Global Project
Extraordinary People: Our New Global Project
They told the world what autism looks like. We are showing the world what extraordinary looks like.
Today we open a new home for it all: Extraordinary People, on autisticana.org.
I started this news group to decrease isolation and depression — and to make people friends for life. That was the whole idea, years ppp pp0 ago in New York, and it is still the whole idea today. We are a global newsroom of autistic writers, telling our own stories in our own words. We meet every Wednesday on Zoom, and our stories reach the world from Athens, Alabama.
We are doing this because too many autistic people live isolated, depressed, and unseen.
About 40 out of every 100 autistic adults have lived with depression at some point in their lives. Autistic adults are about nine times more likely to die by suicide. More than half of autistic adults in Ireland feel lonely all or most of the time.
You can read the research behind these numbers on the Extraordinary People page.
The holidays are the hardest time of year for our people. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, isolation and depression strike the most — so right now is the perfect time to jump in.
We are here to change those numbers — one story and one friendship at a time.
This project is for all of us who are neurodivergent — autistic, ADHD, and beyond. I have severe ADHD myself, and I know what it is to be told you cannot focus, cannot finish, cannot accomplish. We are here to prove otherwise, together.
Leading us are the two who started it all with me: Scott Weisbrot, our CEO, and Jackson Beach, our editor. Their stories come first — and then the door opens to you.
Are you extraordinary? We are looking for you. Send us your story, in writing or as a 10-second video. Tell us your name and where you are from. Self-diagnosis counts. You can use your name or stay anonymous.
Every week, Jackson, Scott, and Sarah share a little of their weekend in our Autisticana Weekend Recap — and invite you to share yours. Send a 10-second clip, and you could be featured next week.
Our promises: nothing goes public without your permission. A parent approves every young person. A real person reads everything first. Anything can be taken down anytime. And it is always free.
This project grows out of my book, Amazing Autism: How to Unleash the Extraordinary (https://a.co/d/00UndRj) a guide for bringing up an autistic child to unleash their extraordinary powers. All proceeds go to the Stand Tall Foundation, to support transition and independent skills for autistic young adults. You can find the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Want to help build it with us? We are holding a focus group on Zoom, Thursday, December 3 at 6:00 p.m. Central. DM @AutisticanaClub for the link.
Extraordinary People is live now on autisticana.org. Share your extraordinary: DM @AutisticanaClub or email drgrimaldic3115@gmail.com.
We are the champions — and we are just getting started.
Let’s bring true purpose to this holiday season.
Blessings !
Dr. Christine Grimaldi
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