Neurodiversity Labs

12/14/2023

About 30,000, or 5 percent, of the cisgender people in the study, are autistic, whereas 895, or 24 percent, of the gender-diverse people are autistic.
This supports my argument that trans-affirming healthcare providers (and other services) need to be autism-informed and affirming, and vice versa. The quality of our care matters. We deserve care that is tailored to our neurologies and gender identities. Everyone does!

People who do not identify with the s*x they were assigned at birth are three to six times as likely to be autistic as cisgender people are, according to the

11/05/2023

Today I got curious about how gentrification impacts the disabled community here in San Francisco. Here’s some of what I found.

Slide text:
1. San Francisco, Gentrification, & the State of Disability Housing

2. San Francisco is experiencing substantial, ongoing, and advanced gentrification. The disabled community of San Francisco is particularly impacted by affordable housing shortages that worsen as gentrification generates profits for the city and developers.

3. The majority of Disabled San Franciscans are low-income. Almost half of disabled adults in SF are extremely low-income, defined as less than 30% of the area median income (AMI).

4. Extremely low income in San Francisco is, at present, income below $30,250 for a single-person household. But...The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is $3,000

5. San Francisco recently opened the Section 8 voucher application for the first time in a decade. Housing Authority expects 60,000 applicants before the window closes. SF Section 8 applicants compete for 1000 existing vouchers.

6. But, in California, only about 1/2 of Section 8 vouchers are in use. What’s that about? Flores, J. (2023, November 2). What is a Section 8 housing voucher? . https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/section-8-housing-voucher-lottery-open-18462232.php

7. 10,000+ affordable housing units are planned for SF over the next five years. 27 UNITS are designated for disabled adults with developmental disabilities. None are designated for people who are deaf, blind, low-vision, or have non-developmental disabilities. (Department of Disability & Aging Services, 2022)

8. Neoliberal* urban policies have relaxed housing market regulations, increased financial investment in new development, and fostered gentrification of economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. These trends have increased both real estate and rental costs. *Neoliberalism: noun. A political approach that favors free-market capitalism, deregulation, and reduction in government spending.

9. As neighborhoods are gentrified, poor residents are pushed out. Affordable housing is replaced with higher-priced units. The most vulnerable people are displaced, often to more remote areas that lack services, grocery stores, or public transportation.

10. Disabled San Franciscans deserve housing that we can afford. SAN FRANCISCO, DO BETTER

10/20/2023

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Let’s talk about autism and employment!

06/12/2023

Happy Pride Month! 🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Let’s talk about autism and LGBTQ+!

Did you know?
Autistic people identify as LGBTQ+ at higher rates than the non-autistic population.

Research has shown a greater incidence of gender and s*xuality diversity among autistic people (Strang et al., 2014, Janssen et al., 2016).
In the LGBTQ+ community, there is a higher likelihood of autistic traits. (Pasterski et al., 2014)

LGBTQ+ status is even more prevalent among autistics assigned female at birth (Vermaat et al., 2018).

Why Is That?
One theory suggests that since autistic people don’t recognize the social norms of the neurotypical world as readily as NTs, they are more likely to live authentically and autonomously, which makes way for loud and proud LGBTQ+ identities (Strang et al., 2020).

Stigma and Bias
Some have suggested that autistic people are mentally incompetent and unable to understand their gender or s*xual orientation cognitively.
Such hypotheses pathologize autistic people, perpetuating stigma and bias (Laflamme, 2020).
But, discrediting autistic LGBTQ+ is ableist and prioritizes cishet-normativity over diversity.
The combination of disability and LGBTQ+ status may make this intersectional group more vulnerable to victimization.

Mental Health
Mental health issues may present in the autistic LGBTQ+ population due to stressors such as a lack of acceptance, support, or community. (George and Stokes, 2018)

Solutions
Autistic LGBTQ+ people face challenges, and building solutions to mitigate these challenges should be a more significant priority.
So, how can we empower autistic LGBTQ+ folks?
(1) Increase the research on autistic LGBTQ+ people using community participation.
(2) Improve cultural literacy through education and policy change.
(3) Acknowledge that autistic LGBTQ+ are a valuable part of society! They are also frequently subjected to ableism and homo/transphobia.
(4) Inclusion! Make LGBTQ+ spaces more accessible for autistic people by embracing autistic culture and behaviors.
HAPPY PRIDE TO ALL OUR AUTISTIC LGBTQIA+ FRIENDS!

05/12/2023

The phrase “Nothing About Us Without Us,” as a rallying cry for disability justice, is said to have originated from early political movements in Poland and, later, South African disability justice movements.

“Nothing about us without us” emphasizes that those with lived experience understand their needs best. The slogan declares that no decisions should be made for key stakeholders without the community's direct and full participation.

“Nothing about us without us” expresses empowerment, knowledge, and conviction for disabled people and centers them in the fight for equity. It rejects stigma and deficit, striving for a future where disabled people can envision and create the world they wish to live in.

“Nothing about us without us” advances disabled self-advocacy as the most effective route to change society, policy, and the environment.

05/06/2023

Yesterday I was so honored to be able to present my module, Compassionate Pedagogy for Neurodivergence: Celebrating Difference & Promoting Equal Opportunities in Higher Education, to a group of scholars from Scholars Strategy Network.

I very much appreciated the thought provoking questions and discussion that followed. Here’s a small selection of slides from the deck.

04/22/2023

What’s the difference between non-verbal and non-speaking?

[Image description:]

1. Non-Verbal vs. Non-Speaking
Modes of Communication


2. Communication without speech is difficult in a speaking world. People who do not speak might be at a disadvantage. When someone cannot speak, others might judge their capabilities, potential, and ability to think and learn.

3. Accurate Language Matters
Some people use the term non-verbal to describe how people communicate when they actually mean non-speaking.

4. Non-Verbal means "without words." Non-verbal is an inaccurate way to describe people who type, use AAC, sign language, etc. The use of any form of words is verbal.

5. Non-Verbal applies to those who don't use mouth words. Other terms for non-speaking are: Non-vocal, non-oral, minimally speaking.

6. Non-Speaking may be intermittent rather than continual. This is called Situational or Selective Mutism. The absence of speech in some cases and the ability to speak in others.

7. Situational or Selective Mutism can be rooted in anxiety, trauma, exhaustion, processing issues, etc. It can occur unpredictably or be anticipated. It isn't always for the same reason every time!

8. Some alternate communication options for non-speakers:
* Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
* Sign Language
* Gestures
* Speech to Speech (STS)

9. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC Device)
Communication devices, systems, strategies, & tools can replace & support mouth words. These tools support a person who has difficulties communicating using speech.

10. Sign Language There are many dialects of sign language. In the U.S., people might use:
* American Sign Language (ASL)
* Pidgin Signed English (PSE)
* Signing Exact English (SEE)
* Black American Sign Language (BASL)
* Black Sign Variation (BSV)