Autistic and Living the Dream

Category: Neuroqueer

  • Trans and Autistic: sorting my gender after diagnosis

    Trans and Autistic: sorting my gender after diagnosis

    I have always been weird. At school I always played alone at breaktimes, I talked to myself as I explored the sports field and wild areas of the playground. In my pockets I collected interesting things I found; acorns, a shiny rock, part of a bird egg. I was happy in my distant reveries, often…

  • Trans and Autistic: Where do I belong?

    Trans and Autistic: Where do I belong?

    Group membership and a sense of belonging can improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of gender diverse Autistic people. However, there remains real risks of transphobia within queer spaces. At the 2018 London Pride march which was infiltrated by a small group of anti-trans protesters. These protesters made disparaging remarks about transwomen and shared literature…

  • Counterculture: Autistic shielding and neuro-anarchy

    Counterculture: Autistic shielding and neuro-anarchy

    “There are several aspects to neuro-anarchy and several ways it can be engaged with consciously and unconsciously, it is a big part of Autistic shielding, especially the conscious choice to engage in counterculture and culture which sits on the outskirts of counterculture itself.”

  • The difference between Autistic masking and Autistic shielding

    The difference between Autistic masking and Autistic shielding

    “Autistic shielding appreciates that there is no such thing as invisible differences or disabilities – simply that people do not care enough to educate themselves and really see other people. Shielding is projecting the most intense, strange and wonderful things about yourself – waving our freak flags high for all to see. “

  • What is Autistic shielding?

    What is Autistic shielding?

    Autistic shielding is leaning into your neurological differences and behaviours. It is embracing neuro-anarchy: being who you are, doing what you do and bollocks if others don’t like it. Shielding for me is being aggressively Autistic and Attention Hyperactive and doing my OCD rituals and behaviours with no shame. Shielding is liberation; protecting myself by…