11. S1, Ep11: Autism, anxiety and the power of telling our own stories

Artist and writer Charlotte Amelia Poe says they were diagnosed autistic ‘by complete fluke’ when they were 21, after suffering for years with anxiety. In 2018, they won the inaugural Spectrum Art Award with their video piece, How To Be Autistic, and they went on to publish their first book under the same title in 2019. 

Charlotte is from Suffolk, UK, and says they’ve wanted to be an author their entire life, and believe autistic people have a place in the arts. They are nonbinary and bi/ace.

In our conversation we talk about 

• Whether autism is a disability
• What is was like to win an art prize and realise a lifelong dream of being a published author
• Finding community in our shared special interests
• The writing process, the place of autistic people in the arts, and the importance of autistic people telling our own stories

Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes.

I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.

I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn’t quite fit.

 

EPISODE LINKS:

You can find Charlotte’s video and book here: https://myriadeditions.com/creator/charlotte-amelia-poe/

And connect with them on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/smallreprieves/

If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/ 

Or on my website: http://squarepeg.community/