TPP 437: Dr. Devon Price on the Autistic Person's Guide to Unmasking for Life

I’m excited to welcome Dr. Devon Price back to the show to talk about unmasking and self-acceptance for autistic individuals. You may know about Devon’s book Unmasking Autism, and if you haven’t I highly encourage you to go back and listen to our conversation about that book on the show – I’ll have a link in the show notes or you can find it at tiltparenting.com/session292.

But today, we are discussing Devon’s brand new book Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person's Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically, which explores what it truly means to embrace one’s identity in a world that still struggles with accessibility and inclusion. I think it’s such an important book for parents of autistic children to read, as it shares insights into what our kids ultimately need to grow up as people who can advocate for their needs and invent new ways of living, loving, and being that work with their disability rather than against it.

In this conversation, we discussed the journey of self-acceptance for autistic individuals and the cultural shifts happening around neurodivergence. Devon shared insights on how parents can support their children in embracing their authentic selves while navigating a world that often prioritizes conformity. And we also talked about the impact of generational trauma on family dynamics and why redefining success beyond societal norms is crucial for long-term well-being, and much much more.

There are more adults discovering their own neurodivergence through parenting their own neurodivergent child, and I think Devon’s book and everything he shared in this conversation can help anyone who is trying to live more authentically with their autism AND any parent who is raising an autistic child that wants to consider what life looks like for their child at various stages of life. This is a great one. Have a listen and please share this episode in your communities.

About Dr. Devon Price

Devon Price, PhD, is a social psychologist, professor, author, and proud Autistic person. His research has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and the Journal of Positive Psychology. Devon’s writing has appeared in outlets such as the Financial Times, HuffPost, Slate, Jacobin, Business Insider, LitHub, and on PBS and NPR. He lives in Chicago, where he serves as an assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Things you'll learn from this episode

• Why self-acceptance is an ongoing, internal process that can be especially challenging for neurodivergent individuals
• How despite progress, the world remains largely inaccessible to disabled people, making advocacy and practical life planning essential
• Why friendship and love are common struggles for autistic adults and why support, self-awareness, and empowerment rather than forced conformity is critical
• Where we are now — cultural awareness of neurodivergence is growing yet parents still face pressure to make their children fit societal expectations
• Why the key to a fulfilling life as an autistic adult means questioning societal norms, addressing generational trauma, and embracing authentic self-expression

Resources mentioned

• Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person's Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically by Dr. Devon Price
• Devon Price on Substack
• Devon Price on Medium
• Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price, PhD
• Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price, PhD
• Devon Price on Instagram
• Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
• Sarah Casper and Comprehensive Consent
• The World of Estranged Parents Forums (IssenDai)

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