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Understanding Gender Creativity in Autistic Youth
This blog explores the complex relationship between gender identity and autism, highlighting how autistic young people often exhibit gender creativity that challenges traditional norms. Their unique social processing and sensory experiences encourage an authentic exploration of gender, leading to higher rates of transgender and gender-diverse identities among them. Support for this exploration is essential.
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Understanding the Gender Gap in Autism Diagnosis
The historical perception of autism as primarily a male condition has led to a significant diagnosis gap for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals. While theories like the Female Autism Phenotype have emerged, they often reinforce gender stereotypes and exclude marginalized groups, complicating access to support and erasing diverse autistic experiences.
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All body types belong in sport
As a wheelchair basketball coach, I am a strong proponent of the idea that all body types and bodyminds can engage in sports at all levels and should be given the means to do this safely and meaningfully. Physical exercise and movement is a human right. It belongs to all humans. The question should not…
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Double Empathy and misgendering
Autistic people must often meet others more than halfway in conversations and social expectations. Social interactions are often dotted with unanswered questions, unknowable facial expressions and nonsensical terminology which we are expected to translate, understand and appropriately respond to within seconds. When things are misinterpreted it is usually seen as the Autistic person’s fault, as…
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A short guide to gender for Autistic children and young people
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Trans and Autistic: Getting my hair cut
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Trans and Autistic: Accessing gender identity healthcare
I’m excited to finally be able to share a paper I have been working on with Harley Bruce and Steven Kapp entitled: Exploring the experiences of Autistic transgender and non-binary adults in seeking gender identity healthcare. Harley spoke to 17 Autistic trans and / or non-binary people from across the globe to better understand the…
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Trans and Autistic: sorting my gender after diagnosis
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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…
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Trans and / or non-binary Autistic narratives: research poster
In 2020 I started my MRes at University of Portsmouth, researching trans and / or non-binary Autistic narratives. I wanted to make my work free and accessible to as many people as possible. Participants have given informed consent for me to publish this information, all identities will be kept confidential in line with UoP’s ethics…