Who are you?
My name is Alyssa Hillary Zisk. I'm an Autistic researcher. I like math, the color purple, LARPing, fencing, ultimate, swimming, sewing, improvised theater, and drawing geometric patterns. I did the cover art for a couple Autonomous Press books, like Typed Words, Loud Voices and The Real Experts. I flap my hands and rock. I like silky blankets, hate mint, won't drink anything fizzy, and won't wear jeans, tights, leggings, or stockings. I am also nonbinary, asexual, and panromantic, also known as "I'm Queer." I can speak with my mouth most of the time, but not all of the time.
Who aren't you?
I am not a parent. I'm not a medical doctor.
My name is Alyssa Hillary Zisk. I'm an Autistic researcher. I like math, the color purple, LARPing, fencing, ultimate, swimming, sewing, improvised theater, and drawing geometric patterns. I did the cover art for a couple Autonomous Press books, like Typed Words, Loud Voices and The Real Experts. I flap my hands and rock. I like silky blankets, hate mint, won't drink anything fizzy, and won't wear jeans, tights, leggings, or stockings. I am also nonbinary, asexual, and panromantic, also known as "I'm Queer." I can speak with my mouth most of the time, but not all of the time.
Who aren't you?
I am not a parent. I'm not a medical doctor.
What qualifications do you have?
I have a high school diploma. I have a bachelors each in mathematics, mechanical engineering, and Chinese, plus a masters in math and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience. I've got some certifications of my Chinese language skills running around somewhere. I've been a teacher for a while.
Are you really autistic?
Yes. I have even been professionally diagnosed, though properly researched self-diagnosis is valid and you should respect that.
Why don't you call yourself a person with autism/You mean you are a person with autism, right?
I call myself an Autistic person because it's part of who I am. I'm not going to separate myself from the way my brain is wired. I even have a whole page about it, and I've written eleven posts about it at last count, plus four on other language/identity things. So no, I do not mean that I am a person with autism. I mean that I am Autistic.
Have you written any books?
Not yet. I'm working on it. I've got some fiction and poetry for sale on Amazon.
Do you speak for anyone besides yourself?
I'll occasionally speak as ``Because Patterns" because it is run by me, but that mostly won't be here. Otherwise, no, just myself. Specifically, I do not speak for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autism Women's Network, AssistiveWare, or CommunicationFIRST.
Can I republish or quote you? Are there any limits on this?
All material on this website and blog is copyrighted. It may be shared, reproduced, disseminated, or photocopied for fair use only, but not in excess of 1/4 of the material of any individual post AND collectively no more than five percent of the total posts on this blog. Any individual article may be reproduced and distributed for typical classroom use. You may not repost or republish any posts or combination of excerpts from posts in excess of these guidelines on any other forum, website, blog, or other print or online publication without my written permission.
Do you review books?
Yes. If you get me a copy of a book, I will review it. Heck, I'll review it in English and Chinese if that's what it takes to get a free book. Be warned that I am honest, so if I think your book has problems I will say so. (I've got a book reviews tag, by the way.)
Are you tracking me?
Google probably is, since they give me stats. I also use StatCounter, which did put a cookie on your machine. It might show up in anti-spyware scans. It logs your IP, but nothing else (no name, no email.) Barring a court order, I won't give that information to anyone, ever. Also, since I don't pay StatCounter, they delete a lot of the information pretty quickly.
What's the point of this blog?
It's about whatever I want- this is my personal blog, after all. It winds up being a lot about autism and disability.
Where did the name come from, anyways?
I list a bunch of reasons for writing something. A friend asks ``What about____?" I say ``Yes, that too." Also, I have a ton of things I'm interested in. So am I interested in X? ``Yes, that too." I think it sums things up pretty well.
Can I email you?
Alyhillary@gmail.com, go for it.
Where else can I find you?
General Website: AlyssaHillary.com. There isn't much on it yet, but I'm working on it.
Tumblr- I'm not very active, but I'm yesthattoo, and I've got posting ability on a few other blogs from helping with Autistics Speaking Day and Autism Positivity Flash Blog.
Facebook: facebook.com/yesthattooaut is a public page for this blog.
Twitter: @yes_thattoo
Wikipedia: AlyHillary
Archive of Our Own: Baozhale
Runescape: Baozhale You can totally register and add me if you want.
What do you do when you aren't writing this blog?
I do research, mostly but not entirely related to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). I teach classes at the University of Rhode Island. I teach for The Art of Problem Solving. I write other things. I sew. I draw. I play Civilization VI, or Mount and Blade: Warbands. I really like the More Women for Native: Diplomacy mod. I do improvised theater.
Do you go outside?
Not as much as I did before the pandemic, but yes. I walk a lot, and I play Pokemon Go.
Can you tell me something about yourself that has nothing to do with autism?
I don't think choosing to play Ultimate has anything to do with autism ... Also, I like this band called PONS. I talk about them on occasion because I listen to them a lot, and I follow them on Twitter and such. To be fair, though, autism colors everything I do.
