Soaring Beyond Ableism: An Autistic Circus Performer's Journey of Self-Discovery

* Autistic podcast hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP interview Andralyn Zayn, an Autistic circus producer, director, performer, and fitness educator.

* Andralyn's story of self-discovery began when she identified with Autistic women's experiences on TikTok, leading her down a research "rabbit hole" and eventually to a professional autism diagnosis.

* She discusses her specialized circus act of sitting on her husband's feet while he juggles her, and how she used a very Autistic-aligned dating profile to find her partner.

* However, Andralyn's health severely declined while working on a documentary about autistic circus performers, as she struggled with undiagnosed conditions like polycystic kidney disease and POTS.

* The podcast hosts explore how proprioceptive and vestibular stimulation often attracts autistic individuals to circus arts, allowing them to experience intense special interests and flow states during training.

* Yet, this can also lead to ignoring bodily signals and burnout, as autistic people may push themselves to unhealthy levels of productivity to "make up for" being neurodivergent in an ableist society.

* Andralyn's journey illustrates the important lessons of learning to understand one's neurological and physical differences in order to create a sustainable lifestyle, rather than succumbing to societal pressures.

* The discussion emphasizes the need to challenge ableism and provide models of self-acceptance and self-care for the Autistic community.

Did Autistic identification lead you to realizing that you have a chronic illness/disorder? Or vise versa?

* Wikipedia: Risley (circus act)

* Article: The next yoga? Circus-inspired fitness

* Video: On the Job with Circus Artists

* Andralyn’s Instagram

* Andralyn’s Facebook

* Episode 14: Autistic Medical Needs

* Episode 22: Trains are Autistic

* Episode 46: Cats are Autistic

* Episode 47: Autistic Centered Therapy - AuCT

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* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com

* TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic merch shop

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**TACP recognizes that ABA for autism is harmful to Autistic mental health. We reject the use of ABA therapy and pathologizing language like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and associated functioning labels. To learn more, please listen to: Episode 20: Sesame Street is Autistic and Episode 24: The Trouble with Temple Grandin.

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