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!”

Self-Reported Camouflaging Behaviours Used by Autistic Adults: A summary for non-academics

In this research, published in 2022, researchers set out to discover how Autistic people use camouflaging to cope within a largely neurotypical world. The study is the first to show how Autistic people use a range of camouflaging behaviours to cope when in conversation with someone. Knowing this information helps people to understand how to improve social outcomes for Autistic people, and to reduce prejudice and discrimination. 

Discovering Your Autistic Identity as an Adult: What Next? 

Whether you’ve had a “light bulb” moment when reading of other Autistics’ lived experiences or have realised that you share an uncanny number of characteristics with your Autistic child – Welcome! from a community of people who will understand and accept you for who you are. But what do you do next?

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.

Sandra Jones on identity

Join Autistic Professor Sandra Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement), Australian Catholic University, as she shares her insights into Autistic identity and living authentically.

#TakeTheMaskOff (but what if I don’t know how?)

This afternoon I was describing the concept of Autistic masking to a close friend, who is not directly a part of the Autistic community. I explained that currently there is a robust campaign for Autistics to take their masks off, and to be who they are, authentically and genuinely, without censure, guilt, discrimination or repercussions.