Amanda Werner hosts an off-the-cuff episode of the Empower Students Now podcast about what led her to suspect she was autistic and eventually seek a formal adult autism diagnosis. She explains that her suspicion began after her child was diagnosed with autism in 2021 (and ADHD), which led her to research autism’s genetic links and to reflect on stigma, labels, and the value of openly discussing autistic experiences to combat myths. A second reason was that her ADHD diagnosis didn’t fully explain her traits, especially her extreme need for order and discomfort with clutter and imperfection. She also discusses learning about the DSM-5’s shift away from Asperger’s as a separate label, how autism can be missed in people without intellectual disability, and how family learning differences (including her sister’s school-identified learning disability and self-identified dyslexia) contributed to her understanding. Amanda connects autism to her childhood experiences of rebellion, conflict at home, running away, social struggles, intense one-at-a-time friendships, frequent moving due to a Navy family, and severe bullying that caused her to leave a school in eighth grade. She describes insights from books including Uniquely Human by Barry Prizant, Unmasking Autism by Devin Price, and Girls and Women on the Autism Spectrum by Sarah Hendrickx, focusing on how autism in girls and women can present differently, including socially accepted special interests (people/animals), masking to fit in, sensory sensitivities (light, clothing, skin discomfort), modesty and discomfort with feminine clothing, tomboy/androgynous feelings, and gender uncertainty. She closes with classroom relevance: teachers may notice similar traits in students but should not diagnose; instead, they can use supportive practices that benefit all students, such as patience and empathy, active anti-bullying vigilance, connecting students to school resources (counselors, clubs), allowing headphones, offering choices and alternative options, shortening or excusing some assignments, and providing flexible seating and movement options. 00:00 Welcome + Why This Episode Is “Messy” (Adult Autism/ADHD Journey) 00:57 What Made Me Suspect Autism: Starting Point + Why Teachers Should Care 02:38 Reason #1: My Child’s Autism Diagnosis & Learning It’s Genetic 05:51 Reason #2: ADHD Didn’t Fully Explain Me 10:02 Reason #3: DSM-5, Asperger’s History, and Late-Diagnosed Adults 14:26 Reason #4: Childhood Red Flags—Rebellion, Social Struggles, and Puberty 17:40 Reason #5: Girls/Women on the Spectrum—Masking, “Special Interests,” and Fitting In 20:49 Sensory Sensitivities + Gender/Androgyny & Bullying Experiences 26:20 Back to the Classroom: You Can’t Diagnose, But You Can Support 28:53 Practical Accommodations Teachers Can Use (Even Without a Diagnosis) 30:58 Wrap-Up, Resources, and Goodbye
