late diagnosis Archives - Page 4 of 6

Autism Interview #105 Part 1: Sandra Jones on Autistic Identity and Parenting

August 27, 2019JennaInterviews

Professor Sandra Jones is an autistic mother of two autistic sons and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) at Australian Catholic University. She has studied autistic adolescent development, the impact of diagnostic labels, and the development and evaluation of social support and peer support programs. In Part One of her interview, she shared her experience obtaining a late diagnosis and how she is raising her sons to achieve the same positive self-image.

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Autism Interview #104: Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht on Late Diagnosis and Autism Research

August 20, 2019Jenna3 CommentsInterviews

Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht is a late-diagnosed, registered psychotherapist practicing for over twenty-five years who has a passion for helping individuals with autism reach their potential. She blogs at Embrace ASD on a variety of autism topics, including the latest autism research. This week she discussed her professional background with helping others on the spectrum (including those who are diagnosed later in life), her surprising diagnosis, and how she assesses the latest autism research.

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Autism Interview #99 Part 1: C.L. Lynch on Self-Awareness and How We Describe Autism

July 2, 2019Jenna2 CommentsInterviews

C. L. Lynch is a novelist and autistic advocate from Vancouver. Her breakout novel Chemistry came about from the intention to write a book that was “the exact opposite of Twilight.” She also writes about her recent autism diagnosis and advocates for improved autism awareness and understanding. This is the first part of a two-part interview with C. L. Lynch in which she discusses her personal diagnosis story, how her diagnosis changed her marriage, and why she advocates for a complete overhaul in autism severity labeling (beyond merely avoiding “high” and “low” functioning labels).

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Autism Interview #98 Part 2: Old Lady With Autism on Advocacy and Autism Resources

June 25, 2019Jenna1 CommentInterviews

This is the second part in a two-part interview with the blogger known as ‘Old Lady With Autism.‘ ‘Old Lady With Autism’ is on a mission to advocate for late-diagnosed individuals on the spectrum as well as autistic elderly who may not have received a diagnosis. Last week she offered insight into her difficulties growing up undiagnosed as well as why it was so important for her to receive a formal diagnosis into her sixties. This week she detailed her mission to use her blog to improve understanding of and support older autistic individuals (with or without a diagnosis).

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Autism Interview #98 Part 1: ‘Old Lady With Autism’ on Late Diagnosis and Disability

June 18, 2019Jenna3 CommentsInterviews

This is the first part in a two-part interview with the blogger known as ‘Old Lady With Autism.’ ‘Old Lady With Autism’ is on a mission to advocate for late-diagnosed individuals on the spectrum as well as autistic elderly who may not have received a diagnosis. She self-diagnosed with autism a year ago and is currently in the process of receiving a formal diagnosis. She says discovering her autism diagnosis (as well as her mother’s) has helped her make sense of her life and realize a critical need for autism awareness and understanding among the caregivers of the elderly. This week she offered a unique perspective into the difficulties of growing up on the spectrum, especially without an understanding of why she was perceiving the world so differently. She also explains why obtaining an official autism diagnosis is so important, even in her sixties.

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Autism Interview #96: Lyn Miller-Lachmann on Writing and Publishing

May 21, 2019Jenna1 CommentInterviews

Lyn Miller-Lachman is a married author, teacher, editor, and writing consultant/sensitivity reader on the autism spectrum. She loves traveling and is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. She writes historical fiction featuring characters who are also on the autism spectrum. This week she discussed autistic portrayals in fiction and shared her experience working with the publishing industry, as well as how it can be more accessible to autistic writers.

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Autism Interview #93: Bix on Balancing the Medical and Social Models of Disability

April 23, 2019JennaInterviews

Bix is a forty-nine-year-old writer, late-diagnosed Autistic advocate, and former urban goatherd from Oregon. He blogs at This Mediocre Life. This week Bix shared his experience as a late-diagnosed Autistic adult and ideas for balancing the medical and social models of disability so that Autism is more accurately represented.

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Autism Interview #89: Tracey Cohen on Late Diagnosis, Advocacy, and Running

February 26, 2019Jenna2 CommentsInterviews

Photo credit: Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Tracey Cohen is an experienced ultrarunner, author, and speaker, and has competed in thousands of races around the world. Tracey was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 39 and speaks regularly about autism to school groups and at conferences. She is the author of Six-Word Lessons on Female Asperger Syndrome and Six-Word Lessons on the Sport of Running. This week she shared some of her experiences growing up undiagnosed, her current advocacy work, and her love of running.

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Autism Interview #86: Gord Gates on Late Diagnosis, Marriage, and Advocacy

January 29, 2019JennaInterviews

Gord Gates is a Canadian author, mental health counselor, and Autistic activist. Gates’ new book, Trauma, Stigma, and Autism: Developing Resilience and Loosening the Grip of Shame offers a unique framework for combating the psychological and emotional impact of stigma and creates a brighter path for anyone who’s been made to feel like an “outsider.” He says stigma is a form of trauma and shows how trauma in various forms can create difficult emotional challenges. He describes how autism can help us better manage these challenges as it provides insight into the nature of stigma and helps us counter the automatic reactions that often stigmatize others. This week he shares his experiences growing up without a diagnosis and how parents and educators can better support Autistic children and adults.

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Autism Interview #83 Part 1: Gillan Drew on Late Diagnosis and Autistic Adulthood

December 4, 2018JennaInterviews

Gillan Drew is a British author and father of two daughters. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at 28 and blogs about his life at Aspie Daddy. Gillan is the author of An Adult with an Autism Diagnosis: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. This is the first part of a two-part interview with him. This week he shared his experience grappling with a diagnosis later in life and offered advice for offering support to other autistic adults.

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