Media that has Helped me Make sense of my Autism

By Jocelyn Saunders

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By Jocelyn Saunders

Hi!! Welcome to my infodump powerpoint!
I’ve known about my Autism since I was six.
A child psychologist told my mother to never get me diagnosed,
under any circumstances. I was “high-functioning.” I “didn’t need the support.”
The result: I’ve spent most of my life having a… strained relationship with my Autism.
I was told by people what I was like, what I wanted, even when I disagreed.
My family parented the stereotypical ‘Autistic child’ rather than me.

I was brought up with a fear of being recognised as Autistic by the school system, and thus, being medicated.
A fear of stimming. A fear of structure.
I ended up masking my Autism.
Completely on purpose. I'd specifically recognise Autistic traits just so I could repress them properly.
Many, many, many mental health issues later, / started re-educating myself about Autism. Turns out, it's not that bad
(who would've thought)
So, here's some fun recourses I found, for your needs :)

By Jocelyn Saunders

Focus: Autism masking and burnout, particularly minority experiences.
Research Methodology: Interviews with an emphasis on lived experience, integrated with contemporary research.
Audience: Masking Autistic people, structured chronologically, with exercises each chapter exploring one's relationship with masking and Autism.
Downsides: The emphasis on interviews can make the book retriggering to read.
Does not lend much focus towards the necessities of masking for Autistic minorities

Fellow Autistic, transgender, with a PhD in psychology.
Produces papers for laymen audiences and is active on Instagram and Tumblr.
Published ‘Laziness does not Exist’; runs an Autistic Advice column.
Unfortunately, Devon Price’s papers and advice are behind a paywall, but he’s migrating over to Substack, which is free.
Interesting ones that (might) be over there now:
- I’m Pathologically Demand Avoidant. It rules.
- Alexithymia or Dissociation Fueled by Trauma?
- How do I Stop Being the “Therapist Friend”?
- How to Visit Bars, Concerts, or Clubs on Your Own and Not Feel Like a Freak Loser (Because You Aren’t One)

Focus: Funding and highlighting Australian research on Autism.
Research Methodology: A mixed bag, some research is very deficit based and some isn’t. All of it is academic.
Audience: Researchers, parents of Autistic children, and Autistic students.
Downsides: Not neurodiversity affirming.
You have to get through a bunch of not great research (intervention based practice, etc.) to get to the good stuff.
Author: A research centre of LaTrobe University. They run psychology placements for students interested in Autism, with a
preference for neurodiverse applicants. They also host the ‘OTARC Seminar Series’ - recorded lectures on new Autism research.

Focus: Comedy show about how minorities (including neurodiverse people) feel the need to self-deprecate and downplay our experiences to make the majority feel better.
Audience: It’s aiming to make the neurotypical and privileged audience of her comedy feel uncomfortable, but also to validate minority anger.
Downsides: If you have a lot of unpacked shame associated with anger don’t watch this before a two-week intensive and have a breakdown okay? Be in a safe space.

Author: Fellow AuDHD, LGBT+, from Tasmania, and a well-established comedian. She has two other comedy specials, ‘Douglas’ and ‘Something Special.’
She also has a book ‘Ten Steps to Nannette’ going further in depth on her critique of comedy and experiences with Autism.
It also discusses the pressure to write and make content ‘neurotypically’ which is really interesting!

Focus: Not actually about Autism, but incredibly useful for my alexithymia: a dictionary of emotions and how they feel.
Also how neurotypicals act when they feel these emotions, which is incredibly useful.
Research Methodology: Interviews, polls, and reviewing previous research with a lived experience lens.
Audience: For neurotypicals who struggle with mental health and shame.

Downsides: This dictionary was written by a neurotypical for neurotypicals, you are not feeling emotions wrong if you do not prescribe to it, there’s no such thing as feeling emotions wrong.
About Brene: Neurotypical, female, living experience of mental health struggles, research professor of psychology at the University of Houston.
Published books on shame and vulnerability, such as ‘Daring Greatly’, which is useful if you have trauma responses to vulnerability.
She also has three podcasts and just a lot of stuff.

Focus: A blog with neuro-affirming and visual breakdowns of the latest Autism and ADHD research.
Research Methodology: Tempering the deficit-based model of contemporary
research with Neff’s living experience as an AuDHD clinician.
Audience: Autistic and ADHD people, particularly adults.
Downsides: Neff is trying to be informative and so in, she makes deficit-based information accessible and palatable, but does not critique the information.
Examples of her infographics are to the right!

Author: Fellow AuDHD, mother of neurodiverse children, was a practising psychologist. Is incredibly active on Instagram.
Also has a podcast called ‘Divergent Conversations’ where she talks with another Autistic clinician about their experiences.
Some fun episodes of her podcast:
- When Little Things Feel Huge: Neurodivergent Perspectives
- Travel and Autism – Exploring the World with Heightened Senses
- Sensory Overload and Social Engagement – The Autistic Experience in Group Settings