TPP 292: Dr. Devon Price on His New Book, "Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity"

This week I'm talking about Dr. Devon Price, a social psychologist, professor, author, and proud autistic person, and the author of the new book, Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity.  In this conversation, Devon and I talk about what masking is, what it looks like, and whether it is something that autistic people choose to do or not. We also talk about why masking is more complex for people of color, the relationship between masking and gender, and what integration looks like for a neurodivergent person. 

Devon Price, PhD, is a social psychologist, professor, author, and proud Autistic person. He is the author of Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity. 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

• What “masking” is, what it looks like, and why most often it’s not a conscious choice
• Why the decision to mask or not mask is more complex for autistic people of color
• Devon’s thoughts on the recent explosion of neurodivergent kids coming out as trans and the relationship between masking and gender
• Devon’s take on ABA therapy and alternatives ways of supporting autistic kids
• Considerations regarding language in the neurodivergent and disability community
• What integration is and what it looks like for a neurodivergent person
• Strategies for ways parents can help their autistic children move through the world more authentically without masking
• How Devon see our society currently changing in neurodivergence awareness and inclusion

Resources mentioned for Unmasking Autism

• 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
• Devon Price on Twitter
• We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia
• How Unmasking Leads to Freedom for Autistic and Other Neurodivergent People (NPR Life Kit Interview)
• Autism in Black / Maria Davis Pierre
• Autistics Against Curing Autism
• Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
• Fidgets and Friends / Tiffany Hammond on Instagram
• Queer Vengeance

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