

Autistic Advocacy: Academia and Ableism
In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela welcome guest Kat Flora for a deep dive into ableism within academia, navigating neurotypical-dominated spaces, and the strategies autistic people use to create change from within while protecting their well-being.
🎧 What You’ll Learn
- Ableism in academia – How autistic students and professionals are pressured to conform to harmful narratives about autism just to pass.
- Burnout & self-care – Why driving change from within must be balanced with protecting your mental health.
- Addiction & alcoholism – Exploring why autistic people may be more predisposed to these challenges.
- The harm of behaviorism – The triggering reality of being required to study approaches that dehumanize autistic people.
- Overcoming academic gatekeepers – Strategies for entering the system, surviving it, and “fucking shit up” from the inside.
- Disability services – Why current university supports often fall short for autistic and disabled students.
Resources:
The Autistic Postgraduate Woman: Navigating the Neurotypical University by Sophie Phillips – 🔗 Amazon link
“Ableism in Academia” – 🔗 Frontiers in Psychology article
Rite of Ascension – 🔗 Memory Alpha entry
Kat Flora on Instagram – 🔗 @kat__flora
Related Shows:
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