There are many ways to make a splash. You can slowly dip your toes in the water and gently pat the surface to make little waves and watch ripples move, or close your eyes and jump off the edge--curling into a canonball, or with poise and precision dive into a pool barely making a splash. Which is you?
Some people slowly realize over time their differences pointing to their own neurodivergence. For others the realization hits all at once, and still others spend a lifetime training themself to take up as little space, and cause as little disruption as possible for the judges - no splash.
What makes things tough (apart from the rip current of society that relentless pulls all occupants at will to its predetermined destination, regardless of any individual swimmers wants/needs)- is the state of the water itself -- shallow and blue.
Issue # 1 -The water is blue
For decades the idea that autism is by and large a condition that affects boys has been pervasive in academia, in medicine, in textbooks. I remember studying for a class and reading autism is 5x more likely in boys. Blue was even the color of the "light it up blue" campaign by the infamous autism speaks for autism awareness because its associated with boys.
On a whole women are largely under-identified. This article from Psychology Today explaining several reasons why.
Issue # 2- The water is shallow
One of my first disclosure conversations went like this. Soo...I have autism. "No you don't"
was the initial response I received from one of the first people I told. It's not surprising. There are a number of misconceptions about autism that prevent others from recognizing, acknowledging, accepting it in others who they perceive to be outside of the box. Many believe autistic people lack empathy, are emotionally detached, speak in a monotone and cannot make eye contact.
The general understanding of what autism is is akin to a kiddy pool. Diving headfirst into shallow water is dangerous. Some adults have hit rock bottom in search for answers and confirmation. I know of women who have said they have been told by clinicians that they could not be autistic because they are in a relationship, too smart, empathetic, and can comfortably hold conversation. These are real reasons women have been denied an ASD diagnosis. Many medical professionals/clinicians, cannot understand Autism and are therefore not equipped to recognize Autism outside of outdated stereotypes.
Autism is a spectrum not in terms of mild to severe or high to low functioning labels but in the degree to which the autistic person experiences repetitive behaviors, focused interests, sensory processing differences, communicative differences, monotropism, need for autonomy, executive functions. A concept captured beautifully in the infographic by autistic artist ->
Autism is also a dynamic disability meaning a person needs can change on day-to-day basis. Autistic author CL Lynch wrote a beautiful explanation of the spectrum in her article entitled " Autism is a Spectrum, Doesn't Mean What You Think it Does" featured on Neuroclastic. Click the banner to read below.
Autism is often overlooked in women, and Autism is often misunderstood in general.
Enter the Spectrum exists is to empower autistic women by giving access to diagnosis and documentation in order to better accommodate and advocate for themself. However, my larger goal is to inspire women whether seeking a formal diagnosis or self-diagnosis (which is completely valid) to embrace their own neurodivergence and be unafraid to... make a splash.
-Enter the Spectrum
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