Zach Smith

The first week of May officially marks Teacher Appreciation Week, with the Tuesday of that week being Teacher Appreciation Day. We have...

When I graduated from Worcester State University in May 2020, I thought there would be a short window from getting my diploma to starting...

Communication can be challenging for many children on the autism spectrum. I struggled with communication early in my school career, but...

Alex Ciarlo of Woodbury, Connecticut, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 16, but that has not prevented him from achieving...

A big worry for drivers (including myself) is getting into a crash. I have been driving for nearly two years now and hadn’t been in a...

When someone says “have a great day” to you, your first instinct would be to reply “thank you; you, too.” However, what most people don’t...

With April being World Autism Month, I wanted to share some insight about autism from someone who’s experienced it. There are many...

Growing up, I had low tone issues in my upper body. I wasn’t able to successfully complete motion activities including swinging on a...

When I was younger, I was a huge fan of trains, especially Thomas the Tank Engine. I owned every Thomas VHS tape and enjoyed every...

Lots of autistic individuals have specific anxieties about challenges they face during their everyday living. If things don’t go their...

As we approach one year since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I have to say it’s been incredible how much progress we’ve made. We’ve been...

When I was going through school, I received many therapies to help improve my communication, social and cognitive skills. Among the...

My name is Zach Smith, I’m 23 years old, and when I was two I was diagnosed with high-functioning autism. My autism has presented a few...

As my junior year of high school was coming to a close, I was looking ahead with my parents to decide on where I would go to college. I...

After the high anxiety I faced in middle school, I had no idea what to expect in high school. I thought that the workload would be more...

I have been alive for nearly 24 years, and I’ve had my share of anxious moments. While the noon aides and other sensory-overload forms...

After I finished third grade, I left my elementary school for an intermediate school that serves the fourth through sixth graders of...

In this multi-part writing series, I will go through many of the loud noises that have impacted my sensory issues throughout my life....

Food is a significant staple in all of our lives. Whether we’re at the movies, dinner parties, or ballpark, the food options are...

I’m going to share a piece I wrote for my nonfiction class during the fall 2019 semester. The essay highlights the sensitivity I have had...