Autistic Professionals Supporting Autistic People

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Summary:

Panelists Iris Warchall PT DPT, Matthew Lawrence, and Doug Blecher join us to discuss work and navigating Autistic burnout.

  • Many Autistic people feel stuck in work situations that are not a good fit for their needs. Our panelists discuss how they have handled this in their own lives. 
  • Autistic burnout happens when someone doesn’t get the support they need for their brain. Adapting the environment so that Autistic people have their needs met is essential. One needs to charge their battery more than they drain it.
  • We also discuss strategies for how panelists get their access needs met.

Key terms:

Access needsWhat someone needs to feel safe, comfortable, and able to take part. Everyone has access needs — no matter how their brain works.
Autistic burnoutAutistic burnout happens when the demands of life exceed your capacity for a long time. 

During Autistic Burnout, an Autistic person may:
– Feel exhausted 
– Feel extra sensitive to lights, sounds, smells, or other sensory input
– Lose skills and have a harder time doing tasks that used to be easier
Attribution:
Iris Warchall, PT DPT, Doug Blecher, Matthew Lawrence (4/23/2024)
Year Published:
2024
Video Length:
59:04