“Today’s episode explores how the requirement of visible "impairment" in autism diagnostic criteria leads to the systematic exclusion of high-masking autistic girls of color. These girls are often misread as simply "resilient" due to their ability to cope and comply, a skill developed for survival in environments marked by systemic bias. Their internal struggles and the effort of masking are overlooked, resulting in delayed or denied diagnoses and a lack of necessary support in educational and healthcare settings. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, argues that current diagnostic frameworks fail to recognise the nuances of their experiences, prioritising easily observable deficits over internal distress. Ultimately, Dr. Hoerricks advocates for a shift towards a more compassionate and context-aware understanding of autism, one that values lived experience over externally presented ‘impairment,’ to ensure these girls are seen and supported.”
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/too-high-functioning-to-help-too
Let me know what you think.
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