What makes Autistic women thrive in their career? Not quite fitting in.

In this guest blog by Autistic researcher, Annette Eriksen, she shares with us her experience growing up and entering the workforce, and tackles the greater question of what makes Autistic women, not just survive, but thrive in their career.

She writes of her hopes for her research to pave the way for more Autistic women to be able to work in a way that makes them, “thrive, contribute, and feel supported and able to be open about their Autism without fear of losing family, friends and work opportunities.”

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.

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 […]

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.”

Love Across Neurotypes: the beauty in meeting halfway

Founder of Finding Autism, Amy Cramb, shares the ‘sweet spot’ that can be found when an Autistic person and their non-Autistic partner meet each other halfway: “If both sides work their way up the wall through compromise and acceptance, they can meet at the top – the halfway point – where true connection, understanding, and even love, can arise.”

Kristy Forbes, Flourishing with Acceptance

Originally aired at Reframing Autism’s 2021 Symposium on Autistic Flourishing: Acceptance, Authenticity, Autonomy, Australian-based Autism and neurodiversity support specialist Kristy Forbes’ presentation explores some of the key concepts around Autism acceptance, including damaging narratives, supporting the individual, Autistic culture and lifestyle, Autistic identity and challenging internalised ableism.

Shy Little Pixie: Unlocking the enigma of Autistic social anxiety

“When I am able to mask, I may make it through an hour, but invariably, my mask soon slips, and like Cinderella at the ball, I am left escaping in tears for fear of the ‘real me’ being exposed.” Chantell is a late diagnosed Autistic writer and advocate with ADHD and severe social anxiety. She shares her lived experience online as Shy Little Pixie, so others do not feel so alone.

Reframing PDA: The power of an Autistic perspective

In this guest blog, an Autistic mother’s understanding of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is reframed by her neurokin, which transforms her ability to support her child with respect and compassion.

Survival of the “misfits”: The entrepreneur empowering her neurokin

Entrepreneur, Chloe Andrew, tells of how she used her Autistic identity to inform the creation of Studio Misfits – an affirming, empowering, compassionate and radically accepting service for neurodivergent and LGTBQIA+ folk.