With so many content creators on social media, it can be hard to figure out who to follow. In the last decade, the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) community has broken barriers, brought awareness and has initiated global acceptance movements. Here are some of the top influencers in the ASD community right now who you should be following.
Daniel Jones (@theaspieworld)
YouTube | Instagram | X | TikTok
With over 200,000 subscribers on YouTube, UK-based Daniel Jones educates and empowers his audience on living with a disability and is one of the leading voices in the ASD community today.
Jones was diagnosed with ASD at the age of 26 years old, and much of his content surrounds non-medical education on how to explore a potential diagnosis as an adult, as well as providing information on thriving with a disability later in life. His YouTube channel is dedicated solely to helping audiences understand ASD from the perspective of a person with ASD– rather than from the medical industry. By hearing the ASD experience directly from the source, it ensures an accurate representation and inclusivity of those on the spectrum.
Aside from his content creation on socials, Jones is also an international bestselling author of Become the Force, the first and only self-help guide on living life the Jedi way, a Star Wars-based philosophy for those striving to seek their greatest potential.
Chris Bonnello (@autisticnotweird)
Instagram | X | YouTube
Chris Bonnello is an author, international speaker, ASD advocate and creator of the ASD acceptance Instagram account, Autistic Not Weird, which contains a mix of first-person ASD experiences with educational ASD content. Bonnello is also a multi-award-winning writer of the Underdogs novels, a near-future war series featuring neurodiverse (those characterized by neurologically atypical thoughts or behavior) heroes.
While assessed for ASD at the age of four, Bonnello’s symptoms were not deemed severe enough for a diagnosis. He grew up thinking he was simply ‘weird’ until he received his diagnosis at 25, which brought upon a newfound understanding of his differences. Since then, he has overcome obstacles of his diagnosis and encourages his audience to see their own strengths through.
Haley Moss (@haley.moss)
Instagram | Facebook
Haley was the first woman open with ASD to pass the Florida Bar Exam and become a licensed attorney in the state of Florida. Today, Moss is also an author, artist and advocate for the greater neurodiverse community.
Moss has broken barriers and brought widespread awareness to the possibilities and potential of those with ASD. Diagnosed at the age of three, Moss states frequently she never felt restrained by her disability; her parents would continue to support her determination throughout her upbringing. In addition to her role as an attorney, Moss is also an organizational consultant, educating organizations on the benefits of dismantling disability bias and promoting inclusive spaces in and out of the workplace. On social media, Haley frequently advocates for disability diversity and promoting confidence within the ASD community.
Moss is the author of Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals, which explores how understanding neurodiverse perspectives and perspectives of the world around us allow for a more inclusive and empathetic legal culture and profession. Moss hosts her podcast along with Dr. Lori Butts, licensed clinical psychologist and fellow attorney, geared toward women with ASD.
Lyric Holmans (@neurodivergentrebel)
Instagram | YouTube
Lyric Holmans is a writer, educator and speaker. Holmans’ 2018 #TakeTheMaskOff campaign to raise awareness about the stress of feeling the need to mask or hide your signs of ASD and to celebrate neurodiversity. They also pioneered the #AskingAutistic hashtag, which explored everyday ASD experiences such as self-stimulation, communication and accommodations – allowing those with ASD to respond with their perspectives.
Holmans runs Neurodivergent Consulting, a consulting agency that works with businesses to ensure inclusion of neurodivergent employees the opportunity to implement their unique skillsets and perspectives among organizations. With Holmans’ online discussions around ASD and delegation for inclusive workspaces, they’re driving allies and a wider understanding of the ASD experience.
