Autism

I discovered I was autistic at age 23, and I created these blogs to spread autism awareness and hope through my story. Whether you or someone you love is autistic, there is something for you here.

Disclaimers: This blog is meant to be informative; It cannot diagnose anyone with autism. Autism presents itself differently in each autistic person; That is why it's called a spectrum. I am writing from my own experiences as an autistic woman.

How Autism Appears in Men vs. Women

Autism presents itself differently in men and women. In this post, we explore the most common similarities and differences of autistic men and women, and why it's harder for women to be diagnosed.

Autism

Melanie Nelson

Aug 1, 20258 min read

What is Autism?

To answer this question, we first need the foundational knowledge of how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is clinically diagnosed through the DSM-5. In this post, I will break down each of the criteria into digestible chunks so we can get a better understanding of what autism is.

Autism

Melanie Nelson

May 31, 202514 min read

A Mushroom Among Wildflowers

Do you feel like a misfit? I have been a misfit all my life, and I finally figured out why in 2024 when I discovered that I am autistic. This tells the story of the moment that completely changed my life and was the foundation for spreading awareness and hope through The Arcadian Atlas.

Autism

Melanie Nelson

May 26, 20255 min read