September 2020 is officially over and, truth be told, I’m rather sad to see it go. Sure, the end of the month means we’re one step closer to ending this catastrophe of a year. However, the last few weeks have been wonderfully fascinating for our community and, as a result, I have become rather fond of the month which showed so much promise.
But the end of an interesting month is nothing to feel down about (especially when you run an autism blog that, as of late, has been scraping by on little to no news). So, let’s end this month in a style fit for the announcements, proclamations and discoveries which it housed and celebrate September 2020 with one last roundup.
[As always, links to the full stories can be accessed by clicking on the red titles and the bold headings]
5. A New Autism Diagnostics Tool
Starting off this month’s news, we have the announcement that a new autism diagnosis tool is currently awaiting FDA approval which, if successful, could speed up the diagnosis process and make the journey to autism assessment more accessible than ever.
Created by the tech company Cognoa, the app (which doesn’t yet have a name) may at first seem simple; consisting of a questionnaire and an option to submit videos. However, the true beauty of the product isn’t any hi-tech AI, but the fact that it connects those who are currently seeking a diagnosis, with experts who may previously have been out of reach.
Of course, like most, I’m always dubious of anything which claims it can reduce what has previously been a 3-4 year process to mere minutes but, that is not a worry here, as that is not the actual purpose of the app. Instead, the new app aims to reduce the time it takes to make initial contact with a doctor/therapist, allowing for somewhat of a boost through the initial stages of diagnosis, which often bog down the journey, before it’s even begun.
4. Sesame Street Autism and Covid-19 Special
Let’s admit it, no one wants to wear a mask but, as recent news outside of autism has demonstrated, whether you want to or not, it’s best to button up and pop one on (that is, unless you really can’t).
Helping to spread this message, this month, the one and only Julia returned to Sesame Street in a short video titled ‘Fluffster wears a mask’, in which the marvellous muppet gives parents and children the tips needed to make mask adoption less stressful (see above).
Now, in truth, any month where I get the chance to sing the praises of Julia is a good one (especially after her little slip up last year) but, this new outing really does show why it’s incredible that the autism community has representation on Manhattan’s friendliest road, and I encourage everyone to take 3 minutes out to watch it.
3. The Autism Show Goes Online
For those that don’t know, The Autism Show is a long-running UK event which, for 3 weekends each year, brings autism parents, professionals and advocates together to celebrate all things autism. With incredible workshops, clinics and specialised talks, The Autism Show has always been a hotly anticipated date, – something this year’s event would have been again, if it wasn’t for that meddling pandemic.
However, while most of us thought that Covid-19 meant we wouldn’t see this iconic event until June 2021, last month, it was announced that the Autism Show would indeed return this year, but in the form of a series of online webinars from the 12th to 17th October.
Dubbed ‘Webinar Week’, this exciting opportunity will feature 30 hours of online learning, for those who purchase tickets and, while it won’t offer quite the same social opportunities as the main event, it will still include many of the awesome advocates from in around the community, like:
- Carol Povey, Director for the Centre for Autism at National Autistic Society
- Dr Carrie Grant, BAFTA award-winning broadcaster
- Connor Ward, Autistic YouTuber
- Holly Smith, Autistic YouTuber
- Chris Bonnello, Autistic Writer
- Georgia Harper and Sam Ahern, TV Presenters and Advocates
- Max J Green, Actor and Campaigner
Furthermore, Webinar Week webinars will be recorded and therefore open to revisiting for four weeks after the event which, although making the week more of a month, is certainly a nice touch.
2. New Study into Autism and Gender Diversity
As the world of academia becomes more aware of how diverse the spectrum is, more research is being carried out to consider the ties between the autism community and the LGBTQ+ community. In previous months, these new studies have revealed fascinating results such as how 57% of Dutch autistic woman identify as straight as opposed to 87% of Dutch autistic men (see here) and now, in September, a new journal has demonstrated that the correlation between autism and gender diversity might be even closer than we think.
In particular, the study (which is said to be the biggest of its kind) took into account 5 previous tests and looked at links between being autistic and not identifying as the gender you were assigned at birth. The results found that, if someone is on the spectrum, then they can be 3-6 times more unlikely to be cisgender (which, yes, is a bit of a wildly varying figure, but nevertheless seems to demonstrate a link).
This isn’t to say that everyone who is autistic is gender-diverse though, nor does it prove that everyone who is gender-diverse is autistic. In fact, given that the report was formed of an amalgamation of older findings, it isn’t really saying anything new at all. However, the fact that such documentation now exists, shows that we still have so much that can and hopefully will be looked at. This is great news as, while this study was the biggest of it’s kind, the bar was admittedly low to begin.
1. #Left Stranded
It’s undeniable that the autism community are facing numerous hardships during the current pandemic. In the UK alone, 9 out of 10 autistic people have seen their mental health plummet, with a further 7 times more autistic people reporting feelings of isolation and loneliness. Additionally, 1 In 5 families with an autistic member has had to reduce work hours to support an autist during the crisis and 7 in 10 report that autistic students can’t fully commit to their studying, due to all the change.
To battle this, last month it was announced that the National Autistic Society, Ambitious about Autism, Autistica, Scottish Autism, and Autism Alliance would be teaming up to launch the Left Stranded campaign: a move to protect autistic people and our families which, on the announcement, felt like the moment where all the Avengers first got together to convince a slimy British trickster to listen to reason – only in this case they’re… no, wait, it’s exactly the same.
In the call for action, the charities have outlined that more financial aid needs to be forthcoming to accommodate the strain and stress caused by the virus. Additionally, those within the community are being encouraged to sign the petition and join in the campaign by sharing stories to raise awareness.
Make no mistake that this is an incredibly important movement from some of the most renowned autism charities in the world (not just the UK). So, if you can, please read the full press release and support where possible.
Carry on the Conversation
What were your highlights from the wonderful month of September? Let me know in the comments below. And, if you would like to hear more about how autistic people can be supported through the COVID crisis, then check out the, slightly outdated, guide I created here: Autism & Covid-19: How to Support Autistic People During the Coronavirus Pandemic
As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised, on Instagram @autisticandunapologetic and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com.
If you like what you have seen on the site today, then show your support by liking the Autistic & Unapologetic Facebook page. Also, don’t forget to sign up to the Autistic & Unapologetic newsletter (found on the sidebar on laptops and underneath if you are reading this via mobile) where I share weekly updates as well as a fascinating fact I have found throughout the week.
Thank you for reading and I will see you next week for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
