Setting out advice, research and personal reflections to inform professionals daily practice and overall understanding of the lives and experiences of autistic transgender and non-binary people, this edited volume is an invaluable resource for anyone who seeks to engage more with autistic transgender, non-binary or gender-variant people.
Aiming to contextualise the overlap of autism and gender variance, this book features chapters by leading authorities such as Wenn Lawson, Damian Milton, Isabelle Henault, Reubs Walsh, Lydia X. Z. Brown, and Shain Neumeier as well as other contributors from around the world. The collection is structured in three sections; the first provides interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches on autism and gender as well as the experiences of transgender and non-binary autistic people; the second features professionals discussing their work, the challenges they face and the solutions they find helpful; and the final section presents thoughts and perspectives from trans and non-binary autistic people on various aspects of their experiences, focusing on information that professionals will need to consider and discuss with the people they support.
Combining rich and nuanced accounts of the lives of autistic trans people, practical guidance and information as well as the latest academic research about autistic transgender and non-binary individuals, this unique collection is essential reading for any professional wanting to develop their daily practice.
Marianthi Kourti is an autistic non-binary scholar and professional currently working on their PhD at the University of Birmingham. They have spoken and published on the topic of autism and gender identity and organised a variety of workshops and other events on autism, gender and sexuality, including co-organising the Intimate Lives? Autism, Gender and Sexuality conference in 2018, which was the first conference to specifically focus on gender identity and autism.
1. Introduction. 2. Here comes trouble (Damian Milton). 3. Beyond for your own good (Shain M. Neumeier). 4. Autistic Cognition and Gender Identity (Reubs Walshe and David Jackson-Perry). 5. Trans, Autistic and BIPOC (Kielsgard Taylor and Lydia Brown). 6. Autistic transgender and non-binary individual (Isabelle Henault). 7. Reflections on the spectra of autism and gender identity (Wenn Lawson). 8. Developing a good relationship with an autistic transgender or non-binary person as a professional (Marianthi Kourti and Ella Griffin). 9. Autism, gender variance and alexithymia (Alyssa Hillary-Zisk and Jo Minchin). 10. The resonant self (Lexi Orchard). 11. Doing gender in my own terms (Olivia Pountney). 12. The experience of gender dysphoria in older autistic adults (Wenn Lawson).
