Diagnosis is Empowerment
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Identify
Autistic girls often excel in social interactions, making it harder to spot their struggles. Their interests and behaviors may mirror those of neurotypical girls. Understanding the traits unique to autistic girls is crucial for accurate diagnosis and providing targeted support.
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Support
Meet her needs. Autistic girls may internalize their feelings, leading to anxiety, depression, self-harm, and disordered eating. Understanding their unique accommodation needs in school and at home is critical for ensuring her mental and emotional well-being.
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Advocate
No matter your profession or experience, you can help. Use the knowledge you gain to promote awareness of the unique challenges faced by autistic girls and advocate for inclusive educational, social, and employment environments.
Suggested Reading
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Sincerely, Your Autistic Child
What people on the autism spectrum wish their parents knew about growing up, acceptance, and identity
AUTISTIC WOMEN AND NONBINARY NETWORK
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Unmasking Autism
Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
DEVON PRICE, PhD
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Safeguarding Autistic Girls
Strategies for Professionals
CARLY JONES
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Odd Girl Out
An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World
LAURA JAMES
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Neurotribes
The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity
STEVE SILBERMAN
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We're Not Broken
Changing the Autism Conversation
ERIC GARIA
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Neuroqueer Heresies
Notes on the Neurodiversity Paradigm, Autistic Empowerment, and Postnormal Possibilities
NICK WALKER
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Autism and Masking
How and why people do it, and the impact it can have
DR. FELICITY SEDGEICK
DR. LAURA HULL
HELEN ELLIS
Additional Resources
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Spectrum News: Righting the gender imbalance in autism studies
Spectrum Life: Empowering Women & Girls with Autism
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Demystifying Women & Girls on the Spectrum: Panel Discussion - Autism Society of Texas
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Autism, Girls, & Keeping it All Inside - Autistic Girls Network