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Part 22: Diagnostic Manual Differences
Hello, and welcome back to The Autistic Writer. The field of autism is so complex. The difference between a neurodiversity-based approach to autism and a pathologised approach to it is only part of that complexity. But it certainly does generate a lot of confusion. Today, I want to talk about how to interpret some technical…
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Part 11: Autism: Is Self-Diagnosis Valid?
Hello, and welcome back to The Autistic Writer. One of the most hotly debated autism-related subjects on social media is that of self-diagnosis. Powerful arguments are regularly made both in favour of and against self-diagnosis. But many of these debates miss a central point. Here, I will examine the most robust positions on either side…
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Part 3: What is Autism (the complex answers)?
Hello, and welcome back to The Autistic Writer. In the previous instalment, I explained the various ways in which autism is defined by health authorities, diagnostic manuals, and leading autism charity, The National Autistic Society. This time, I will go into detail regarding the more nuanced understandings of what autism actually is.
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Part 2: What is Autism (the simple answers)?
Hello, and welcome back to The Autistic Writer. What actually is autism? When I found out I was autistic, back in 2019, I threw myself into learning everything I could about autism. Sadly, the first things I learned tended to be the common myths and stereotypes attributed to autism. But as I persevered, I began…