People on the autism spectrum share stories of their lives – including dealing with sensory overload, being diagnosed in middle age and how they're learning to embrace rather than reject the way their brains work.
Ygal Kaufman
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Ideastream Public Media
Euclid resident Nikki Montgomery says she grew up feeling "different," and that her long journey toward self-acceptance is a common experience for Black women on the autism spectrum.
We team up with individuals and communities to record and present stories of life in Northeast Ohio. We also teach people to record and produce their own radio.
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Carly Millis Jaloweic didn't realize she was autistic until well into adulthood. Since that moment, she's worked to be kinder to herself after struggling for years to fulfill societal expectations that she said can be more difficult for people with autism. -
Shaiden Pinkney is 12 years old and lives with autism. He shares his experiences and advice with a community of more than 50,000 followers on Instagram. Learn more about his story in the latest installment of "Living on the Spectrum," a series from "Sound of Us," Ideastream Public Media's community storytelling initiative.
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Last year, in her mid-50s, Elizabeth Stiles began identifying as someone who has autism. She’s learning to find her way in a world where she doesn’t need to fit a specific mold. Read Elizabeth’s story as part of "Living on the Spectrum," the latest series in our community storytelling initiative the "Sound of Us."
Senior citizens at an activities center in Parma share personal stories including surviving World War II in Europe, coming out as transgender later in life and maintaining romantic relationships into their 90s.
In connection with the International Institute of Akron, Arrivals tells the stories of five people who are newly settled in Northeast Ohio.
Arrivals
Former Ideastream Public Media intern Xeaiver Bullock interviewed Northeast Ohioans about their lives and work. His conversations covered creativity, car repair and overcoming generational poverty.
We Hear You
Ideastream Public Media’s 2022 summer interns – all college students – took part in a workshop series where they developed these very personal stories exploring topics important to them.
Ideastream interns
The students at Richmond Heights Secondary School have big questions, including “What’s the point of school choice with no transportation?” and “What happened to school spirit?” The answers in this self-reported series surprised them.
Richmond Heights
+Voices shares the stories of LGBTQ+ young people, in partnership with the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland.
Poetic Reentry mixes poetry with personal reflections on life both inside and outside prison -- all told in the voices of formerly incarcerated men.
