Welcome to ZOOM Autism Magazine from Autism Empowerment
For the Autism Community by the Autism Community
From the very beginning, it was the founders’ mission to make Zoom Autism Magazine, a publication for the autism community BY the autism community, where the majority of writers and contributors identify as autistic or neurodivergent. Since its founding, 20 issues have been published, with our newest issue, Issue #20: Autism Around the World out in December 2023.
What We Believe
The Zoom Autism Magazine manifesto begins, Together we are strong. And indeed we are. Each of us has gifts to give and strengths to share. At Zoom and at Autism Empowerment, we believe that autistic voices do not just matter... they are imperative! We each have something important to say. Please enjoy this short video and listen to words from Autistic Advocate and leader Conner Cummings.
As Conner likes to say, “Never try to blend in when you were born to stand out.”
How is content organized?
Current, past and future content from Zoom Autism Magazine is hosted on our SpectrumLife.org website. We also have the ZoomAutism.org domain which redirects to this address. The main nonprofit website of Autism Empowerment is www.AutismEmpowerment.org where we feature all our programs, services and publications.
Our History
In 2022, Autism Empowerment first announced our partnership with Zoom Autism Magazine. This autistic-led themed digital publication amplifies autistic creators and talent by zooming in to view autism through many lenses. Zoom Autism Magazine, under the leadership of Conner Cummings and Sharon Cummings, was previously a program of Geek Club Books, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit storytelling organization based in Emerald Hills, CA, that closed its nonprofit doors at the end of 2021.
Due to Autism Empowerment's extensive experience as an autistic and neurodivergent-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Autism Empowerment founders Karen Krejcha and John Krejcha reached out to Managing Editor and Executive Editor Conner Cummings and Sharon Cummings, and have been partnering with them on content creation, copyediting, graphic design and publishing for the most recent issues of Zoom Autism Magazine. Issues #19 and #20 were published in 2022 and 2023, respectively and more issues are scheduled for 2024.
Since 2016, Autism Empowerment has published 26 issues of Spectrum Life Magazine, also an autistic-led print publication. Spectrum Life Magazine Editor and Autism Empowerment Executive Director Karen Krejcha, Programs Manager and Project Director John Krejcha, Graphic Designer Dave Born, Content Advisor Brian Tashima and members of our editorial and design team assist Sharon, Conner and their Guest Editors with the production of each Zoom Autism issue. Conner Cummings creates each cover design.
To introduce the Autism Empowerment community and Spectrum Life readers to Zoom Autism Magazine, and to announce our transition, we interviewed Conner and Sharon for the Spring 2022 issue of Spectrum Life Magazine. You may read our cover story, ZOOMing in With Conner Cummings, in our Spring 2022 issue or on our blog. The original announcement talking about our partnership is here!
Zooming in with Conner Cummings, Managing Editor at Zoom Autism Magazine
Publishing History:
Issue #20: Autism Around the World with Guest Editor Dr. Stephen Shore, was published in December 2023. Our theme includes global perspectives and storytelling from autistic adults, parents and professional around the world. We also showcase the talent of 24 autistic youth and adults from 6 different continents.
Issue #19: A Job for Everyone was published in October 2022. The theme was Employment and Entrepreneurship, and the Guest Editor was Lydia Wayman.
There were 18 issues published before the partnership with Autism Empowerment began in 2022. Because Zoom Autism Magazine is an online (digital-only) format, the length of the magazine varies depending on when the issue came out and whether or not there was a theme.
In the first 12 issues, Zoom Autism Magazine focused on positive and realistic solutions, inspiring personal stories, and, most importantly, gave voice to autistic individuals and the family members who support them on their journeys.
Starting in issue #13, Zoom Autism Magazine entered a new phase with a new look and feel. Each themed issue had a different autistic guest editor to manage and oversee production. This provided many new positive opportunities for autistic contributors to gain valuable experience and have their voices be centered in an empowering way.
How can I read Zoom Autism Magazine on your website?
Issues #1 - 18 are in PDF format. They have been uploaded to our website, and you can read them online or download your own copy by clicking individual issue links on our Past Issues: Zoom Autism page.
Issue #19: A Job for Everyone and Issue #20: Autism Around the World each have their own page on our website where the publication is embedded as a flipbook. You may read online or if you prefer, you may also download a copy.
Each new issue from now on will also have its own webpage on our site. Additionally, we will have individual blogs on our website for each feature article within each magazine. These are great for sharing with friends, family, loved ones and other allies. They may also include extended or updated content not in the original publication.
Readers are also invited to read our sister publication, Spectrum Life Magazine. Thank you for your support!
Our latest issue is 68 pages of awesomeness!
Autism Empowerment and Zoom Autism Magazine need your support for our future:
If you enjoy what we do and would like to contribute financially to help support the autistic writers, creators, interviewees and people that we serve across the autism spectrum, please go to www.autismempowerment.org/donate and designate your gift toward Zoom Autism Magazine. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your contributions are tax-deductible in the United States. Thank you for being an Ambassador for Acceptance of All Abilities!
Also, please follow our social media updates @ZoomAutism on Twitter, Zoom Autism on Facebook and Zoom Autism Magazine on Instagram. If you have questions or comments, please email Sharon and Conner at zoomautism@gmail.com. Email Autism Empowerment at zoom@autismempowerment.org.
