Autism Resources
Whether you've recently discovered you're autistic, received a diagnosis later in life, or are still figuring things out, I hope these resources help you better understand yourself.
I've worked with many adults who spent years wondering why certain things felt so hard. Discovering you're autistic can explain a lot, but it can also bring up questions you hadn't considered before. You don't have to figure it all out at once.
Websites About Autism
General Books and Blogs About Autism
General Autism & AuDHD Podcasts
Understanding Autism After Late Discovery
Autism in Women
Autism & LGBTQIA+
Autism, Race & Cultural Identity
Autism, Aging & Later Life
Autism & ADHD (AuDHD)
If you feel overwhelmed - reach out and I can help you break this down.
Websites about Autism
There's a lot of information about autism online, and not all of it is particularly helpful. I've gathered websites that offer research, practical information, and perspectives from autistic people, including resources that autistic adults and neurodivergent-affirming therapists have found valuable.
General Books and Blogs about Autism
I've tried to choose books that I found interesting and could actually get through. Some autism books have great information but can feel like homework. These offer a mix of research, practical advice, and personal experiences without being too much of a slog to read.
Further down, you'll find resources focused on autism in women, LGBTQIA+ experiences, race and culture, and AuDHD.
Explore more: The Autism Books by Autistic Authors Project
Unmasking Autism
Devon Price (2022)Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults
Luke Beardon (2021)Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma
Amy Pearson & Kieran Rose (2023)What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic
Annie Kotowicz (2022)Ten Steps to Nanette
Hannah Gadsby (2022)
General Autistic Writers and Bloggers
General Autism & AuDHD Podcasts
If sitting down to read a book isn't your thing, podcasts can be a great alternative. I particularly like hearing autistic and AuDHD adults talk about their experiences, especially when there's a mix of personal stories, research, and some humor. Sometimes hearing someone describe their own experience makes things click in a way that reading about it doesn't.
Understanding Autism After Late Discovery
Ever find yourself wondering, "Wait, is that an autism thing too?" Once you start recognizing your autistic traits, you might find yourself looking back at all sorts of experiences differently. These articles and videos help explain some of the ways autistic brains work, including things you may have never realized were connected to autism.
Articles
Videos
Autism and Neurodiversity: Different Does Not Mean Broken – Adriana White
Why Everything You Know About Autism Is Wrong – Jac den Houting
Could I Really Be Autistic? – Sarah Hendrickx (2024)
My Brain Isn't Broken – Tashi Baiguerra
Autism in Women
I've worked with so many autistic women who spent years being described as anxious, overly sensitive, perfectionistic, or just someone who thinks too much. Sometimes those descriptions fit, but they didn't explain the whole picture. These resources explore why autism in women is often overlooked and how discovering it later in life can change the way you understand yourself.
Books
Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You — Jenara Nerenberg (2020)
Women with Autism: Accepting and Embracing Autism Spectrum Disorder as You Move Towards an Authentic Life — Claire Jack (2021)
Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition — Sarah Hendrickx and Jess Hendrickx (2024)
Research Articles
“You Don't Look Autistic”: A Qualitative Exploration of Women's Experiences of Being the “Autistic Other” — Seers & Hogg (2021)
The Female Autism Phenotype and Camouflaging: A Narrative Review — Hull, Petrides & Mandy (2020)
Time Trends in the Male-to-Female Ratio for Autism Incidence — The BMJ (2026)
The Experiences of Late-Diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions — Bargiela, Steward & Mandy (2016)
Videos
Girls and Women and Autism: What's the Difference? — Sarah Hendrickx
Autistic Writers and Bloggers
Articles
5 Signs You May Be an Undiagnosed Autistic Woman — The Other Autism
Three Issues Facing Newly Diagnosed Autistic Women — The Other Autism
When “Sweetness” and “Passivity” Mask Social Difficulties in Autism — Dr. Theresa Regan
The Hidden Costs of Masking in Autistic Women and Girls — Tiimo
“No You're Not”: A Portrait of Autistic Women — Rosie Barnes
I Was Diagnosed With Autism at 49. Suddenly My Entire Life Made Sense. — Jaena Bloomquist (2026)
A Few Reasons We Go Undiagnosed, Part 1: Special Interests Beyond the Stereotypes — Autistic Enough
Hormones, Menopause, and Autism
Hormonal changes can affect how autistic people experience their sensory needs, energy, emotional regulation, and everyday functioning. For more information, visit my Hormones & ADHD/Autism Resource Page.
Wondering Where to Go From Here?
Maybe something you've read here sounds familiar, or maybe you're still trying to make sense of it all. Either way, I'd be happy to hear your story, answer your questions, and see if working together might be a good fit.
Autism & LGBTQIA+
Resources, Articles & Books
Autism and Gender – NeuroClastic
Trans and Autistic – Neurodivergent Insights
Neuroqueer: An Introduction – Nick Walker
Neurodivergent Rebel – Lyric Rivera
Autism & Gender 101: My Trans Nonbinary Autistic Experience with Autigender – Lyric Rivera
The Genderbread Person – The Safe Zone Project
What Are the Different Types of Sexuality? – Healthline
What Does Being Asexual Mean? – Healthline
Supporting Transgender Autistic Youth and Adults: A Guide for Professionals and Families – Finn V. Gratton (2019)
Something I've noticed with my LGBTQIA+ clients is that discovering they're autistic or AuDHD can bring a new understanding of experiences they've had for years. They may start looking at masking, relationships, and the expectations they've tried to live up to a little differently. These resources explore how neurodivergence and LGBTQIA+ identities can intersect, with research and personal perspectives from people who know these experiences firsthand.
Research Articles
Gender, Assigned Sex at Birth, and Gender Diversity: Windows Into Diagnostic Timing Disparities in Autism – McQuaid and colleagues (2024)
Finding LGBTQIA+ Affirming Support
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network: Therapist Directory
The Spectrum Connection: LGBTQIA+ Autistic Adult Peer Support
Trans Lifeline – Peer support for transgender and questioning people. Call 877-565-8860 (US); check the website for current hours.
Autism, Race & Cultural Identity
Articles & Research
Autism and Diagnostic Disparities in BIPOC Communities – Neurodivergent Insights
A Black Autistic Mother Speaks Candidly About Racism, Intersectionality, and Her Fears and Hopes Around Raising Two Black Autistic Sons – Interview with Tiffany Hammond, The Articulate Autistic
The Scholarly Neglect of Black Autistic Adults in Autism Research – Malone and colleagues (2022)
For a long time, much of what we understood about autism came from research focused on white boys. That left a lot of people out of the conversation. These resources explore how race, racism, and cultural expectations can shape the experience of being autistic, including access to diagnosis, stereotypes, identity, and finding community. You'll also find perspectives from Black autistic and neurodivergent adults sharing experiences that haven't always been represented in mainstream conversations about autism.
Finding Culturally Responsive Support
Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM): Wellness Tools
BlackLine – Peer support for people experiencing racism, discrimination, and other forms of marginalization.
Books
A Day with No Words – Tiffany Hammond, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
Autistic Voices & Organizations
Autism in Black – Maria Davis-Pierre
Fidgets and Fries – Tiffany Hammond
Autism and Aging
We're still learning about what aging looks like for autistic adults, especially those who weren't identified until later in life. I've noticed that some people start questioning whether changes in their energy, sensory needs, or ability to manage everyday demands are related to getting older, being autistic, or both.
Articles & Research
Aging Across the Autism Spectrum — Stewart & Happé (2025)
Aging and Autism — National Autism Data Center
Videos
Something I see a lot with adults who are both ADHD and autistic (AuDHD) is that their ADHD traits can make their autistic traits harder to recognize. They may relate to parts of autism but question whether they're actually autistic because other parts don't seem to fit. These resources explore how ADHD and autism can overlap, sometimes mask each other, and create a unique combination of traits and support needs.
Autism and ADHD
Articles & Research
ADHD vs Autism: How to Tell the Difference (or Both) – Dr. Megan Anna Neff
AuDHD Diagnostic Overshadowing: 6 Ways ADHD Hides Autism – Dr. Megan Anna Neff (2026)
Revisiting Monotropism – Patrick Dwyer
Being a Woman Is 100% Significant to My Experiences of ADHD and Autism – Research article (2024)
Want to learn more about the ADHD side of things? I've put together an ADHD Resources page with articles, books, podcasts, and other things you might find helpful.
Explore More Neurodivergent Resources
Want to take a deeper dive? I've put together additional resource pages on topics you might want to explore further.
Adding To This Page…
I am continuously adding to this page as I get new information so come check back to see new additions. If you have any resources that you have found helpful but are not listed please email me as I would love to add them: henry@therapyforpetpeople.com
Please forgive any typos or broken links. As an ADHDer it’s a challenge for me to keep up but I am making it a priority as this page is truly a labor of love. Be sure to forward the link to others in your life who may benefit from this information. Bring some food and water as this is a deep deep dive into all things neurodivergent.
Explore More Resources
Questions? Need Support?
If you have questions or need support, please reach out to me! This journey can be difficult, but you don’t have to walk it alone.