

• Oliver Quincy / My Autistic Soul (@myautisticsoul):Focuses on being autistic, trans, and queer.

• Anna Zoe Quirke (@annazoequirke):A queer femme advocate discussing autism and eating disorder recovery.

• Grace Liu (@unwrittengraceblogs): A gay, autistic woman of British/Taiwanese heritage sharing her experiences.

• Autism Sketches (@autismsketches): Creates memes about autism.

• Martin / @autistic_sky:A gay, autistic photographer and musician focusing on autism, ADHD, and Tourette's.

Recommended Books & Workbooks

• Your Difference Is Your Strength by Kris Ferrarois a self-help book that encourages people who feel like outsiders to embrace their uniqueness as a superpower, offering guidance on self-acceptance, confidence, and finding your place in the world. It uses personal stories, journaling prompts, and practical advice to help readers move from feeling misunderstood to celebrating their authentic selves, transforming perceived weaknesses into strengths. The book is for anyone who has ever felt "too much," "too shy," or simply out of place, urging them to stop hiding and start living as their extraordinary self.

• Taking Off the Mask by Hannah Louise Belcheris a practical guide for autistic individuals to understand and reduce the negative effects of "masking" or camouflaging their traits, using a mix of personal experience, research, and therapeutic techniques like CBT, DBT, and mindfulness. The book helps readers identify when and why they mask, offering exercises and worksheets to build self-acceptance, manage anxiety, and gradually unmask in a way that leads to a more authentic life, rather than forcing a complete stop to masking.

• Mastering Adulthood: Go Beyond Adulting to Become an Emotional Grown-Up by psychologist Lara E. Fieldingis a self-help book that provides evidence-based strategies for managing the difficult emotions that arise during the transition to adulthood, such as anxiety, stress, and anger. It moves beyond basic "adulting" tasks to teach emotional skills using mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help readers build emotional flexibility and live a more fulfilling life. The book uses case examples and practical exercises, including worksheets and guided meditations, to help readers identify triggers and develop healthier emotional habits.

• Why Didn't They Teach Me This in School? Workbook by Cary Siegel is a companion to his book, offering 55 exercises to reinforce 99 practical, qualitative money management principles, focusing on real-life experience over complex math. It's designed for high school, college, or adult learners to actively practice concepts like saving, spending, and investing, and can be used for self-study or in a classroom setting.

Recommended Apps & Tools

• Blue Envelope Program:Do you drive? Are you familiar with the Blue Envelope? You can pick up a Blue Envelope at your local police station.

• Focus Friend: Need to focus and stay off your phone? Focus Friend is a popular, cozy, and gamified productivity app created by Hank Green and Honey B Games to help users reduce screen time and improve concentration. The app works by having you set a timer to work while a virtual "Bean" character knits. If you stay off your phone, you win prizes to decorate the Bean's room; if you get distracted, the Bean becomes sad and loses progress.

Autism Organizations & Helpful Websites

• Clifford Beers Community Care Center - Autism Services & Resources Connecticut

• Seed of Truth Counseling - Blog:This blog is written by a colleague of Melissa's whom Melissa really respects. There is some great information in this blog!

Videos & Articles Melissa Often Recommends

• “Masking Is Not ‘High Functioning’—What Social Workers Miss When Clients Appear Put Together”: This is a great article on masking.

• “The Intake Is Already an Intervention: Rethinking First Contact Through a Neuroaffirming Lens”:This is a great article that shows you how to advocate for what you need in the therapy room.

How to Use These Resources

These resources are not a replacement for therapy, but they can be wonderful tools to support learning, connection, and emotional well-being between sessions. Feel free to explore, share what resonates, and bring anything you’d like to discuss into your therapy sessions.