TPP 330: Recognizing Less Obvious Autism with Donna Henderson & Sarah Wayland

Dr. Donna Henderson and Dr. Sarah Wayland's new book Is This Autism is a game-changing labor of love in which they clarify the many ways that autism can present, particularly in people who camouflage to hide their autistic traits. Their book walks readers through the diagnostic criteria in a way that presents a much deeper understanding of how those criteria can, and should, be interpreted. 

We cover a lot of ground in this extra-long episode, including why so many people, including women and girls and people in marginalized groups, are being misdiagnosed or simply “missed,” as well as why it’s critical that we look beyond the stereotypes of autism and gain a rich, nuanced understanding of the autistic experience. 

Dr. Donna Henderson has been a clinical psychologist for over 30 years. She is passionate about identifying and supporting autistic individuals, particularly those who camouflage. Dr. Sarah Wayland is the founder of Guiding Exceptional Parents, and co-founder of The Behavior Revolution. 

Things you'll learn from this episode

• Why there is an unwillingness to explore autism among many clinicians, as well as a lack of training for how to assess for it
• How Sarah and Donna’s joint book came together and what their goal is in getting it out into the world
• Why so many autistic people are being missed in a “traditional” diagnostic process
• Donna and Sarah’s thoughts on why the number of people getting an autism diagnostic has increased recent years
• Whether or not there is a place for “subjectivity” by an evaluator in the diagnostic process

Resources mentioned 

• Is This Autism? website
• Dr. Donna Henderson’s website
• Sarah Wayland’s website Guiding Exceptional Parents
• Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Dr. Donna Henderson and Dr. Sarah Wayland
• Is This Autism? A Companion Guide for Diagnosing by Dr. Donna Henderson and Dr. Sarah Wayland (available July 2023)

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