Fwd: Interviewing individuals with autism for Autism After 16 article

[Guest guest]

I was contacted by this reporter and this sounds exciting. Not sure if there is anything out there like this, so please feel free to forward to anyone you think would be interested. She is looking for people to interview.

Regards,

Ven Sequenzia

President

Autism Society of America

State of Florida Chapter

Interviewing individuals with autism for Autism After 16 article

Hello,

Hope you're well. I'm a freelance writer for a new website launching in September called Autism After 16. This publication will focus on providing information and analysis on adult autism issues for adults with autism (aged 16 and older) and their families. I am working on an article about how adults on the spectrum find and integrate into communities of worship. I am hoping you might know some families who have a relative with autism who participates in religious activities in his or her community and achieves a level of inclusion by participating in these activities. I plan to also interview religious leaders who worship with adults with autism about how they have included such individuals in their ceremonies and activities. The story will also offer tips for adults with autism and their families who want to be more involved in religious communities on how to make it work when sensory, communication and other aspects of the disability may seem insurmountable roadblocks.

My deadline is September 9, so it would be wonderful to hear from you this week about whether you know anyone who might be interested in talking with me some time soon. I can always give families more information on the phone before they agree to be interviewed so they feel more at ease. You can also feel free to e-mail my request around to people in South Florida. Ideally, I'd like to find a few families in Palm Beach County or Broward County so I might be able to meet them in person for the interview for better details and to photograph at least one willing adult with autism for the story. But if you know anybody out-of-state who might be interested, I can always interview them over the phone because this is a national piece. The key is the adult with autism has to be older than 16 and enjoying some level of inclusion through religious activities.

You can see some of my writing at www.caranissman.com if you want to verify who I am. I write about families, health, disabilities, and education regularly.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Cara Nissman

Freelance journalist

West Palm Beach

Cell:

cara@...

www.caranissman.com