Category: Adult Autism

What to Consider When Seeking Adult Autism Assessment

August 9, 2023

Adult Autism, Autism Diagnosis, Late-Diagnosed Autism

Season 3, episode 4 is here: What to Consider When Seeking Adult Autism Assessment

Are you ready to navigate the intricate maze of adult autism diagnosis?

I dedicate this episode to offering tips and advice to help you determine whether autism assessment is right for you, suggestions on how to find a psychologist who conducts adult autism assessments, and brief strategies on securing financial support if you can’t afford the exorbitant assessment fees.

This episode is designed to be a supportive companion on your quest for answers.

If you’d like to know more about topics discussed in this episode, check out:

Dr. David Worling’s website

Transcript

Kristen Hovet: 1:06

Today I have some tips and advice covering adult autism diagnosis, whether you should seek diagnosis in the first place, how to go about finding an assessor, usually a psychologist who specializes in autism, and a few tips if you can’t afford paying for the assessment.
(more…)
What Can Occupational Therapy Do for Autistic Adults? An Interview With Courtney Benner

July 28, 2023

Adult Autism, Autism Interventions, Executive Function

Season 3, episode 3 is here: What Can Occupational Therapy Do for Autistic Adults? An Interview With Courtney Benner

Courtney Benner, a neurodivergent occupational therapist based in Utah, shares how occupational therapy can help autistic adults. She also talks about her neurodivergent identities and the ways these help her relate to her clients.

Courtney shares the lead-up to her diagnoses and how much of an impact they had on her life. Additionally, she shares some very interesting statistics about autistic sleep patterns, explains the zones of regulation and how these can be used or adapted for adults with alexithymia, talks about the hurdles to becoming an autism assessor, and more.

If you’d like to know more about topics discussed in this episode, check out:

Check out “10 Surprising Ways OT Can Help Adults With Autism and ADHD” by Courtney Benner

“Take the ACE [Adverse Childhood Experiences] Quiz” via NPR

Transcript

Kristen Hovet: 1:06

Please say hello to my guest for today, Courtney Benner, an occupational therapist based in Utah.
(more…)
Life After Late Autism Diagnosis With Melissa Elaine

July 16, 2023

Adult Autism, After Autism Diagnosis, Autistic Experience, Interview With An Autistic Person

Season 3, episode 2 is here: Life After Late Autism Diagnosis With Melissa Elaine

Melissa Elaine, a music industry professional in California, shares the lead-up to getting an autism diagnosis just this past January and what life has been like ever since.

Melissa shares how past therapists chalked up her challenges to trauma and C-PTSD, dismissing her and her family’s well-informed suspicions that she may be autistic. She also shares her experiences of going nonverbal, her main autistic attributes as a child, and what aspects of life have changed since her late-autism assessment and identification.

Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn.

If you’d like to know more about topics discussed in this episode, check out:

“Females and Autism/Aspergers: A Checklist” by Samantha Craft

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price

So You Think You’re Autistic: A Workbook for the Confused Person Who’s Trying to Figure Things Out by Samantha Stein

Transcript

Kristen Hovet: 1:06

Today I’m speaking with Melissa Elaine, a late-diagnosed autistic music industry professional from California.
(more…)
Heath Wilder, ‘Autigender’, and Autistic Empathy

March 26, 2023

Adult Autism, Autistic Experience, Interview With An Autistic Person, Late-Diagnosed Autism
Pictured: Heath Wilder in San Francisco, blissfully hanging off the side of a cable car, 2022.

Season two, episode nine is here: Heath Wilder, ‘Autigender’, and Autistic Empathy

Heath Wilder is the Director of Customer Experience at the Sydney Theatre Company in Sydney, Australia (Gadigal lands), and they were one of the first listeners of The Other Autism podcast — maybe even the first!

Listen as Kristen and Heath aggressively abstain from small talk and dive right in to gender, autigender (aka gendervague), the female autism phenotype or presentation, the double empathy problem, alexithymia, masking, meltdowns, shutdowns, and more.

Check out Heath’s website: Heath Wilder — a journey in the performing arts

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Nicola Rowan-Brooks and Late Autism Diagnosis at 55

February 22, 2023

Adult Autism, Autistic Experience, Interview With An Autistic Person, Late-Diagnosed Autism
Pictured: Nicola Rowan-Brooks at 21 when she graduated from Durham University in 1989.

Season two, episode six is here: Nicola Rowan-Brooks and Late Autism Diagnosis at 55

Hear Nicola Rowan-Brooks’s story about being diagnosed by Sarah Hendrickx at the age of 55. Nicola shares the impact of her autism diagnosis and what life was like growing up undiagnosed in the UK.

Nicola runs an online business restoring teddy bears. Her website is called Ambrosia Bears.

If you’d like to know more about this topic, check out:

“Girls and Women and Autism: What’s the Difference?” [YouTube video] by Sarah Hendrickx

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Leslie and Autism Self-Diagnosis

February 6, 2023

Adult Autism, Autism Diagnosis, Autistic Experience, Interview With An Autistic Person
Season two, episode four is here: Leslie and Autism Self-Diagnosis

Hear Leslie’s story about stumbling upon autism later in life, and the series of aha moments that ensued.

Leslie previously worked in animation on feature films such as FernGully: The Last Rainforest, The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, and Space Jam. She is now a freelance graphic designer crafting bespoke graphics and brand development for rogues, disruptors, and obsessives in California.

Topics discussed also include:
- Reasons why some people don’t pursue formal autism diagnosis
- Intense empathy experienced by many on the spectrum
- Responses of loved ones to news of a potential autism diagnosis
- Some challenges with online autism screening tests
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Category: Adult Autism

What to Consider When Seeking Adult Autism Assessment

Transcript

What Can Occupational Therapy Do for Autistic Adults? An Interview With Courtney Benner

Transcript

Life After Late Autism Diagnosis With Melissa Elaine

Transcript

Heath Wilder, ‘Autigender’, and Autistic Empathy

Never miss a post. Subscribe to receive an email update every time a new post is published:

Nicola Rowan-Brooks and Late Autism Diagnosis at 55

Never miss a post. Subscribe to receive an email update every time a new post is published:

Leslie and Autism Self-Diagnosis

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