Actually Autistic Educator

Due to a medical issue reoccurring I am starting my summer hiatus early. If you have requests for topics for next season please send me a message through Facebook or Twitter with things you would like to know more about autism, or if you're autistic if there's something you would like others to better understand about you. Be kind to yourself and I'll see you all again in the fall.

In this mini-episode Jeanne (she/her) talks about rejection sensitive dysphoria and how the way we view and treat autistic behaviors in childhood can have lifelong impacts on their sense of self-worth and relationships to others. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rmPdj8A7jvLOCy1URQPm1-XXsPLJMzsvrWKQfbj6ExQ/edit?usp=sharing

In this mini episode Jeanne (she/her) talks about several of the various autism-related events and activities taking place in April, including the currently-running Intersectional Infinity Summit 2022 hosted by the Neurodivergent Infinity Network of Educators and some of its activities, and an explanation of why so many autistics push back against "Light it up Blue" and non-autistic-led autism awareness programming, favoring autistic-led autism acceptance instead. We learn about some other options like #RedInstead, #LightItUpGold, and even the satire event #ToneItDownTaupe, along with an alternative to the puzzle piece, the rainbow infinity symbol. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DayKPBgE4Xj-5MoYQsw4RDha-HcFURWfHi9wJt5dKys/edit?usp=sharing Intersectional Infinity Summit 2022, https://sites.google.com/ddsb.ca/intersectional-infinity-summit Neurodivergent Infinity Network of Educators YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ2xhiJAqd6QCEy7qS-RAJQ/featured Intersectional Infinity- Why Autistic Acceptance is Essential, https://youtu.be/ulRBjANuM5I

In this shorter episode Jeanne (she/her) talks about a common comorbidity to autism - joint issues, including EDS, looking at new research showing the overlap in these communities and talking about what that should mean for how we talk about autistic healthcare. She also discusses barriers to accessing effective care, including looking at research regarding training for healthcare professionals in autism and how inaccessibility can impact autistic diagnoses and care. She connects this to the current conflict in Ukraine and how inaccessibility is impacting autistics and those with mobility issues in Kyiv, along with a call for all of us to examine what ways we could improve accessibility in our spaces. Finally, author Chuck Tingle is added to our list of famous autistics folks should know about. Full transcript at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J2cAyGHmcAcg5c6dxydgov5Uqb9ZZu3hIdZMk6mH2aY/edit?usp=sharing

No episode this month, I'm getting a root canal for an infected tooth and everything feels gross and painful. Be back next month! If you are autistic and have tips or tricks for dental work to share with us let me know!

In this episode Jeanne (she/her) shares quotes from autistics about things they wish others understood about being autistic and family holidays, along with suggestions for both autistics and others on ways to reduce stress and issues, from changes to routine, new social environments, different food, and more. Transcript available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pLENFSz_qqCQqZJx_ClIM2RPx5L1meXt8gt4y6CGTCw/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode Jeanne (she/her) introduces several common ways of viewing disability and differences: the medical, social, neurodiversity, and deficit models, and highlights the pros and cons of each. The neurodiversity lens holds that neurological differences are a natural part of biodiversity and should not be thought of as inherently inferior to what is considered typical. A common misunderstanding is that neurodiversity means not considering any difference as bad, when in actuality it merely means the difference must be examined in light of the person's goals and needs - what might be a useful difference in one person may be felt as a frustration for another. Neurodiversity is a way of viewing differences without automatic judgement. Transcript, provided by InterACTT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tHCDcuPWyfWOcjxglCaIC8eZkkAHQYndSIxQHFsMzeI/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode Jeanne (she/her) looks at an autistic perspective of eating struggles both through research and personal experience, how this connects to high rates of autistics diagnosed with eating disorders, and gives some suggestions for ways to improve autistic eating experiences, including a favorite recipe. She is joined by past guests Gigi (she/her) talking about how texture impacts their relationships with food, and Katie (they/their) discusses their experiences both with food and a diagnosis of anorexia. Content warning in this episode for discussions of disordered eating, calories and food intake goals, and brief mention of misgendering in academic research. Disclaimer: I am a teacher, I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or psychologist - this contains some general ideas I have found in my own research and experience but please check with professionals if you are struggling with these issues, and nothing in this episode should be considered medical advice. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18QiWIM_EBwX3c4Ex25AK8kQ7pEqPJtw20Qj-55dl_2Q/edit?usp=sharing

In this mini-episode Jeanne (she/her) highlights two upcoming conferences featuring autistic speakers as experts in autism, PARC Critical Autism Studies - Autumn Conference 2021, October 18 and Understanding Autism through the Actually Autistic Lens, October 19 - 21, and highlights the importance of gaining broader perspectives rather than learning only from the people most similar to yourself. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TNMGetQoEydrOZrmqzUVVVxFtsbB4G-azlQKfagf5oA/edit?usp=sharing

A classic diagnostic trait for autism is “deficits in social communication.” However, as past episodes have highlighted, many new studies are showing that this is more a case of autistics and non-autistics struggling to communicate with each other, with both sides failing to interpret differences. By viewing autistic communication through the lens of this double-empathy problem rather than as an autistic deficit, and through examining new research and reports from autistics highlighting ways in which autistics communicate effectively with each other, non-autistic teachers, therapists, and caregivers can help meet autistics halfway and create more supportive and effective relationships. Jeanne (she/her) speaks with fellow autistics Katie (they/them) and previous guest Amanda (she/her) about their experiences with this disconnect between autistic and non-autistic perspectives. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Pf7x6e4bUUAc6fHjNWakTyVnw_YijOAQjYr9K7dFks/edit?usp=sharing

Language is important and can influence our perspectives of people. Many trainings in recent decades have focused on what is termed “person-first” language, where you say “person with x” instead of “x person.” For some diagnoses this is the preferred term, but in the autism community there is a strong preference for “identity first” language - I am autistic, not a person with autism, because my autism is an inherent part of who I am. We also look at other terms and the use of euphemisms such as “special needs,” and do a brief feature on another famous autistic in popular culture, Tee Williams, writer for DC comics. Full transcript at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1scLboj1S7pyqgl6VMSzBgg5MfomFaRbY4LPXJzu8vic/edit?usp=sharing

This week a new project was announced in the UK called Spectrum 10k, with the goal to collect the DNA of 10,000 autistics for various research purposes. It is supported by several big names in autism research, but numerous autistics have raised serious concerns regarding the use of genetic testing to eliminate or cure autism, as well as regarding several of the researchers and groups associated with the project. This has resulted with #ActuallyAutistic and #StopSpectrum10k going viral as the autistic community has pushed back against this internationally. This episode details many of the concerns raised by autistics regarding the research and people involved, as well as looking into the history of eugenics against the disabled in the last century and currently occurring even today. Finally we look at some ways to avoid these outcomes by creating more inclusive research teams and being willing to examine privilege and power dynamics present in academia. Content warnings for eugenics, Nazis, offensive/dated labels, and general mistreatment of autistics. Transcript at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n1Z-otb6420Bx9CV3N6YhZW6qbJHqqNARcLAT5jr6Zk/edit?usp=sharing

As a break from some of our heavier topics around ableism and the trauma autistics face, in this mini episode Jeanne (she/her) highlights some famous autistic actors, writers, and athletes (and a few wonderful autistic advocates who might not be famous but should be) to remind us that there are always autistic professionals in any field if you're willing to find us. We then discuss the importance of including autistic voices for autistic-focused projects, from media to professional development trainings. Full transcript available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FqsgMWAcBaPQH8IlVGj5GXSq4vJk1-thZG27L8f5Wnk/edit?usp=sharing

In part 2 of a 3-part set on autistic communication, Jeanne (she/her) discusses autistic masking and how it impacts autistic communication and presentation, including the consequences pressure to mask can have on autistics, looking at studies showing a concerning relationship between autistic masking and suicide, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Jeanne is joined by fellow teacher Dora (she/her) and previous guest Amanda (she/her) as they share their personal relationships and experiences with masking as autistics. Transcription, provided by InterACTT, at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CufpP1zWSJWlf2udU9K0Cr93ac-Gt4A-/view?usp=sharing

In this mini-episode, Jeanne (she/her) talks about how splitting autistics between “low” and “high” functioning does immense harm, and how such labels and others are used to justify abuse as seen in both the Free Britney and Stop the Shock movements in response to current cases in disability rights in the US. These functioning labels over-simplify an autistic person's capabilities and limitations, leading to assumptions about support needs that lead to some autistics losing all personal rights due to only minor communication struggles or lack of body control, while leaving other autistics struggling with limited or no accommodations because of assumptions around their “functioning” level. Content warning for descriptions of both physical abuse and Nazi eugenics, warnings and times to skip are noted mid-episode. Transcript available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zD38qP8aSqps3TbH5NFFRHGCjePS7YBJikKzoJXR9CU/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode Jeanne (she/her) speaks with Morgan Leander Blake (they/them) for the first episode as part of a larger discussion about autistic communication. Autistic communication has historically been seen as deficient/lesser, but recent studies that look at information transfer have found that autistics are often just as capable at effective communication with each other as non-autistics, we simply use language differently. Likewise other studies are finding that bias by non-autistics can be a major contributor to social disconnects between autistics and non-autistics. By studying autistic communication techniques directly, rather than only in contrast to non-autistic communication techniques and assuming any differences must be deficiencies, we can better understand autistic communication and the unique strengths it can have. Transcript, provided by InterACTT, at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D5J8-BzvdAu7LnIXKy5STAsJz9CWi2ONKzaDUU6orII/edit?usp=sharing

In this mini-episode Jeanne explains how the prevailing narrative of autism viewed exclusively as a deficit causes immense harm to autistics by vilifying their behaviors and ways of thinking and the infantilization autistic adults, which encourages abuse (both intentional and unintentional) by caretakers and support professionals, and causes depression, anxiety, and self-loathing in autistics who internalize this hatred of their autism. Transcript available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oP1J0S4MbSp84i_wtIsEhwm48u7tMLHJfXkZeJ-BQjU/edit?usp=sharing or on Twitter or Facebook at Actually Autistic Educator.

For this first episode Jeanne (she/her) speaks with with three other autistic individuals, Gigi (she/her), Morgan (they/them), and Amanda (she/her), regarding how the historic focus on white boys/men in research of the autism spectrum has missed large sections of the autistic population, created inaccurate diagnostic criteria, and harmed those who fall outside of this narrow stereotype. We also talk about the importance of including diverse autistic voices in discussions & research about autism to get a more accurate understanding about autism, and give suggestions for ways people can learn more about actual autistic experiences. Full transcript at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y7IC8jOHqjKUF4DgFXPa58zMrnDG0_pq8R_lDq0x1Eg/edit?usp=sharing

This is a short introduction to Actually Autistic Educator - a podcast sharing autistic perspectives combined with current research to teach about Autism. Designed primarily for those in education and mental/physical healthcare to improve your understanding of ASD by learning from #ActuallyAutistics. Hosted by Jeanne Clifton, an autistic adult with more than a decade of experience in education.