Ep 2. “Identity First” or “Person First” Language?
Release Date: 05/23/2023
Ep 12. Experiencing the Rollercoaster of Life: The Ups and Downs of Growing Up with Autism with Elliot Durham
Autism Matters - The Podcast
We are so excited to be joined by Elliot Durham for today’s episode! Elliot was diagnosed with autism quite young and is here to share with us all about his experience with it. Elliot loves Christmas, dogs, and traveling, and specifically shares stories of some of his most recent adventures. Elliot also shares his experience of coping with anxiety and also helping those around him cope as well. Elliot’s learned experience has helped him grow and handle his emotions better. Elliot also discusses some tougher topics, such as coping with the death of his mom. Reach...
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Ep 11. Doing New Things and Seeing New Places with Adam Whyborne
Autism Matters - The Podcast
We are so excited to welcome Adam Whyborne on the podcast today! Adam is a member of Autism Matters. He was been diagnosed with autism about two years ago, and he is very extremely adventurous and is very much a go-getter. Adam loves to travel and has gone on a few trips with Autism Matters, including our trip to Corfu, Greece. While in Corfu, Adam’s adventurous personality came out when he went exploring and even went skydiving! He also went to Iceland, where he saw the northern lights and went on lots of tours. Adam loves doing new things, seeing new places, and doing as much...
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Ep 10. Driving, Asking 'What-if?' and Asking for Help, Featuring Our Guest, Beau Brockbank, Part 2
Autism Matters - The Podcast
Welcome to the second half of our conversation on anxiety and overthinking with Beau Brockbank! Today we talk about: Learning to drive, wondering how you’ll ever be able to assimilate all of this new information! Taking the driving test, gaining confident and riving places you’re comfortable with using driving apps Find yourself overthinking negative “what-ifs?” Beau’s strategy is to challenge yourself to also think of positive “what-ifs.” Avoid thinking too much about the past. Knowing how to ask for help. Leveraging the Love Language Quiz: Reach out...
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Ep 9. Anxiety, Overthinking, Travel, Love Languages and Not Feeling Alone, Featuring Our Guest Beau Brockbank, Part 1
Autism Matters - The Podcast
Members of Autism Matters see real growth over time. Beau Brockbank has been coming to events, dinners and short trips with Autism Matters and he has learned ways to feel companionship and overcome anxiety and overthinking. What keeps people coming back to Autism Matters? Listen in to find out! Today we are going to chat about: Taking change one step at a time. Over coming anxiety and overthinking. The good challenges that help us grow when we go on short trips, eat new foods and schedule in alone time. Traveling and going through security at the airport. Understanding Love Languages. ...
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Ep 8. Overcoming Trauma in Diagnosis and Finding Comfort in Fixations with Sarah Crystal
Autism Matters - The Podcast
We are so excited to be joined by Sarah! Sarah was diagnosed with autism when she was 11, and is here to share her experience with autism throughout her life. Being diagnosed autistic can be a traumatic event at an early age. Likewise, not having a diagnosis, but feeling like you don’t belong or are not good enough is extremely difficult. Listen in to hear how she navigated these years and is thriving now! There are quite a few things that Sarah enjoys and animation is one of her main fascinations. She’s always enjoyed characters such as Marvin the Martian, and watching...
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Ep 7. Finding Your Place, Featuring Our Guest Matthew Bean, Part 2
Autism Matters - The Podcast
We are so grateful to continue Matthew Bean’s story in today’s episode! Make sure you go back and listen to episode 6 if you haven’t already. After sharing how autism has impacted his life and choices, we continue to talk about how living with autism changes with age. While having autism has given Matthew certain traits, he shared how no two people with autism are the same. Matthew and Anna share their own life experiences and stories and how they’ve impacted one another. They have found strategies to build friendships and they’re genuinely grateful for our...
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Ep 6. Navigating Employment with Autism Featuring Our Guest, Matthew Bean, Part 1
Autism Matters - The Podcast
On today’s episode we are excited to be joined by Matthew Bean! Matthew has been involved with Autism Matters for quite a while now and we are excited for him to share his story. Matthew shares with us his experience as an autistic individual in the work force and the struggles that come along with that. He also shares what it’s like to buy a home and move away from his parents. Despite all the anxiety that comes with his autism, Matthew wouldn’t trade it for anything! His autism has made him who he is and he loves being apart of the Autism Matters community! Here we...
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Ep 5. The Process of Diagnosis and Masking with Jade Rogers
Autism Matters - The Podcast
In today’s episode we are joined by Jade Rogers, who is sharing her process of getting diagnosed with autism. Jade began this process when she got her job at Autism Matters and immediately felt at home. While her diagnosis is still in process and will be for the next few years, this journey has helped her understand her life and find more clarity. When joining the autism community it’s important that you’re learning about autism from autistic people. Autism is not one size fits all, so the perspective of an autistic person is necessary to learn how to be respectful and use...
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Ep 4. Exploring All of Your Creative Sides with Bobby Latheron
Autism Matters - The Podcast
We are super excited to welcome Bobby onto the podcast! Bobby is a multi-talented songwriter, author, and so much more. In today’s episode we will be taking a deep dive into Bobby’s life and all of his many skills. Bobby is an amazing songwriter, with many amazing songs out now and more to come. He also wrote a book and is currently writing another one which is coming out soon. Bobby’s own life is reflected in his songs and books, as well as in the scripts he’s written. Bobby also discusses more personal matters in his life such as getting nervous before interviews...
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Ep 3. The 2% Club
Autism Matters - The Podcast
The statistics surrounding Autism are fascinating. How prevalent is Autism now? What resources are available to you in your area? We want you to have an Autism Matters community in your city so that you can be connected to other neurodiverse people. We want you to feel like you can be yourself while you’re out in the world. Misdiagnosis can be so frustrating. Going through life wearing a mask can be lonely. Come enjoy the connection, the honesty and the understanding of a tribe of your own! Reach out to us here: Facebook Groups: Email: ...
info_outlineToday let’s talk about the terminology we use to talk about Autism, what diagnosis is like, and how to shed the masks we put on to be in society. Thanks for joining us.
Am I Autistic or am I a person with Autism?
I prefer to think of Autism as part of my identity so I tend to using “identity first” language. I say that I am autistic.
The alternative would be to say that I am a person with autism and this “person first” language just doesn’t resonate with me as much. So, moving forward I’ll be using “identify first” language, and I just wanted to explain why.
Our language around autism matters very much. I suffered greatly, as did my two boys, in the medical model dealing with diagnosis. We were always hearing about what was wrong with us. We heard terms like: triad of impairments, difficulties with socialization and odd behaviors.
The way I think differently is the reason for who I am, the reason for my successes, how my senses interact, and how I experience the world. I’ve had to unlearn the medical model language that I was taught to make room for a positive outlook.
There is absolute beauty in watching my sons delight in certain noises and experiences.
We put on masks to be in society, adopting certain clothes and behaviors to fit in, but I want to create more ways and spaces to be myself.
Video Recommendation:
Chris Packham Exploring the Inside World of Autism:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bbnjvx
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https://www.facebook.com/autismmatters
https://www.facebook.com/groups/autisticadultssupport/
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