ABLEISM

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ON BEING AUTISTIC

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GENDER IDENTITY   Watch this discussion HERE

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People who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth are three to six times as likely to be Autistic as cisgender people are, according to the largest study yet to examine the connection. In this study, about 5 percent of the cisgender people have autism, whereas 24 percent of the gender-diverse are Autistic. The findings also suggest that researchers should investigate how autism presents in gender-diverse people. Researchers have often missed autism in cisgender girls because they tend to show different traits than cisgender boys do, and the same may be true for gender-diverse people.

 

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RACE AND CULTURE   Watch this discussion HERE

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Data shows that structural racism is the driver of inequity for individuals with autism. The long-standing, complex system of oppression and exclusion that has allocated and concentrated unfair advantage to white communities and disadvantages to multiracial communities has created the racial disparities in diagnosis, as well as access to supports, education, healthcare, community resources, and, ultimately, outcomes. Autism occurs across all demographics, yet the diagnosis and perception of autism in an individual differs, depending on their intersecting racial and gender identities. BIPOC Autistics have been excluded from the conversations and research about autism and are often misdiagnosed or missed altogether. Additionally, the way autism is understood and perceived across cultures also has implications on diagnosis and perception. The decisions families make about autism diagnosis and treatment are directly influenced by the family’s cultural background.  It is culture that shapes individual and familial beliefs about disability in general, and autism in particular.

 

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SEX AND SEXUALITY    **Explicit Content, video available upon request** 

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The common stereotype for people on the spectrum is that they are uninterested in social and romantic relationships, that they are asexual. Statistically, Autistic individuals do identify as asexual more often than neurotypical people do, however, this is not something that can be applied or assumed of the entire Autistic community. Individuals with autism seek sexual and romantic relationships similar to the non-Autistic population, and have the entire spectrum of sexual experiences and behaviors. In fact, over 70% of Autistic adults engage in sexual activity and experience a wider diversity of sexual orientation than allistic people do. Despite interest and activity, individuals on the spectrum are more likely to be excluded from conversations about sexual health and sexuality or given accessible options for obtaining a robust understanding of sexual health and sexuality. As a result, Autistic individuals are more at-risk for misinformation, identity confusion, abuse, exploitation, and impacts on their mental health that come from these experiences. 

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MENTAL HEALTH   Watch this discussion HERE

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Current evidence reports that around 50–70% of autistic people are actually multiply neurodivergent or have a co-occuring mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety. Recent research has applied the Minority Stress Model to the experiences of Autistic individuals and found that the chronic experience of victimization, discrimination, expectation of rejection, physical concealment or masking, and internalized stigma could provide insight into the higher prevalence rate of mental health concerns of people with autism. There are many barriers that make it harder for autistic people to get the right mental health care. These can include low autism awareness and understanding by mental health practitioners, communication difficulties (particularly for non-speakers), sensory sensitivities, and a lack of coordination and collaboration between supporting professionals.