Autistic people often feel they have to present as neurotypical or perform neurotypical social behaviours in order to fit in. So-called 'masking' is a social survival strategy used by autistic people in situations where neurodiversity is not understood or welcomed. While this is a commonly observed phenomenon in the autistic community, the complexities of masking are still not widely understood. This book combines the latest research with personal case studies detailing autistic experiences of masking. It explains what masking is and the various strategies used to mask in social situations. The research also delves into the psychology behind masking and the specifics of masking at school, at social events with peers, and at work. The book looks at the consequences of masking, including the toll it can have on mental and physical health, and suggests guidance for family, professionals, and employers to ameliorate negative effects. With a diverse range of voices, including perspectives across gender, ethnicity and age, this is the comprehensive guide to masking and how to support autistic people who mask.

A deep dive into the spectrum of Autistic experience and the phenomenon of masked Autism, giving individuals the tools to safely uncover their true selves while broadening society’s narrow understanding of neurodiversity “A remarkable work that will stand at the forefront of the neurodiversity movement.”—Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP, author of Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism For every visibly Autistic person you meet, there are countless “masked” Autistic people who pass as neurotypical. Masking is a common coping mechanism in which Autistic people hide their identifiably Autistic traits in order to fit in with societal norms, adopting a superficial personality at the expense of their mental health. This can include suppressing harmless stims, papering over communication challenges by presenting as unassuming and mild-mannered, and forcing themselves into situations that cause severe anxiety, all so they aren’t seen as needy or “odd.” In Unmasking Autism, Dr. Devon Price shares his personal experience with masking and blends history, social science research, prescriptions, and personal profiles to tell a story of neurodivergence that has thus far been dominated by those on the outside looking in. For Dr. Price and many others, Autism is a deep source of uniqueness and beauty. Unfortunately, living in a neurotypical world means it can also be a source of incredible alienation and pain. Most masked Autistic individuals struggle for decades before discovering who they truly are. They are also more likely to be marginalized in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, and other factors, which contributes to their suffering and invisibility. Dr. Price lays the groundwork for unmasking and offers exercises that encourage self-expression, including: • Celebrating special interests • Cultivating Autistic relationships • Reframing Autistic stereotypes • And rediscovering your values It’s time to honor the needs, diversity, and unique strengths of Autistic people so that they no longer have to mask—and it’s time for greater public acceptance and accommodation of difference. In embracing neurodiversity, we can all reap the rewards of nonconformity and learn to live authentically, Autistic and neurotypical people alike.

The Plague Years collects scholarly and essayistic reflections on literary, visual, and sonic representations of the COVID-19 and other pandemics. These are placed alongside poetry and short fiction written in the first two years of quarantine or isolation. This range expresses the intellectual and imaginative struggle and ingenuity entailed in coming to terms with the rampant spread of disease and its emotional, cultural, and political consequences. The contributions are from diverse contexts: Africa (from Egypt to South Africa), China, Japan, the US, and Scandinavia. They consider some of the array of contemporary engagements: poems translated from Mandarin about the traumas of the frontline, Chinese calligraphic poetry printed on cartons of PPE, comments on the literary history of representing epidemics and pandemics, political analyses of the post-truth present, and the role of life-writing and gaming in an interrupted world. Given the generative and creative obliquity of many of its parts, this collection shifts how one thinks about the diseased present and the archival pasts on which it draws. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of English Studies in Africa.

As the parent of a child recognised as autistic as a pre-teen or teen, it can often feel difficult to find the answers you need. Children who make it to late primary/early secondary age before being picked up by the system tend to present with traits that are harder to spot, meaning it can be harder to engage professionals in the diagnostic process and gather the necessary support. Cathy Wassell, CEO of Autistic Girls Network, has tailored this handbook to support parents with older children or teenagers who are at the identification stage, walking them through the basics in an engaging and accessible manner. She addresses key challenges for this age group, including co-occurring conditions, puberty, and safeguarding, as well as looking to the future, advising on schooling options, and beyond. Designed to help parents become fully informed and ensure a nurturing and positive environment for our autistic young people, this is a guide with a focus on difference - not deficit.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780429285912, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. This innovative book addresses the question of why increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed with autism since the 1990s. Providing an engaging account of competing and widely debated explanations, it investigates how these have led to differing interpretations of the same data. Crucially, the author argues that the increased use of autism diagnosis is due to medicalisation across the life course, whilst holding open the possibility that the rise may also be partly accounted for by modern-day environmental exposures, again, across the life course. A further focus of the book is not on whether autism itself is valid as a diagnostic category, but whether and how it is useful as a diagnostic category, and how the utility of the diagnosis has contributed to the rise. This serves to move beyond the question of whether diagnoses are 'real' or social constructions, and instead asks: who do diagnoses serve to benefit, and at what cost do they come? The book will appeal to clinicians and health professionals, as well as medical researchers, who are interested in a review of the data which demonstrates the rising use of autism as a diagnosis, and an analysis of the reasons why this has occurred. Providing theory through which to interpret the expanding application of the diagnosis and the broadening of autism as a concept, it will also be of interest to scholars and students of sociology, philosophy, psychiatry, psychology, social work, disability studies and childhood studies.

A quick and easy way to understand neurodiversity as written by neurodivergent people and our families Neurodiversity For Dummies is your essential guide in understanding neurodivergent conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. This quick and easy guide is perfect for anyone needing to know more about neurodiversity. And that’s all of us—because recent estimates say that 15-20% of the world’s population have some form of neurodivergence. Your life is filled with neurodivergent people that you know and love, whether you realize it yet or not. It’s time to learn to support and include the neurodivergent among us, and to understand how neurodiversity impacts society and the workplace. This is for the neurodivergent person wanting to thrive in life, for parents and caregivers seeking success for their child, and for teachers who are working to make a difference in their students’ lives. Filled with practical advice, Neurodiversity for Dummies also provides a helping hand to service providers, assistance for workplace managers and colleagues, and understanding for family members and friends. Imagine a world where we all understood ourselves better and appreciated more deeply the differences in others. No matter how your own brain thinks, Neurodiversity for Dummies is for you. Check out this jargon-free introduction for an essential overview. Explore the Spectrum of Neurodiversity: Understand in plain language the world of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent conditions. Unlock Hidden Talents: Move yourself beyond common myths and misconceptions to discover how neurodiversity actually works. Learn how neurodiversity has always been with us, why society needs neurodivergent traits, and how neurodiversity can be a wellspring of innovation, creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking. Discover Yourself: Whether you are a neurodivergent person or not, learn how to understand your own normalcy, advocate for your needs, and build meaningful connections with those who think and experience the world differently than you. Change the World Around You: Be empowered through simple steps you can take to create inclusive environments for neurodivergent individuals in your school or workplace. Uncover proven strategies that cultivate a culture of acceptance and respect, where the unique perspectives of all individuals are valued and celebrated. We believe in providing parents with better supports, empowering individuals with information, and shaping a world where we are all seen and understood. With an author team composed of neurodivergent individuals and parents writing together, Neurodiversity for Dummies is an example of the power of neurodiversity when put into action. It’s why we wrote this for you. Don’t miss your chance to embark on this transformative journey. Order your copy of Neurodiversity for Dummies now to better understand yourself and others, and to join the movement that is revolutionizing how we understand and support the diversity of the human mind.

'I no longer try to mask my autism; I now work to support my autism' It is a myth that autistic children grow into 'less autistic' adults. In fact, many autistic adults feel more overwhelmed as they age as the stresses of social demands such as relationships, parenting, or the work environment increase. Niamh Garvey offers tips and tricks designed to reduce sensory and emotional stress and look after your autistic self. From understanding what's happening when the stress response kicks in to using the 'detective habit' to spot your individual strengths and triggers. What's more, every element of this book can be personalised to you. Featuring strategies including 'quick calm plans' for managing triggers and lived-experience advice on understanding emotional regulation, coping with sensory overload and how to look after your senses during intimacy, this guide is here to ensure that you don't just survive adulthood, you thrive in it.

Autism Spectrum Disorders from Theory to Practice Apply the latest ASD theory to assessment and intervention in real-world clinical environments In Autism Spectrum Disorders from Theory to Practice, a team of experienced interventionists deliver a practical application of modern theory regarding autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) to common, real-world clinical situations. Hands-on guidance is paired with advice on culturally appropriate and responsive practices informed by professionals who collectively have over 40 years of combined speech pathology experience. The work of special contributors like Dr. Pamela Wiley, who is the Founder and President of the Los Angeles Speech and Language Therapy Center, appears alongside evidence-based ASD intervention instruction that draws from the latest studies and from the authors’ assessments and interventions with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds. When combined with the reader’s own professional competence, clinical experiences, and continuing education, this book is a powerful resource that will improve patient outcomes. Autism Spectrum Disorders readers will also find: Personal anecdotes from the authors’ clinical practices to help illustrate the application of the concepts discussed within Active Learning Tasks that educators can use to promote learning activities that encourage direct engagement with the material Helpful and illustrative diagrams included throughout the text to help elucidate points and clarify information in each chapter Goal Spotlights that provide sample intervention goals practitioners can use with actual clients with autism Reflection Letters in which individuals from various perspectives and backgrounds—from autism researchers to developmental psychologists, advocates such as Holly Robinson Peete, and adults thriving with autism—describe their experiences Autism Spectrum Disorders from Theory to Practice is a useful reference for new and experienced practitioners in the field of autism research, speech-language pathologists, developmental psychologists, adapted physical education teachers, professors, and those affected by ASD in their everyday life.

Imagine living a good deal of your life knowing you are different from people around you, but you don’t understand why. In addition, the things that make you different have caused difficulties with education, jobs, and relationships. Navigating Neurodiversity: My Journey as a Twice-Exceptional Adult by John Truitt and Deboarh Gennarelli takes readers on an enlightening journey of John Truitt’s life and his epiphany moment when he was diagnosed as gifted with autism and other learning differences at 45 years old. Navigating Neurodiversity is unique because there are few books available today about twice-exceptional adults. For those readers who are neurodiverse, or suspect they are, you will discover John’s life is an example that can help one comfortably understand and accept who they are. There may be resistance along their journey, and one may lose a few battles. However, winning the war is what counts. For those readers who are neurotypical, it is important to raise awareness that many 2e individuals do not seek a cure or want to be “fixed”. The goal is to help everyone understand that 2e people have limitations, but they also have many more strengths to appreciate. Navigating Neurodiversity has three parts. The first part is the introduction that includes background information for those who do not know a lot about neurodiversity including autism spectrum disorder and giftedness. Part two is about John’s twice-exceptional life. It includes stories of family history, serving in the military, and his failures and successes in jobs and relationships. Readers will find inspiration as John reflects on the ups and downs of his unique life. Finally, part three includes tips for neurotypicals working and living with 2e adults and strategies for 2e adults to feel more fulfilled in their lives. Also included in this part is help for families of twice-exceptional children. Understanding the barriers and myths and misconceptions about this group of students, in addition to learning styles, proper educational planning and advocacy, can make all the difference whether a student succeeds in school or not.