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Lynne Soraya

About

Lynne Soraya learned early the impact of expectations and the reality of the diversity of the human experience. A child with an unusual profile of skills and abilities, she was blessed with excellent teachers who saw through her differences and struggles to the ability beneath. It was only in adulthood, after years of difficulties and confusion, that she learned that her differences had a name: Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism.

Today, she is a woman who wears many hats. As a disability advocate and writer, she works to build awareness to the issues affecting those who do not fit into the mold society labels as “typical.” Her work was included as part of the compilation Asperger Syndrome (Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders) which also included essays by Temple Grandin and Tony Attwood. In 2012, she was chosen to moderate the Guggenheim Forum (http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/interact/online-forum) Event "The Greater Good." Her essays from this event have been recently published as part of The Guggenheim Forum Reader.

Her work has also been featured on the The Creativity Post (http://www.creativitypost.com/), The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism (http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/), and Autism and Empathy site (http://www.autismandempathy.com/).

She was chosen as one of the Top 50 Most Inspiring Autistic People for 2011 at ThAutcast.com. She has been interviewed by several media outlets, including the Boston Globe, USA Today, the Columbian news magazine Semana, and the Child Mind Institute.

In her day job, she’s a technological professional at a Fortune 500 who also works to drive diversity and inclusion in a corporate context.

Her book, Living Independently on the Autism Spectrum is available in most major booksellers, including:

US
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Independently-Autism-Spectrum-Relationship…

Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/living-independently-on-the-autism-spec…

Books-A-Million
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Living-Independently-Autism-Spectrum/Lyn…

Canada

Indigo
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/home/books/living-independently-on-the-au…

UK
Foyle's
http://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/health-wellbeing/living-independently-on-…

Australia
Angus Robertson
http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/living-independently-on-the-autis…

Easons
http://www.bookworld.com.au/book/living-independently-on-the-autism-spe…

Books by Lynne Soraya
Recent Posts
Being Misunderstood
Looking back at my life, if I were to identify a common theme, it is feeling misunderstood. It sounds so much like a cliché, that many roll their eyes when hearing the phrase. “Everyone feels misunderstood,” they say. But what’s interesting is that those in my life who have said that, have gradually come to realize that it is true.
Shopping While Autistic
Have you ever seen a child having a breakdown in the middle of a grocery store? What’s your reaction? Well, I can give you an idea of what they might be going through.
The Sound Of Silence
I have recently come face-to-face with a fact about myself: I have a problem with silence. I’m not really sure why.
Figuring Out Friendship

Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship. What I understand about it, what I still don’t, and how the experience of friendship has always been different that it has been for others.

Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship. What I understand about it, what I still don’t, and how the experience of friendship has always been different that it has been for others.

Navigating Grief and Loss as an Autistic Adult

It’s the holiday season...a time for reflection, togetherness, and joy, so they say. As I’ve written before, it hasn’t always been that way for me. This holiday season has been an especially difficult one. One of my best friends passed away over Thanksgiving weekend.

It’s the holiday season...a time for reflection, togetherness, and joy, so they say. As I’ve written before, it hasn’t always been that way for me. This holiday season has been an especially difficult one. One of my best friends passed away over Thanksgiving weekend.

Supporting Sensory Issues: a Q&A With Lindsey Biel

Occupational therapist and author Lindsey Biel gives us insights from her clinical experiences working with individuals with sensory issues.

Occupational therapist and author Lindsey Biel gives us insights from her clinical experiences working with individuals with sensory issues.

Catastrophic Encounters and Autistic Identity

How do you react, as a parent, when you have a child who faces judgement and danger, because of his or her racial and neurological differences? Here is one mother's perspective from activist, advocate, writer, and researcher Kerima Çevik.

How do you react, as a parent, when you have a child who faces judgement and danger, because of his or her racial and neurological differences? Here is one mother's perspective from activist, advocate, writer, and researcher Kerima Çevik.

It’s Not Mayberry

Years ago, when I was just out on my own, I had an experience that has deeply shaped how I view events like those in Ferguson, Missouri these past weeks. One which taught me a lot about how biases can shape perception, and how those perceptions can have devastating consequences in law enforcement.

Years ago, when I was just out on my own, I had an experience that has deeply shaped how I view events like those in Ferguson, Missouri these past weeks. One which taught me a lot about how biases can shape perception, and how those perceptions can have devastating consequences in law enforcement.

Disability and the Sharing Economy

I admit, I’ve developed a fascination with what some have called “collaborative consumption,” exemplified in sites like Airbnb, Uber, and Taskrabbit. I see real possibilities in these technologies to make my life easier — but there are aspects of it that trouble me.

I admit, I’ve developed a fascination with what some have called “collaborative consumption,” exemplified in sites like Airbnb, Uber, and Taskrabbit. I see real possibilities in these technologies to make my life easier — but there are aspects of it that trouble me.