Today’s Autistic Moment: A Podcast for Autistic Adults by An Autistic Adult

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.  Michele Newman joins Philip to talk about her experiences as an Autistic Woman.  Michele was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 54, after 35 years of psychiatric misdiagnosis and medications that were harmful.  Michele will share with us about the enormous challenges of being an Autistic Post-Menopausal Woman that includes communicating with doctors about how her brain has changed and how Autism affects her response to certain medications and other treatments.  Michele's story is powerful and will touch your heart.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Today's Autistic Moment begins Women's History Month with Rose Carreiro as we discuss Adult Autistic Women.  There is a myth that Adult Autistic Women do not exist.  Rose explains how the stereotypes about women being caregivers for children, with the expectations of how women "are supposed to be" plays a role in the myth.  

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Social stigmas. Sensory processing disorder(s). Abusive relationships. Rejection. Unemployment. Ableism. All of these and many more than can be mentioned means that trauma is an unavoidable consequence for Autistic Adults. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is among the most common forms of trauma. Benjamin Christmass is 29 years old and lives in Queensland, Australia. Benjamin is a queer, neurodiverse, cardiac scientist. Benjamin was diagnosed as Autistic just over a year ago. Benjamin has studied and written about trauma as part of his Master's Degree thesis.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.   According to researchers, Autistics are at a 4-9 to 22.9% higher risk of developing an eating disorder.  Sensitivity to food textures, digestive issues, and interoception play a significant role that impacts Autistic Adults experiencing eating disorders. Tas Kronby joins me to talk about what eating disorders can affect Autistics, the challenges with finding doctors who understand the dual diagnosis of Autism and an eating disorder, and what we can do to help others understand how eating impacts the lives of Autistics. 

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Erin Brandel Dykhuizen is a licensed social worker who specializes in helping Autistics to deal with Chronic Pain Management.  Autistic people have very different responses to pain in large part due to our sensory processing disorders.  Some Autistic Adults may be hypo-sensitive to pain in that they do not know how much pain they are actually in.  Other Autistic Adults who are hypersensitive have pain that is so intense that managing day to day activities is almost impossible.  There are many Autistic Adults who live with chronic pain due to conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, physical injuries, and of course trauma. Erin will join me to talk about how Autistic Adults can manage their pain in ways that work for them.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.   In the medical model, Autism is a neurological developmental disorder. In order to receive disability benefits, support services and social supports, Autistics are known by a medical pathology. A pathology that makes us second class citizens. In the social model we have the movement for Neurodiversity. Autistics and other individuals with conditions like ADHD are capturing our diversity as Neurodivergents to work towards a society of equality and equity. Dr. Scott Frasard will talk with me about why the medical and social models are important, and how the Neurodiversity movement is helping Autistics reach for our full potential in life.

Program Scripts and Interview Transcripts can be found on the Episode Index Page of todaysautisticmoment.com.   There is no doubt about it, the internet is a lot of fun. Social media, chat rooms, texting, dating, and gaming can make social connections easier. However, the internet is full of predators who know more about us than we know about them. Tas Kronby will join me to give us some helpful advice about watching out for risky emails, chat or text contacts, sales schemes, and social media posting.  As this is episode 24 and the final show of 2021, please be sure to hear my tribute to everyone who helped out at the end of the show.

Program Scripts and Interview Transcripts are available at The Episode Index Page. David Gray-Hammond returns to talk about his journey of Substance Abuse Recovery.

Tap or click for the Program Script and Interview Transcript. Substance abuse addiction is a dire problem for Autistics.  Autistics can be nine times more likely to become addicted to alcohol, prescription and recreational drugs than non-autistic people. David Gray-Hammond joins me to share his moving story about how addiction has affected his life as an Autistic Adult.