.webp)
Understanding Autism Resources: Insights, Information, and Support
Autism is a complex and multifaceted condition that affects individuals uniquely, shaping how they experience and interact with the world. Gaining a deeper understanding of autism is the first step toward building empathy, fostering inclusion, and providing effective support. This resource collection is dedicated to exploring the fundamentals of autism. Whether you’re a loved one of an autistic adult, an educator, a therapist, or simply someone looking to learn more, these articles offer valuable insights and perspectives to help you better understand autism and its impact on individuals.
Recent Articles
.png)
Understanding Autism in Adult Women: Why It’s Often Missed and What It Really Looks Like
When I was a little girl in the early 2000s, autism was seen as a disorder that only boys had. My evaluators misdiagnosed my autism as ADHD, and mistreated my symptoms (my stims, masking, and social anxiety). Luckily, awareness around the rainbow of autistic presentations is growing, and things are starting to change. As an AFAB person who now identifies as non-binary, I was able to seek re-diagnosis and affirmation that I'm autistic—something I suspected for the majority of my life.
According to a recent study published in JAMA, autism diagnosis is increasing fastest among women between the ages of 26 and 34. And among those, women sought diagnosis a whopping 3 times more than men. This comes as no surprise, as autism is actually underdiagnosed in women because of biases in testing. The research behind these tests predominantly focused on the experiences of men and boys, so clinicians have trouble catching the varied autistic traits in women and AFAB folks.
This article will focus mainly on the experience of autistic adult women because the medical research is only just starting to catch up with AFAB experience. However, it’s worth noting the ways autism presents in nonbinary people.
Transgender and nonbinary people are around five times more likely to be autistic compared to cisgender people. The Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network’s website is a good place to start if you’d like to find autistic nonbinary people writing about their experiences.
Autism manifests in very specific ways in adult women that have been ignored until now. If you’re a woman or AFAB person wondering if you might be autistic, support is available. Read on to learn more.
Navigating Autism and Grief: Understanding and Supporting Unique Emotional Journeys
Grief is an intense and inevitable facet of life. Though the process is distressing for everyone, neurotypical people (people without autism) and autistic individuals will likely experience grief differently. Adults with autism spectrum disorder often have delayed and unexpected reactions to grief. Because of this, it is important for loved ones to recognize the signs of autistic grief and the unique support required for autistic adults during the grieving process.
Advocating for Inclusion: The Role of the Social Model in Disability Empowerment
Most people know someone who has a disability––or they have a disability themselves. According to the census, 13.4% of the total population in the U.S. is disabled. This means 44.1 million people live with various challenges, from ambulatory to cognitive to visual.
Disabilities can be visible or invisible, such as autism or mental health conditions. In addition to the great variations in disability, there’s also more than one way to view the concept of being disabled.
Many autistic folks have engaged in discussion at one point or another about whether being autistic is a difference or a disability. This answer can change depending on which model through which we see autism. In the medical model, autism itself is the cause of a disability, but in the social model, autism is a difference, and it is the environment that disables us.
Read on to explore the differences between the medical and social models of disability.
