Autistic Advocacy: Autistic Medical Needs Part 2

Common comorbidities — Exploring POTS, MCAS, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, PMDD, PCOS, PTSD, and how life in a non-autistic world directly impacts our physical health.

Medical gaslighting — Why autistic patients are often dismissed, especially when they come prepared with research, and how this erodes trust in providers.

Processing differences — How bottom-up thinking and the need to understand why clash with top-down medical systems built on compliance, not collaboration.

Masking in medical settings — The ways autistic patients are misread as cold, overly emotional, or aggressive when advocating for themselves.

Intersectional barriers — How systemic racism and ableism amplify harm for multiply marginalized autistic people in healthcare.

Moving toward solutions — The role of autistic community support, provider education, and affirming care in creating equitable healthcare experiences.