Many autistic people and ADHD-ers report using “masking” and “camouflaging” in their lives. This is where people conceal certain traits and replace them with neurotypical ones to avoid being recognised as neurominorities.
Read more “What are ‘masking’ and ‘camouflaging’ in the context of autism and ADHD?”
These factsheets are suitable for university and other higher education staff planning events with an inclusive focus. Each of the factsheets contains tips and guidance for ensuring that higher education activities accommodate neurodiverse students. They were developed by the Neurodiversity Project Officer at La Trobe University, Elizabeth Radulski, in November 2020. Download now.
Read more “Event planning for inclusion of neurodiverse students”
Camouflaging, masking, blending in, compensating, impression management; we all do this to an extent. Imagine you’re invited to a work dinner with your colleagues. You get ready, thinking about what’s appropriate to wear, what to bring, and some topics to bring up (and avoid) if there are lulls in conversation. In Autism, the stakes are higher, and the task is more difficult. When social skills do not come intuitively, getting through this event requires cognitive effort, concentration and learning, a bit like doing complex algebra on the fly.
Read more “Masking, Camouflaging & Compensating in Autism”
The idea of neurodiversity is not new but has been gaining more attention recently. The essence of the term ‘neurodiversity’ is that “there is no single way for a brain to be normal,” as explained in a recently-published editorial by Simon Baron-Cohen, head of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge (see here & here). Looking at autism from a neurodiversity perspective can help promote inclusion and reduce stigma. It means broadening our understanding to see how social systems can change to be more autism friendly, rather than focusing narrowly on the individual. Supermarket ‘quiet hours’ are a nice example of an environmental change that can have a positive impact for people on the Autism spectrum.
Read more “Neurodiversity and Participatory Research in Autism”