Why #actuallyautistic is so freaking liberating

The modern medical community is behind the times when it comes to Autism, especially when the Autistic person is BIPOC, a woman, or from a lower socioeconomic class. Many women and BIPOC in their 30's, 40's, 50's, and beyond are part of the "lost generation" of people who were not diagnosed with Autism when they were kids. The community connected to the hashtag #actuallyautistic is flipping the script on this issue. Many Autistic people are finding the resources and information to either access a formal medical diagnosis or do the work to diagnose themselves as Autistic. This has created a new wave of women and BIPOC who are now finally figuring out a name for what has impacted their lives since they were born. And I am so happy to be an openly Autistic therapist serving this community of people. I have found the Autistic community vital in my own discovery process and my connection to this community has been facilitated by the hashtag #actuallyautistic. And most importantly, this hashtag is showing other autistic mothers and parents that I as well as other openly Autistic therapists exist and are here to help. Many of us are no longer "lost" but have found each other and a diagnosis that liberates us from the false belief that something was "wrong with us" or that we had some other diagnosis that wasn't accurate. It can be an incredible relief to finally understand your neurotype. So cheers to the #actuallyautistic community. May the next generation of women, BIPOC, and others who don't fit the traditional idea of what an autistic person is be guided by those who came before them. Here's to making the world a better place with more resources for Autistic and neurodivergent folks.