Now Serving Orange County and the San Francisco Bay Area
Now Serving Orange County and the San Francisco Bay Area
RESOURCES
Click on any of the green links in the bulleted list below to be taken down to that section of this resources webpage. Under each section you will find a series of purple links to the resources. If you would like for me to add any additional resources, simply provide me with the resource's name and/or URL link in the "Let's Work Together" contact form at the bottom of this page.
First Steps in Your Neurodivergent Affirming Journey
This website offers a number of evidence-based questionnaires that may be beneficial as you begin to explore your Autistic experience. I am happy to go through each of these questionnaires with you and review the results. Please note that this is not a formal assessment.
"Seeking an Autism Diagnosis? Here’s Why You Might Want to Rethink That" by Devon Price, PhD
If you are considering pursuing a formal diagnosis, please be aware of some difficulties in doing so. I can talk further about this during a therapy session if you would like to do so.
Directory of Specialists Diagnosing Autism in Adults by NeuroClastic
If you wish to pursue a formal diagnosis, this is a list of neurodiversity affirming clinicians who are able to provide you with one. Please note that, within the Autistic community, diagnosis does not have to be a formal process. Your lived experience is valid. Moreover, formal diagnosis can be both expensive and riddled with difficulties. Please see Dr. Devon Price's article linked above for further information on this topic.
This webpage offers great videos and neurodiversity affirming information created by Autistic educators.
Autistic Science Person – Resources
This website offers many links to introductory resources about autism.
Theories about Autistic Experience – Aucademy
There are many theories out there about autism, some of them are misguided myths. This webpage offers an in-depth review of autism theories and debunks a number of these myths and poorly conducted research.
I’m Autistic, Now What??? – Dr. Christine Henry
Dr. Henry's blog entry discusses the multiple topics that often need to be processed in therapy as you take your first steps in understanding your authentic Autistic self.
This fun gallery contains a number of great graphical representations of autistic traits, which indicate that autism goes well beyond what is written in the DSM-5-TR.
The Inside of Autism - The Autistic Advocate
This year long membership provides access to an incredible amount of information about autism through both video seminars and print resources. In addition, members are able to participate by Zoom in a monthly question and answer session focused on topics addressed in the video seminars.
An Introduction to the Double Empathy Problem – The Autistic Advocate Kieran Rose
The Autistic communication style differs from that of the allistic (non-Autistic) communication style. This can sometimes cause misunderstandings with others. Therapy often allows you to process these misunderstandings without engaging in masking.
Books, Blogs, Podcasts, Social Media, and Videos
This website provides an extensive list of books on autism and neurodiversity.
Talking to Young People About Autism
This incredibly helpful resource offers an overall understanding of the type of language and ideas that we can use to discuss autism with young people. But, if you scroll down, it also offers links of autistic people to follow on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Onward and Upwards Psychology (located in Australia) – Resources
Here you can find books for children and adults including LGBTQIA+ materials, podcasts, videos, clinical skill resources for therapists, and workshops.
Articles, Webpages, Blogs & Podcasts
The Adult Autism Practice (located in UK) provides links to multiple autism and neurodiversity affirming resources.
Autism Inclusivity (Facebook Group for Parents/Caregivers)
This Facebook groups offers parents and caregivers of autistic children the opportunity to ask questions of autistic adults. The group centers autistic voices in order to provide a window of understanding of and a greater level of support for young autistic people.
LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Resources
Autistic Gender & Sexual Divergence Resources by Aucademy
This resource provides several wonderful links that further discuss the many intersections between the LGBTQIA+ and Autistic communities.
Autistic Black/Indigenous/People of Color & Latinx Advocates to Follow
This Facebook post of BIPOC advocates was compiled by Jules Edwards, who is an Anishinaabe woman from Onigamiinsing (Little Portage), and is known online as "Autistic, Typing".
Identity-First Language
Neuroqueer – Neurodiversity Affirming Language
Dr. Nick Walker's (she/her) work on neurodiversity and neuroqueer theory has allowed her to provide a wonderful guide to the meaning and use of neurodiversity affirming language.
Identity-First Language - ASAN
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network's website provides a concise view behind the importance of identity-first language.
Dr. Chloe Farahar discusses identity-first language as a key factor in reducing stigma and encouraging Autistic individuals to be their authentic selves.
In this article by Botha, Hanlon, and Williams (2021) the authors discuss "how we talk about autism in research ought to follow the guidance of autistic people themselves."
Avoiding Ableist Language: Suggestions for Autism Researchers (2021)
This article addresses ableist language in research and provides alternatives to current terms used in the literature.
Anti-Ableist Language is Fully Compatible with High-Quality Autism Research: Response to Singer
This response to the work of Singer et al. (2022) argues that the language used by the Autistic community not only better addresses the lived experience of Autistic people but that it is more scientifically precise than research that uses stigmatizing language.
Autistic Masking and Autistic Burnout
Autistic Masking and Autistic Burnout
Kieran Rose (also known as The Autistic Advocate) is an expert in the area of autistic masking and autistic burnout. This webpage discusses the concerns and includes links to videos, trainings, and research in this area.
This blog entry by Kieran Rose (also known as The Autistic Advocate) describes the nature of autistic burnout, provides a list of autistic burnout warning signs (and how they can be confused with depression), as well as a personal narrative of his experience with autistic burnout.
The Autistic Burnout Symptom Checklist (ABSC)
Dr. Alice Nicholls has created a list containing common areas affected by autistic burnout. Additional materials may also be found in the blogs located on the website of Dr. Nicholls.
Supporting Pupils through Autistic Burnout (Teacher Guide)
This teacher's guide provides an overview of the nature of autistic burnout in children and provides concrete steps to support students in an academic setting.
Autistic Burnout – Clinician's Version
Dr. Megan Anna Neff has created a workbook that clinicians can purchase to use with their clients to further discuss autistic burnout.
Autistic Burnout Guide and Worksheets – Personal Client Version
Dr. Megan Anna Neff has also created an autistic burnout workbook for clients to purchase.
Towards the Measurement of Autistic Burnout
Arnold et al (2023) created the Autistic Burnout Measure questionnaire in order to provide an assessment tool for autistic burnout.
Sensory Awareness
Pearson Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile
This assessment explores the way that you process sensory input. When I explore this with you, we can better understand whether you are sensory seeking or avoidant and how you can make your environment work for you.
The Regulator 2.0 – Autism Level UP!
This assessment addresses how various types of sensory input affect level of energy and enjoyment. This will allow you to find ways to self-regulate in the moment.
Exploring Interoception and Alexithymia: How Are the Two Linked?
This resource defines both alexithymia (difficulty identifying and expressing emotions) and interoception (perception of the internal body state) as well as offering videos, tips, and resources about the connection between them.
Parent/Caregiver and Teen Resources
Five Helpful Tips for Explaining Autism to Kids and Teens, According to Autism-Affirming Experts
This Cassandra Miasnikov article addresses the concerns many caregivers may have about telling kids and teens about autism.
Talking to Young People About Autism
This incredibly helpful resource offers an overall understanding of the type of language and ideas that we can use to discuss autism with young people. In addition, it offers links of autistic people to follow on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
This guide for caregivers by Emily Harvey covers several important areas about neurodiversity, autism, the abusive techniques inherent in applied behavioral analysis (ABA), and how to advocate for Autistic children.
Parenting Your Autistic Child Course by AUsome
These courses, developed and presented by Autistic people, offer multiple opportunities to increase one's knowledge about autism and create a neurodiversity-affirming environment for children.
Neurodiversity, Autism and the Joy of Parenting Differently Wired Children Workshop
Reframing Autism provides several workshops that assist caregivers with supporting Autistic children's well-being through patience, empathy, and respect.
Sincerely, Your Autistic Child
Written by multiple Autistic writers, this book offers caregivers information on how to avoid common mistakes and ways to overcome difficult challenges.
Supporting Pupils through Autistic Burnout (Teacher Guide)
This teacher's guide provides an overview of the nature of autistic burnout in children and provides concrete steps to support students in an academic setting.
This webpage, created by Autistic educators, offers a huge number of videos and an extensive list of links to neurodiversity affirming information about autism.
An Advocate’s Guidebook for Caregivers of Autistic Kids
This guide offers several answers to important questions regarding autism, therapy options, and information about academic accommodations and modifications.
Autistic Science Person – Resources
This website offers many links to introductory resources for caregivers who are new to autism and information about how Autistic people experience the world.
The Great Big ABA Opposition Resource List
The scientific literature and the lived experience of Autistic people demonstrates the traumatic harm that can come from the use of applied behavioral analysis techniques. This website provides an in-depth look at the negative emotional and physical effects of ABA.
Autism Inclusivity (Facebook Group for Parents/Caregivers)
This Facebook groups offers parents and caregivers of autistic children the opportunity to ask questions of autistic adults. The group centers autistic voices in order to provide a window of understanding of and a greater level of support for young autistic people.
Neurodiversity & the Nervous System – A Six-Week Workshop Series for Parents of Sensory NDs
This six-week workshop, provided by The Art of Self-Healing Center, engages caregivers in exploring the Autistic nervous system and strategies that can be used at home to address sensory challenges.
Training for Therapists
The Inside of Autism - The Autistic Advocate
This year long membership provides access to an incredible amount of information about autism through both video on demand seminars and print resources. In addition, members are able to participate in live Zoom question and answer sessions every month that are focused on topics addressed in the video seminars.
Mental Health Therapy with the Autistic Client
This 30-hour training covers autistic mental health and wellness, the history of autism and its criteria formation in the DSM, the fundamental framework in initials sessions with autistic clients, diagnostic checklist of autistic traits, common co-occurring conditions, adapting evidence-based modalities, and implementing the therapeutic plan.
This six-week course provides an interactive opportunity to gain an overall awareness of autism and ADHD, as well as to further explore therapeutic interactions with Autistic and ADHDer clients. I would suggest that you sign up soon if you plan on taking this. They have quickly sold out of several earlier series dates and who knows how long the September to November 2023 training will be available.
Practitioner Certificate Training Course by AUsome
AUsome offers multiple training courses that are ideal for clinicians who wish to expand their understanding of autism and related. One of these is a Practitioner Certificate course that has 10 sessions over a six-month period from October 2023 to March 2024.
Demystifying The Autism Spectrum & Autistic People
This three-part webinar series, conducted by Matt Lowry and Maisie Soetantyo, discusses the nature of autism, Autistic identity, and support modalities over an Autistic person's lifespan. Video available following each session.
Neurodiversity and the Nervous System
This YouTube presentation by Phoenix Rising, LSW addresses neurodivergent traits, diagnostic considerations, nervous system responses and challenges, and therapeutic strategies.
Neurodiversity & the Nervous System – Six-Week Training for Mental Health Providers
This six-week training, offered by The Art of Self-Healing Center, provides clinicians with an understanding of neurodivergent traits, the nervous system's method of responding to perceived threats, sensory challenges, and solution-focused therapeutic strategies. An six-week consultation group is also available for an additional charge.
Interoception and Self-Regulation Trainings
Kelly Mahler is an expert in interoception and self-regulation. This website contains multiple training opportunities and materials for professionals, caregivers, and self-help.
