The second thing that needs to happen is that we need to understand why we are in this situation in the first place, why is our difference wrong to the rest of the world, why do they think the way they do about us? The difference acceptance can make is show in Craig Goodall’s research “ ‘I felt closed in and like I couldn’t breathe’: A qualitative study exploring the mainstream educational experiences of autistic young people” and “ Inclusion is a feeling, not a place: a qualitative study exploring autistic young people’s conceptualisations of inclusion” and Rebecca Wood’s “ Autism, intense interests and support in school: from wasted efforts to shared understandings.“ The way we take in and process information through all our senses, the way that information is sorted and directed through our nervous system, the way our memories are stored and filed, the priorities our subconscious brain decides upon and the way in which that is expressed outwardly in our decision making, our movements through the world, our communication, our expansive consciousness, our whole existence.

Helping young people to understand their autistic identity

Davidson J. Autistic culture online: virtual communication and cultural expression on the spectrum. Social & Cultural Geography. 2008; 9(7):791–806. [ Google Scholar]In fact they’re ‘getting worse’, or they’re having a mental health crisis. Or they have PTSD or C-PTSD created by the very thing that was supposed to fix them. Dekker, M. (1999). On our own terms: Emerging autistic culture. Paper presented at the Conferencia En Línea. Cooper K, Smith LG, Russell A. Social identity, self-esteem, and mental health in autism. European Journal of Social Psychology. 2017; 47(7):844–854. [ Google Scholar] We are not OK – Shared voices from across the Autistic community on the impact of Masking on mental health

I am autistic card - National Autistic Society I am autistic card - National Autistic Society

Admitting to yourself and admitting to the world that you can’t keep up with it, that forcing yourself to live like everyone else is slowly poisoning you, is decaying you, dissolving your whole being with every step, is a huge deal, it’s the biggest deal. An Autistic Diagnosis This guidebook is innovative as it helps autistic young people own their autism diagnosis, whereas it’s likely the pathway thus far has been directed by a medical and/or parental perspective. This book assists adults to support autistic young people to find a safe space to explore their autistic identity, diagnosis and newfound life trajectory." – Carly Jones MBE, British Autism Advocate My child with Autism is not defined by Autism” ( You’re actually still defining him by Autism, even though you’re saying he isn’t) The Fracturing of Autistic Identity Think about all the myths around Autism… “…so exaggerated and misconceived they become almost laughable.”But it’s also shaped by outside influences – it’s shaped by decisions made by others that you adhere to and allow to shape you. And it’s hard when someone tells you that you’re doing it wrong; That everything you know is based on your singular child and information given to you that is narrow; and based on external observations. If you aren’t familiar with these themes then it might be useful for you to read the following articles first: