The Autistic Trans Guide to Life
208
The Autistic Trans Guide to Life
208eBook
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Overview
'A must-read!' FINLAY GAMES
This essential survival guide gives autistic trans and/or non-binary adults all the tools and strategies they need to live as their very best self.
Blending personal accounts with evidence-based insights and up-to-date information, and written from a perspective of empowerment and self-acceptance, the book promotes pride, strength and authenticity, covering topics including self-advocacy, mental health and camouflaging and masking as well as key moments in life such as coming out or transitioning socially and/or physically.
Written by two leading autistic trans activists, this book honestly charts what life is like as an autistic trans person and is vital, life-affirming reading.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781787753921 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Kingsley, Jessica Publishers |
| Publication date: | 03/18/2021 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 208 |
| Sales rank: | 953,698 |
| File size: | 433 KB |
About the Author
Yenn Purkis is autistic and non-binary and has published a range of books with JKP since 2006. They actively speak at autism conferences and have increasingly spoken and written on autism and LGBTQ+ identities and received the ACT Volunteer of the Year award for work in Autism advocacy. Yenn lives in Canberra, Australia.
Wenn Lawson is an autistic trans man, psychologist and researcher, who has published prolifically with JKP. He writes and speaks on the topic of gender identity, autism and neurodiversity. He currently co-Chairs the Australian Autism Research Council and is on the Editorial Board for the Autism in Adults journal. He lives in Victoria, Australia.
Yenn Purkis is an autistic and non-binary advocate, author and presenter. Yenn has a Masters degree in Fine Art from RMIT University. Yenn has given a presentation for TEDx Canberra and has been a frequent keynote presenter at autism and disability events for several years. Yenn has a number of awards, including the 2016 ACT Volunteer of the Year award and a number of other awards for community leadership including being nominated for the Australian of the Year award in 2017. Yenn has worked full-time for the Australian Public Service since 2007. They have facilitated a support group for autistic women and gender diverse folks in Canberra since 2011. Yenn has featured in media interviews for many years and was one of four autistic adults featured in the ABC TV documentary Alone in a Crowded Room. Yenn lives in Canberra, Australia.
Dr Wenn B. Lawson PhD, CPsychol is a lecturer and author. Since being diagnosed with autism in 1994, Wenn is passionately committed to campaigning for the rights of people on the autism spectrum. In 2008 Wenn was awarded fourth place in the 'Victorian Australian of the Year' awards.
Emma Goodall, PhD, is a Senior Autism Advisor in South Australia and an executive committee member of the Australian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR) as well as an executive committee member for the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network of Australia and New Zealand (ASAN Aus/NZ). Emma has volunteered for an HIV support service, was married and divorced by the age of 22 and has a range of friends across all genders and with a variety of sexualities. As an educator, she understands the damage that bad information can cause in relation to being able to live happily and enjoy one's sexuality. Emma lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her partner.
Table of Contents
Foreword Dr Emma Goodall 9
Acknowledgements 11
Introduction 13
Wenn 13
Yenn 20
Chapter 1 Autism and Gender Identity 25
Autism profiles 26
EDA/PDA characteristics 31
Trans and gender diverse 33
Gender diversity 34
Autism, gender and the non-autistic population 35
Chapter 2 Gender Diversity, Affirming Gender and Transitioning 39
Introduction 39
What is gender? 40
Gender transition/affirmation 40
Gender and autism 41
Different gender identities 43
Autism and gender diversity - intersectionality 46
Autism and gender diversity - what the research says 48
Common experiences for trans and gender-diverse autistic people 48
Common myths and misconceptions 50
Considerations about sexuality, sex and gender 51
Adults and children 52
Sensory issues 53
Body changes 54
Wenn's surgery experience 64
MTF breast growth stages during transitioning 68
Wenn's gender dysphoria after surgery 69
Considerations for younger people - autistic and trans identity 71
Considerations for older autistics 72
Changes in dress and expression 77
Legal changes 78
Bathrooms 80
Physical and social changes 82
Medical intervention 82
Fertility and reproduction 83
Chapter 3 Coming Out 85
Introduction 85
What if I am 'not trans enough'? 91
Coming out to self 93
Intimate relationships 95
Co-dependency 97
Chapter 4 Work and College 101
Introduction 101
Work 101
Finding work 102
Disclosure - gender and autism 104
Elements of work 105
Workplace transitioning guidelines 106
Disclosure - gender and autism at work or college 117
Study 117
Accessing health care 118
Renting properties 119
Travelling overseas 120
What supports can you access? 121
Advocacy opportunities 122
Chapter 5 Interoception, Camouflaging and Masking 124
Introduction 124
Being single-minded 125
Object permanence 125
Interoception 126
Neuroception and interoception: connections with gender identity in autism 126
Camouflage 131
Adaptive morphing 132
Being socially different 137
Language 138
Words, social attitudes and belief 139
Less small talk 140
Survival 140
Adaptive morphing in nature 143
Cis-female autistics? 144
Chapter 6 Older Autistic Trans Adults 148
Introduction 148
What issues do trans and gender-diverse autistic adults face? 149
Answers to some common questions about autism and gender diversity 152
Affirming gender - practical strategies 156
Being yourself 163
Strategies or ways of thinking and acting that might add to the clues for understanding who we are 163
Emergency situations 164
What to do if, what to do when, and how to do it 166
Chapter 7 Strategies and Tips to Promote Pride and Strength 168
Advocacy, rights and education 168
Autistic pride and trans pride 170
Gender diversity and the autistic community 171
Yenn's journey - early experiences of non-binary pride 173
Living with your transgender self 178
Strengths 179
Chapter 8 Mental Health 182
Autism and mental health 182
Some interesting points 183
Trans and gender-diverse mental health 183
What is post-traumatic stress disorder? 184
Strategies to promote good mental health 187
Self-awareness and acceptance 189
References 191
Index 199