Actually Autistic Educator Jeanne Clifton

Due to a medical issue reoccurring I am starting my summer hiatus early. 

If you have requests for topics for next season please send me a message through Facebook or Twitter with things you would like to know more about autism, or if you’re autistic if there’s something you would like others to better understand about you. 

Be kind to yourself and I’ll see you all again in the fall.

In this mini-episode Jeanne (she/her) talks about rejection sensitive dysphoria and how the way we view and treat autistic behaviors in childhood can have lifelong impacts on their sense of self-worth and relationships to others.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rmPdj8A7jvLOCy1URQPm1-XXsPLJMzsvrWKQfbj6ExQ/edit?usp=sharing

In this mini episode Jeanne (she/her) talks about several of the various autism-related events and activities taking place in April, including the currently-running Intersectional Infinity Summit 2022 hosted by the Neurodivergent Infinity Network of Educators and some of its activities, and an explanation of why so many autistics push back against "Light it up Blue" and non-autistic-led autism awareness programming, favoring autistic-led autism acceptance instead. We learn about some other options like #RedInstead, #LightItUpGold, and even the satire event #ToneItDownTaupe, along with an alternative to the puzzle piece, the rainbow infinity symbol.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DayKPBgE4Xj-5MoYQsw4RDha-HcFURWfHi9wJt5dKys/edit?usp=sharing

Intersectional Infinity Summit 2022, https://sites.google.com/ddsb.ca/intersectional-infinity-summit

Neurodivergent Infinity Network of Educators YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ2xhiJAqd6QCEy7qS-RAJQ/featured

Intersectional Infinity- Why Autistic Acceptance is Essential, https://youtu.be/ulRBjANuM5I

In this shorter episode Jeanne (she/her) talks about a common comorbidity to autism - joint issues, including EDS, looking at new research showing the overlap in these communities and talking about what that should mean for how we talk about autistic healthcare. She also discusses barriers to accessing effective care, including looking at research regarding training for healthcare professionals in autism and how inaccessibility can impact autistic diagnoses and care. She connects this to the current conflict in Ukraine and how inaccessibility is impacting autistics and those with mobility issues in Kyiv, along with a call for all of us to examine what ways we could improve accessibility in our spaces. Finally, author Chuck Tingle is added to our list of famous autistics folks should know about.

Full transcript at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J2cAyGHmcAcg5c6dxydgov5Uqb9ZZu3hIdZMk6mH2aY/edit?usp=sharing

No episode this month, I'm getting a root canal for an infected tooth and everything feels gross and painful. Be back next month! If you are autistic and have tips or tricks for dental work to share with us let me know!

In this episode Jeanne (she/her) shares quotes from autistics about things they wish others understood about being autistic and family holidays, along with suggestions for both autistics and others on ways to reduce stress and issues, from changes to routine, new social environments, different food, and more.

Transcript available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pLENFSz_qqCQqZJx_ClIM2RPx5L1meXt8gt4y6CGTCw/edit?usp=sharing