Kissing the air at Aunty’s: On being an Autistic migrant woman

With society’s understanding of Autism so focussed on white, middle class Autistic boys, many Autistic people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds miss out on getting formal identification and access to services.

In this illuminating blog, Autistic advocate and migrant, Helen Said, shares the challenges of her upbringing as an undiagnosed Autistic, migrant girl and how she is working to instigate change for CALD Autistic adults.

Please don’t ask me to be brave

In this powerful piece by one of the Reframing Autism team, she takes us behind one of her particularly damaging masks – the one called “courage”. “This mask is a warrior. It rushes headlong into battle without fear, or even better, despite fear … it lives by the mantra “act first, think later”. It is arrogant. It makes me say “yes” when inside I am screaming “no”. It says to my children “Be brave – like me!”

Autistic Adolescent Boys’ Perspectives on Engagement in Online Video Gaming, A summary for Non-Academics

In this research, published in 2022, researchers interviewed 12 autistic adolescent boys (aged between 13-15 years old) to ask them about their perspectives on online gaming.

The study is the first to explore in-depth the positive views of Autistic adolescents on online gaming.

Nociception: Autistic experiences of pain and how to support our differences

Content warning: self-harm. Autism is a very individualised thing. Each of us is different, and how we experience sensory input – including pain – stays true to this fact. So what is nociception and why is identifying our nociceptive profile helpful? Autism consultant, Loren Snow, takes a deep dive.

Autistic Insights on Identity and Self-Acceptance

In this webinar, Lauren Melissa Ellzey (Autienelle) explores her relationship with identity and the ways in which she embraces her intersectional identity to foster her self-acceptance. Video Transcript Hi. Welcome. I am so glad to be here with you all today. I am Lauren Melissa Ellzey, also known as Autienelle across social media and self-advocacy […]

Autism and Intimate Relationships

In this webinar, Ashton Bartz and Chris Rohweder explore neurodivergent love languages and making their love work across different neurotypes. Video Transcript Ashton Bartz: Hi, my name is Ashton. I use they/them pronouns and I’m an Autistic person. I work at Autism CRC, but today I’m just here as myself not representing that organisation. And […]

Full meta: a story about writing a story

In this relatable blog, a member of the Reframing Autism team shares how the convergence of her demand avoidance, extreme performance anxiety, perfectionism, ADHD and insecurity almost froze her into complete inertia. She describes how she was able to silence her inner critic with self-compassion: “My inner critic was still there, as she will always be. But the more I began to peel back the layers and understand myself more fundamentally, I noticed another figure in the front row … she is still an indistinct, elusive construct, often overshadowed by the domineering and ruthless voice of the critic.  She watches me too but it is with unconditional love.”

Does Learning You Are Autistic at a Younger Age Lead to Better Adult Outcomes? A Summary for Non-Academics

Does learning you’re Autistic at a younger age lead to increased wellbeing and quality of life? That is the question researchers sought to answer when they embarked on this study. They asked 78 university students how they learned they were Autistic, how they felt about Autism when first learning they are Autistic and now, and when they would tell Autistic children about their Autism. Read this research summary here to find out the results.

Guidelines for selecting a neurodiversity-affirming mental healthcare provider

Today is R U OK? Day, a special day for checking in on the mental health of others. But it can be hard to ask this question and offer support if you, yourself are struggling. So for all of those who do want to show concern for others without taking on their mental health concerns, we created these downloadable guidelines for you to share on how to select a neuro-affirming healthcare provider. Because sometimes even asking R U OK? can be beyond our capacity, and that is OK too.