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Prosper Health's Autism Resource Center
Featured Article
Neurodivergent vs. Autism: Understanding the Relationship and When to Seek Evaluation
“Neurodivergent” and “autistic” often get swapped for one another, in social captions, casual conversations, and sometimes even in settings where you might think people would know better.
Using the terms loosely isn't always a big deal. But it can matter more when you’re trying to figure out what these terms mean for you, especially if you’re wondering whether you might be autistic.
This is because the two terms really aren’t interchangeable, even though the mix-up can be common. Here’s how “neurodivergent” and “autism” relate, why the confusion happens in the first place, and what a next step might look like if you're seeking diagnosis.
Does Autism Qualify for Disability Benefits? A Practical Guide for Autistic Adults
If you've recently done an online search for the term “autism disability benefits”, you probably walked away with more questions than answers. Unfortunately, this happens because the search phrase “autism disability benefits” covers a very broad spectrum, and the resources your results pulled up may not even apply to your personal situation.
For example, one of the first results that usually comes up using this search term (as well as “Do you get disability for autism?”) is the Social Security Administration’s page for benefits for children with disabilities.
But if you made it to this page, you’re actually on the right path: “Autism disability benefits” almost always means Social Security. Yes, other types of government assistance exist, and we will cover those options, but let’s examine your potential Social Security benefits first.
After reading this article, you will understand how, as an autistic person, you may qualify for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). We’ll also explore which pathway most likely fits your situation, what strengthens an application, what to expect if you are denied, and whether you can keep working while receiving support.
Autistic Burnout vs. Depression: How to Tell the Difference and When to Get Assessed
Profound exhaustion is impossible to ignore, even when you can’t even muster up the energy to take care of yourself. What’s even scarier is that sometimes, it’s equally impossible to figure out the root of this fatigue, because it’s a common symptom of both depression and autistic burnout.
If you’re currently navigating the confusing world of autistic burnout vs. depression — whether you just learned the term “autistic burnout” or are in the midst of self-reflection — you’re in the right place. Especially considering both conditions can co-occur.
After reading this article, you will have more clarity between autistic burnout and depression, know what to do if you think you have both conditions, and understand what a professional assessment involves.
Social Cues and Autism: Why the "Missed Signals" Narrative Gets It Wrong
Consider this: a coworker asks you to complete a task, “whenever you get the chance,” and you take it at face value. Two days later, you find out the request was urgent, and your coworker assumed their tone made that obvious. Or another example: you're mid-conversation with a friend, and something in their face shifts. You notice it, and you're also tracking their tone, their words, and your own response, all at once. By the time it's processed, the moment to say something has passed.
If either scene felt familiar, you’ve probably been told that you missed something obvious. Maybe you’ve been called hard to read, rude, oblivious, cold, or “bad at people.” But inside, you know that’s not really what happened.
These messages put the entire problem on one person in a conversation between two people. This article looks at autism and social cues, including why social cues can be harder to read for some autistic adults, why misunderstanding is often mutual, and what can help in situations where it matters most.
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How to Find the Right Therapist for Autistic Adults: A Practical, Affirming Guide
For over a decade, Ana David has had a therapist who truly sees, understands, and cares for her. But even she can attest to the difficulty of finding a therapist for autistic adults. Before she found her current therapist, David had several traumatic experiences in the healthcare system.
Unfortunately, David’s story is all too common. Many autistic people have had negative experiences in therapy. If this is true for you, you’re not the problem. Typically, the real issue is a mismatch in therapeutic approach.
The effectiveness of therapy for autistic adults depends heavily on the therapeutic relationship, says Dr. Kelly Whaling, Research Lead and Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Prosper Health. It also depends on whether therapy is adapted to your personal support needs. These may be quite different from those of people whose cognitive function aligns with social norms (also known as neurotypicals). That’s why autism affirming therapy is so important.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to find a therapist who truly supports you on your terms, so that you can be partners on your journey toward better mental health.
How to Regulate Your Nervous System: A Guide for Autistic Adults
For me, nervous system dysregulation begins at the center of my body: a quaking, liquid feeling that leaves me unsettled. I have episodes of verbal shutdown, and may engage more in stimming: rocking back and forth, humming to myself, and bouts of anger that have no outlet. It’s in times like these that I try and re-center myself through deep breathing, reducing sensory input, and leaning on my support systems.
Autistic people often experience heightened nervous system responses, which can lead to dysregulation, especially in overwhelming environments. This can lead to chronic stress, shutdowns, meltdowns, and sensory overwhelm. Addressing dysregulation can improve quality of life, positively impacting physical health, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and mental health over all.
In this article, we’ll discuss tools to help autistic adults shift out of dysregulation and offer strategy suggestions to become more regulated and maintain equilibrium. However, as always, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new therapeutic techniques.
All About Interoception: How You Sense Your Body From the Inside
Noticing internal body signals, like hunger, thirst, or pain, is something many adults don't think twice about. But for people with interoception differences, staying on top of these cues can be a daily challenge.
Lucy*, who identifies as a “late-diagnosed AuDHD-er” shares that anytime she hyperfixates on a task, paying attention to her body’s cues is almost impossible. She even had to set goals for herself in therapy to ensure she stayed hydrated and used the bathroom regularly.
If Lucy’s experiences sound familiar (perhaps you don’t always remember to grab a drink or something to eat until you’re ravenous!) then your body might also experience interoception differently from others.
This is a common trait in neurodivergent people, and the more it’s understood, the better equipped you’ll be to support yourself and others.
In this article, we’re going to explore what exactly interoception is, how it works in the brain, how it shows up differently in autistic adults, and how to increase awareness of interoception differences.
How to Deal with Overstimulation in Autism: A Comprehensive Guide
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or experienced physical discomfort because of bright flashing lights or the buzz of a crowded room, you may have gotten a glimpse of what overstimulation feels like for an autistic person.
Put simply, overstimulation (also known as sensory overload) occurs when sensory stimuli become too much to handle. There’s just too much sensory information overwhelming your brain. Every sound, color or scent piles up until it feels like everything’s in overdrive. It can range in severity from mildly uncomfortable to physically painful. Research has found that about 90% of autistic individuals struggle with sensory processing, which can lead to feeling overstimulated. Some autistic people will also have co-occurring sensory processing disorder, which deepens the impact of unpleasant sensory stimuli.
Understanding and managing overstimulation is important because it allows us to recognize the warning signs and use effective coping mechanisms. Whether you're a loved one to someone with autism or an autistic adult yourself, learning to notice and reduce sensory overload can make a huge difference in everyday comfort and overall well-being.
Comprehensive Guide to the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2)
While Prosper Health is a neurodiversity-affirming practice, diagnostic criteria and assessments often use deficit-focused language that isn’t neurodiversity-affirming. We chose to include some of this deficit-based language—which does not reflect how we would usually write about autism—in this article for the sake of accurately portraying diagnostic materials.
DEAR MAN: A DBT Skill for Asking for What You Need and Saying No
A few years back, a new friend invited me to the restaurant where she worked so we could hang out after her shift. When I arrived, she was nowhere to be found — and when I texted her, she explained she’d gone home because it was too hot. I was really frustrated and wished she’d told me about the change of plans before I left my house.
Cue my response: “Okay, I understand,” signed with a heart for good measure. If only I’d known of the DEAR MAN DBT skill!
The DEAR MAN technique comes from DBT’s interpersonal effectiveness module, which teaches strategies for asking for what you need, setting boundaries, maintaining relationships, and protecting your self-respect. It exists because sharing our true feelings and opinions can be hard. Many of us — especially those who are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent — have been afraid to speak up, advocate for ourselves, or ask for change. Setting boundaries, including saying “no,” can also be challenging.
This isn’t a personal failing, and it doesn’t mean we’re bad at communicating. It does mean that, at least in certain situations, we might benefit from structure. “DEAR MAN helps because it provides a predictable framework for navigating difficult conversations,” says Jacqueline Shinall, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at Prosper Health.
In this article, we'll discuss how to use DEAR MAN skills to ask for what you need and say "no," deal with common challenges, and adapt the skill if you’re autistic or have ADHD. We’ll also explore how to practice ahead of time using a DEAR MAN worksheet.
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