Understanding Autism: My Journey as an Autistic Woman

💪Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects communication, social interaction, and sensory processing.

🌈Autism manifests differently in women and girls compared to men and boys, often leading to late or misdiagnosis.

🎭Masking is a common behavior in autistic individuals, particularly women, to hide their symptoms and fit in with societal expectations.

🏳️‍🌈There is a need for more research on autism in women, people of color, and other minority groups to better understand their experiences.

🙌Supporting autistic self-love and acceptance organizations is crucial in advocating for and understanding autism.

What is autism?

—Autism is a developmental disability that affects communication, social interaction, and sensory processing. It is characterized by a different way of thinking and perceiving the world.

How does autism manifest differently in women?

—Autism often presents differently in women and may be overlooked or misdiagnosed. Women may be better at masking their symptoms to fit societal expectations.

What is masking?

—Masking is a behavior in which autistic individuals try to hide their symptoms and appear neurotypical. It involves mimicking others' behaviors, expressions, and gestures.

Why is more research needed on autism in women and minorities?

—Current research and diagnostic tests are based on studies done on white autistic boys. More research is needed to understand the unique experiences of women and minorities with autism.

How can I support autistic individuals?

—Support organizations that promote autistic self-love and acceptance, be understanding and allow autistic individuals to unmask, and advocate for more research on autism in women and minorities.

00:04Kate shares her achievement of having her art displayed at the DMA before turning 17.

00:13She reveals she is autistic and discusses the challenges she faced in connecting with peers.

01:21Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability affecting communication, social interaction, and sensory processing.

02:27The understanding of autism has changed over time, from three categories to a spectrum with varying degrees of struggles.

03:32Kate explains why she prefers the term 'autism spectrum disorder' over 'Asperger's syndrome' due to its association with a Nazi-affiliated researcher.

06:24Masking is a behavior where autistic individuals camouflage their symptoms to appear neurotypical.

10:21Girls are expected to have higher emotional intelligence, increasing the pressure to mask and leading to late or misdiagnosis.

13:12Kate concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding and acceptance of autism, as well as advocating for more research on autism in women and minorities.