Brains of Many Colors: Empowering Autism Awareness

Several years ago, my child received an Autism diagnosis. The first image that came to mind was a stereotypical and very obvious autism image. The worst case scenarios flooded my mind and brought tears to my eyes. I knew very little about Autism.

Unsure of our next step, our doctor suggested to get an evaluation at a center for Autism. We weren’t clear on what that was or why we would need or use it. We turned to the only thing we knew, the world wide web. We soon found ourselves with a web of information at our fingertips. It was overwhelming seeing such an abundance of information. The challenge that came was not accessing information but knowing what to trust and where to begin.

Like many families, we experienced fear and uncertainty in the early stages. We needed help. We needed tools and a community though this need wasn’t apparent at the time. We turned to family and friends but none of them could really relate. It was a new territory for us. Soon, we came to understand that connecting with others who shared similar experiences not only reduced confusion but also provided much-needed direction.

In hindsight, getting the diagnosis was the most straightforward step; everything else required learning and adaptation. We often faced challenges and missteps, but each taught us valuable lessons. Lessons that can help others and allow them to get the information they need to help find what works for them and their situation. Brains of Many Colors was created to share those lessons in a way that supports informed decision making rather than offering one-size-fits-all answers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism prevalence is approximately 1 in 31 children in the United States ^[1] . Yet families like my own can still feel lost and alone. This site is designed to help reduce that confusion, highlight options, and provide insight into real experiences. This is why Brains of Many Colors was created, to offer guidance, share experiences and provide tools that may help others navigate similar paths.

Brains of Many Colors, what is it?

The intention of this site is to provide evidence-based information mixed with personal experiences. We want to grow and share our experiences beyond ourselves and share with others within the community. At Brains of Many Colors, we want to recognize that not all experiences are the same and a diverse collection of experiences can reach more people out there. It is our goal to provide a multitude of views while keeping a general theme and approach of love and care for those with autism.

Although we are not medical professionals, we share resources, interpretations, and insights grounded in lived experiences ^[Disclaimer] . Information is presented with the understanding that it may not apply to every situation. This site shows a collection of views and resources to help parents, caregivers and others in the autism community. The goal is to include perspectives from autistic individuals themselves, acknowledging their insights and autonomy. We recognize that every journey is different, and a range of perspectives can better reflect that diversity. This experience has broadened my understanding of a world we had not previously known, and we hope to contribute to the growth of the community with which my family is now closely connected. Every day we learn more about this community and can only see our connection within this community expanding more.

At Brains of Many Colors, our goal is to support the neurodivergent community by promoting diverse experiences, awareness, and understanding.

What we hope to Accomplish

When the idea of Brains of Many Colors came to us it was born from passion and love for our child but also from anger with the current systems in place. The misinformation, stereotypes and the lack of support in our own community added to our anger helping fuel our desire to bring the idea to life. Therefore, we are choosing to be advocates for the community to help those with autism to function in a society that just wasn’t designed for them.

Our goal is to help make information more accessible and easier to navigate. We aim to provide guidance that helps individuals and families explore options, understand trade-offs, and find what works best for them. We want to provide recommendations for products and services that can be useful to the many challenges of autism.

Get Involved with Brains of Many Colors

As we have previously mentioned we want this site to bring a multitude of voices to the community and welcome feedback to help improve the site and the resources we offer. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or concerns, we encourage you to reach out and share your perspective.

While we strive for accuracy, we recognize that mistakes or outdated information can occur. At Brains of Many Colors, we are committed to addressing these issues thoughtfully and as quickly as possible. We welcome well intentioned feedback and constructive criticism and other thoughts.

Currently, Brains of Many Colors is a passion project created and managed by our family. Our goals are ambitious and we welcome those of this community to contribute to our vision.

Supporting of Brains of Many Colors: Sponsors & Partners

It is our goal to get the Brains of Many Colors site to be financially self-sustaining so it can continue to grow and support the community. To achieve this, the site may use appropriate methods of generating income, such as recommendations, partnerships, or other forms of support.

We are committed to providing honest, experience-based insights and transparent recommendations. While we strive to ensure accuracy and value, content and recommendations may evolve over time as the site grows and new information becomes available. Any recommendations are made with the intention of being helpful and trustworthy, regardless of compensation.

At Brains of Many Colors, the goal is to support the community by promoting awareness, understanding, and a range of experiences that can help others feel more informed and less alone.