Neurodiversity & Gender

Evidence indicates an overrepresentation of youth with co-occurring autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and gender dysphoria (GD). 

Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15374416.2016.1228462 

While it’s interesting in an academic context to look at potential biological differences or the possibility that autistic people are more likely to have a more androgynous presentation, gender differences that may lead to more accurate diagnosis are where the rubber meets the road right now. It would be nice to see more research dollars being spent on developing a female model or a broader overall model of autism rather than trying to prove a link between autism and a “masculine” brain or other concepts that do little to improve the lives of people on the spectrum.

Link: https://musingsofanaspie.com/2013/12/05/gender-and-autism-a-preliminary-survey-post/

By, Laura Dattaro -a science reporter for Spectrum.  Spectrum provides online news and analysis of advances in autism research.

Link: https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/gender-and-sexuality-in-autism-explained/

Ask Eric Butter, PhD…

Q: I suspect my child with autism may be transgender. How will her autism affect how she processes her gender identity? How can we best support her as parents?

Link: https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/gender-identity-and-autism

Double rainbow: Gender identity tends to be more varied among autistic people than in the general population.

“Clinicians and practitioners in both fields — autism and gender identity — need to be aware of this association, and to factor it into how best to support the person’s mental health.”

Link: https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/largest-study-to-date-confirms-overlap-between-autism-and-gender-diversity/

Original study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32770077/

‘Trans’ people with autism express a gender at odds with societal expectations, or reject the male-female divide entirely. Many are breaking new ground on how identity is defined — and what it means to also have autism.

Link: https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/living-between-genders/

The Autism Research Institute works to support the health and well-being of people affected by autism through innovative, impactful research, and education.

We continue to support our community by: 

• Creating online educational events for parents and caretakers
• Offering continuing medical education credit for physicians, teachers, dietitians and occupational therapists
• Providing frequent research updates through our monthly e-newsletter and our clinical e-newsletter
• Offering the ATEC, a free online assessment tool for individuals with ASD, in 23 languages
• Publishing our quarterly science newsletter, Autism Research Review International, to provide updates on the latest biomedical and educational research worldwide
• Sponsoring annual Think Tanks to discuss issues related to promising treatments and intervention
• Funding a tissue bank for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the University of Maryland (410-706-1755), the Digestive Function Laboratory Repository at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and a specimen bank for non-autistic individuals to provide proper comparison controls for researchers
• Collaborating with nonprofit and research organizations worldwide

Link: https://www.autism.org/ 

The mission of Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) is to provide community, support, and resources for Autistic women, girls, transfeminine and transmasculine nonbinary people, trans people of all genders, Two Spirit people, and all others of marginalized genders.

We welcome all women, transgender and cisgender, transfeminine and transmasculine non-binary and genderqueer people, Two-Spirit people, trans people of all genders, and all other people of marginalized genders or of no gender. AWN recognizes and affirms all people’s gender identities and expressions, as well as choices about disclosure, transition, and going stealth.

Link: https://awnnetwork.org/

Dr. Kristen Montague specializes in helping adults on the autism spectrum, and the people who are important in their lives, to become more successful in all of their relationships, as the people they are. She provides assessment, therapy, education, support, consultation, and training services for individuals, couples, families, and professionals who are living and working with ASD in the greater Seattle area.

I believe most of us, no matter who we are, are trying to have the best possible relationships with each another across a variety of differences. In a family, group, or workplace where one or more members are on the autism spectrum there may be some neurological differences which challenge your relationships with one another in unique ways. My practice provides a variety of services to support each person in such a system to have better relationships with themselves and others. No one is designated as the “problem” in this work. Rather, each person commits to learning new skills which help to make all of the relationships in their lives richer and more successful.

Link: http://www.drkristenmontague.com/

We are a collective of Autistic people responsive to the evolving needs and trajectory of the Autistic community.

By publishing autistic voices, we are cataloguing the intersectional experiences, insights, knowledge, talents, and creative pursuits of Autistics. We follow a unique model of interdependence, leveraging the passions, skills, and specializations of contributors to create a living repository of information cataloging the autistic experience.

Link: https://neuroclastic.com

I’m a queer, transgender, flamingly autistic author and educator, best known for my book Neuroqueer Heresies and my foundational work on the neurodiversity paradigm and Neuroqueer Theory.

You can use the form below to contact me if you’d like to do any of the following:

• Engage my services as a paid speaker or workshop leader

• Invite me to contribute to a book, journal, or other publication

• Interview me for a documentary, podcast, magazine article, etc.

• Get a quote from me for an article, news story, etc.

• Ask me to write a promotional blurb for a book or other work

• Invite me to serve on your dissertation or thesis committee

Link: https://neuroqueer.com/

OAR is an organization founded and led by parents and grandparents of children with autism, who serve as the Board of Directors providing leadership, life experience, and heart.

We strive to use science to address the social, educational, and treatment concerns of self-advocates, parents, autism professionals, and caregivers. The mission of “applying” research to answer questions of daily concern to those living with autism defines our goals and program objectives and shapes our budget.

Link: https://researchautism.org/

Information, education, community and support for adults, family & friends and professionals.

The Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) provides individuals, families, and professionals with information, education, community, support, and advocacy — Learn how we can help!

Link: https://www.aane.org/ 

Jack Duroc-Danner is a white, nonbinary ASD expert.

I teach individuals how to support autistic individuals by providing consultations (one-on-one as well as group consultation), resources, curriculum, and educational workshops on the intersection of human sexuality and autism.

Link: https://www.queeronthespectrum.com

Primary Care Resources for Adults on the Autism Spectrum and their Primary Care Providers

This web site has information and worksheets for adults on the autism spectrum, supporters, and healthcare providers. It focuses on primary healthcare, or healthcare with a regular doctor.

The resources on this site are meant to improve the healthcare of autistic adults. They were made by the Academic-Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) through a series of research studies funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. AASPIRE hopes that you will find these resources helpful.

Link: https://autismandhealth.org/

Our belief is that all autism approaches should mirror the physicians’ credo “First, do no harm.” But how do you determine when benefits outweigh potential damage? The pseudoscience so often promoted as “autism treatments” has a handful of consistent identifying characteristics. Ask yourself:

• Does this practitioner or vendor promise miracles that no one else seems to achieve?
• Is the person promising the outcome also asking me for money?
• Do I find any scientific research supporting their claims, or are there only individual (often emotional) testimonials of effects?
• Does the practitioner or vendor promise a blanket “cure” for unrelated disorders, such as grouping together allergies and autism; or autism and ADHD; or autism, diabetes, cancer, and allergies?
• Does the practitioner or vendor have strong credentials as an expert in the therapies they’re promising, or in the field of autism?

Autism misinformation clouds and is perpetuated by the Internet; we aim to create a reliable, centralized, and accessible resource by writing, curating, and sharing original autism news and articles. We also want to help new autism community members develop a positive yet realistic attitude, and to appreciate autistic people’s strengths while supporting their struggles.

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