Advocacy Talks
A collection of presentations and discussions I have conducted regarding autism and neurodiversity - from mental health and personal experiences to the ethics of systems regarding disabilities and diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorders and Neurodiversity
In this presentation, I discuss the ethical concerns and systemic struggles regarding many aspects of how autistic people experience their world. I look at this by addressing barriers to diagnosis and resources, therapies aimed at getting rid of autistic traits, and stigmatizing different presentations of autism at various developmental points. Through this perspective, I aim to highlight the lack of power that autistic individuals have in their own lives and the biases that researchers, clinicians, and the psychology field itself possess that lead to that lack of power.
Camouflaging and Social Anxiety in Autistic Adults
This is the video version of my undergraduate honors thesis in which I survey autistic adults about their social experiences and levels of social anxiety, self-esteem, and well-being. I use the results to discuss the complexities of how autistic individuals hiding their traits and trying to “blend in” with neurotypical communities can affect their mental health. Additionally, I discuss the implications of that in treatment and resources. You can watch the presentation, or read the full paper the presentation is based on here!
Autism, Pragmatics, and Theory of Mind (with Dr. David Ruskin)
In a two-part presentation, I talk with my colleague Dr. David Ruksin - a professor of linguistics at the University of Guam - and discuss numerous aspects of autism and language development. The first part is a general overview of autism from my perspective where I answer questions from students regarding my own experiences. The second is a more in-depth discussion revolving around the ways in which language develops in autistic individuals, how their social differences and processing of social cues affect that, and the implications.
Navigating Post-Secondary Experiences and Neurodiversity
In this seminar hosted by the Rochester Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, I talk through my own experiences moving into the world of college as an autistic person. I discuss the trials and tribulations of trying to find my own way and make friends in a new and difficult setting, my academic experiences with being neurodiverse, and finding my own balance between the autistic and allistic (non-autistic) communities I wanted to inhabit.
