Autistic Health: Improving Healthcare Experience For Autistics, Substance Use Survey & More

Autistic Substance Use Survey 2022

This a survey on Autistic people and substance use. The aim is to collate data anonymously on the use of drugs and alcohol in the Autistic community, and use that data to write a report that will be published on this website.

The hope is that these insights may help Autistic people better advocate for themselves with regard to this topic.

Autistic Suggestion: A Quiet Room at the E.R. Required

By cambriaj1977 at Cambria’s Big Fat Autistic Blog

I just read about a sensory-driven meltdown experienced in the Emergency Room at a local hospital. The autistic person did it as a last resort, the experience you can read about here. This is one of the many reasons why autistic people often put off lifesaving care, even to the point of death. …

Improving the health-care experience for autistic patients: The Autistic Health Access Project

By Anne Borden King at Healthy Debate

When medical students ask a question in the seminars I co-lead about autism and health care, they have to wait for the answer. My co-presenter, Darla, uses a text-to-speech based alternative communication method (AAC). It takes time for her to key in the reply and the vocal response to emit from the device.

These students are learning to engage in a practice that medical providers should when treating an AAC user: waiting patiently for an answer. This is but one example of praxis in the Autistic Health Access Project’s seminars (presented byAutistics for Autistics Ontario). In fact, the act of tuning in to autistic people as authorities of their own experiences is a departure from the norm and one that we hope medical students will apply throughout their careers.….

Influencer Therapists: Dubious Ethics & Poor Quality Services

By Caroline Braun, M.S., CCC-SLP at Therapist Neurodiveristy Collection

As a speech-language-pathologist and a human who spends time on social media, I’m well aware of just how crowded the internet is with professionals eager to help families who are concerned about their children (and professionals also eager to make a profit).

Unfortunately, many professionals are using social media to sell parents products and services while breaking ethical guidelines and providing poor quality content that actually harms kids.

As more and more social media platforms become available, professionals across disciplines find additional places to share their (sometimes self-proclaimed) expertise. Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and more are filled with dietitians, social workers, SLPs, OTs, BCBAs, ‘holistic healers’ and others who all have something to say about language development, “picky” eating, and the best way to raise children. They also often co-opt terms like “neurodivergent-affirming” and “responsive feeding” to do it.

“Ooh I’ve never seen that before…” – the trouble with being medically atypical

By Yenn Purkis at Autism Page

I have had a number of doctors over the years say this to me – ‘I’ve never seen that before’ or ‘that is unusual’. I am one of many Neurodivergent people to experience atypical medical issues. …