Affirming Neurodiversity

This page exists to provide information and support for diverse autistic adults and share our stories.

In seeking to understand autism, some people may come to know one individual with autism intimately and think that they understand autism, but as Dr. Stephen Shore says rather eloquently; “if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism”!  It is referred to as the autistic spectrum because there are so many different characteristics that fall under the autism spectrum, including opposite extremes of one characteristic.

I am writing of how autism has impacted my life and publishing my research in the Blog: Vignettes From Autism.  Follow on Instagram or Facebook.  

My doctoral research project can be viewed here: Gender Diversity and Autism: Literature Review of Autistic Transgender And Non-binary Research by Lisa Macafee.​​​​
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​Dr. Jac den Houting, TEDx Macquarie University
​Why everything you know about autism is wrong
Being diagnosed with autism is often seen as a tragedy. But for Jac den Houting, it was the best thing that's ever happened to them. As an autisti​c person, concepts like the Neurodiversity paradigm, the Social Model of Disability, and the Double Empathy Problem were life-changing for Jac. In this talk, Jac combines these ideas with their own personal story to explain why we need to rethink the way that we understand autism.

Supporting Autistic Adults

Links provide deeper dives into understanding common challenges and supports to help us be more successful.  
What to know:
  1. Autism looks different for every individual.
  2. While many disability rights groups prefer person-first language (person with autism), many autistic people use identity-first language (autistic person) because autism is part of who we are.
  3. Autistic students often experience social anxiety around missing social cues and group work or speaking maybe especially difficult for them.
  4. Autism is defined by a deficit in social communication but autistic people do not tend to experience this deficit among other neurodivergent people.
  5. Some autistic people have sensory sensitivities and can become overwhelmed by scents, sounds, lights, foods, and vestibular sensations.
  6. Stimming (repetitive movements or sounds) can help us process, calm down, spur memory, or concentrate.
  7. Up to 70% of autistic individuals identify as LGBTQ+, additionally, Trans individuals are 3-6 times more likely to be autistic.
  8. 87% of autistic adults have multiple disabilities like anxiety and depression.
​What to do:
  1. Get to know each person and what accommodations they may need.
  2. Listen to how people refer to themselves and respect and reflect how they self-describe ("person with autism" or" autistic person").  
  3. When possible, try to scaffold public speaking or group work as much as possible so the individual does not have to guess what is expected of them.
  4. Encourage your autistic students to engage in community with other neurodivergent people. Online communities seem especially helpful.
  5. Some autistics need to step away for sensory management at times to be able to return and function well and avoid meltdown / burnout, please allow these!
  6. If someone's stims are disruptive, please try to brainstorm an acceptable alternative like the leg bounce.
  7. Someone may be dealing with gender identity or sexual orientation questions. Your local LGBTQ+ Center may be able to offer support.
  8. There are many supports available ranging from College Health Centers, DSPS, DOR, and let's all help normalize therapy!
Here is my video on diagnostic criteria, it is a little older, I will update soon.
​Fun fact: I am autistic.  I only got my diagnosis at age 37 after getting my children's' diagnosis and finding that an autism diagnosis explained much of the difficulty of my life and gave me resources to accommodate for these challenges.  

I have been thoroughly disappointed as to how autism is still painted as a little boy's "disease" and mostly leaves out all the adults, women, and trans individuals with autism and their treatment.  I find these populations to be the most marginalized and the most vulnerable.
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I focus on aspects of autism like the gender diversity, issues common among those with autism, mental health issues, depression and anxiety in adults, and other non-academic issues.  As a counselor, these are of pressing concern to me to prevent suicide rates among neurokin.
Carrie Beckwith-Fellows, TEDxVilnius
Invisible Diversity: A Story Of Undiagnosed Autism 
What is autism and why is it difficult to get it diagnosed? In her talk Carrie shares her own personal journey towards diagnosis of autism: why it took 35 years, and what are the root causes for such invisible diversity?  Diagnosed as autistic at the age of 35 has allowed Carrie to explore the world again from a new perspective. Aware that a late diagnosis can cause issues with identity, relationships and perception, she launched a website that explores the unique post-diagnosis experience to raise awareness and to support other autists diagnosed as adults.
Addressing the Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder
The DSM-V describes autism from a deficit perspective with concerns in social communication and rigid behaviors or special interests that cause significant impairment to the individual’s life.  I hope that by more people understanding autism, it will lead to helping individuals and their families live more full and happy lives.  
Sign up for my Neurodiversity Advocates email list here!

My most recent presentation is Supporting Neurodivergent College Students, see links to more on the contact page! ​
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