When Chloe met Riley: the power of neurodivergent love

utistic Relationships, we’re exploring the magnetic attraction of neurodivergent love. We interviewed the Director of Studio Misfits, Chloe, and her husband, LGBTQIA+ and mental health advocate Riley, on the benefits of being similarly (and differently) neurodivergent.

Transforming allied health: The ‘how’ of neurodiversity-affirming services

Speech Pathologist Liz Baird shares how adopting a neurodiversity-affirming approach validated her personally and provided a way forward professionally. “Our social group is a chance to engage in a range of Autistic interaction norms, and I actively “unmask” – consciously disengage in neurotypical communication methods and model authentic connection.”

Dr Kristie Patten, Flourishing in Therapy

First aired at Reframing Autism’s 2021 Symposium on Autistic Flourishing: Acceptance, Authenticity, Autonomy, Dr Kristie Patten’s presentation focuses on the idea of reframing therapy to embrace a strengths-based paradigm shift, in collaboration with stakeholder engagement and in partnership with Autistic individuals.

Neurodiversity-affirming language: A letter to your family, friends and support network

Following on from the downloadable letter we created to help your child’s support network adopt neurodiversity-affirming language, here is a similar letter that Autistic adults can share with their family, friends, work colleagues and broader support network inviting them to adopt respectful language that validates Autistic identity.

Dr Melanie Heyworth, Triple A Rated Goals

In this video, originally released at Reframing Autism’s 2021 Symposium on Autistic Flourishing: Acceptance, Authenticity, Autonomy, Reframing Autism’s CEO and Autistic Autism researcher Melanie Heyworth reflects on the specific conditions that promote genuine, authentic, Autistic flourishing or happiness.

McAlister Greiner Huynh, Flourishing in Education

In this presentation, first aired at Reframing Autism’s 2021 Symposium on Autistic Flourishing: Acceptance, Authenticity, Autonomy, McAlister Greiner Huynh, also known as The Neurodivergent Teacher, looks at how to help Autistic students to flourish as their authentic selves in their education by designing our classrooms, schools and places of learning with neurodiversity in mind.

How to prepare Autistically for COVID-19: Essential tips from an Autistic Doctor

During the COVID-19 pandemic – when the only certainty in life is uncertainty – times can be fraught, and Autistic people are especially vulnerable. Without our usual support networks in place and with many of us dealing with co-occurring inflammatory conditions and autoimmune dysfunction, we’re at greater risk of worse prognostic outcomes. In this must-read tip sheet, an Autistic doctor shares her essential tips for preparing for and managing COVID-19 as an Autistic person.

“I’m Proud to be a Little Bit Different”: The Effects of Autistic Individuals’ Perceptions of Autism and Autism Social Identity on Their Collective Self-esteem, a summary for non-academics

In this open access research coming out of the UK, Rosalind Cooper and colleagues surveyed Autistic adults. The aim was to understand how perceiving Autistic attributes positively and identifying as Autistic and as part of the Autistic community might be associated with wellbeing.

Flourishing in the Community

A downloadable tip sheet full of ideas on how to use your Autistic strengths to enrich your community – based on Helen Said’s presentation made at Reframing Autism’s online Symposium on Autistic Flourishing: Acceptance, Authenticity, Autonomy, 5 November 2021.