CHAPTER 1: WHY SELF-IDENTIFY

Early Access to Chapter 1 of Dr. Angela Kingdon's memoir and self-identification guide, Am I Actually Autistic? for Sustaining Supporters The Autistic Culture Podcast

This chapter introduces Angela Kingdon's journey of late autism diagnosis and self-identification. Despite academic success, Angela struggled socially, repeatedly told she had personality issues instead of recognizing autistic traits. She highlights key childhood indicators like sensory issues, hyperlexia, special interests, social justice activism, and communication differences. Formal diagnosis provided limited relief but led to harmful treatments like CBT, emphasizing masking rather than true support. Angela argues that self-identification fosters genuine acceptance and accommodation of autistic traits, improving mental health and relationships without pathologizing natural differences. Embracing Autistic identity rather than seeking a cure is presented as the healthiest path forward.