Autism, Gender Diversity and Transitioning with Yenn Purkis and Dr Wenn Lawson
In this episode, Hannah is joined by Yenn Purkis and Dr Wenn B Lawson, who co-authored the book The Austistic Trans Guide To Life. Yenn & Wenn discuss what autism means to each of them personally, navigating gender identity when autistic, and how service providers can become more inclusive to neurodivergent people. They also share their thoughts on why autistic people are more likely to be trans and non-binary than non-autistic people, advice for autistic people whose gender identity isn’t being taken seriously, and what it’s like being in trans activist spaces as autistic people. Finally Wenn, Yenn, and Hannah talk about the importance of surrounding yourself with allies!
CW: mentions of transphobia
Read the episode transcript here!
QUESTIONS FROM LISTENERS
Do you think being autistic made it easier or harder to discover your identity?
I'm a primary teacher. What do you wish teachers/schools knew about autism?
My friend is trans and autistic with a family using her autism as a reason to not take her seriously. What advice do you have for people who are going through this and then the people who do understand and support them and how they can help?
USEFUL LINKS
The Autistic Trans Guide to Life by Yenn Purkis and Wenn B Lawson*
The Awesome Autistic Guide for Trans Teens by Yenn Purkis and Sam Rose*
Spectrums: Autistic Transgender People in Their Own Words edited by Maxfield Sparrow*
The Autism and Neurodiversity Handbook by Yenn Purkis and Barb Cook*
FURTHER RESOURCES RECOMMENDED BY YENN AND WENN
www.jkp.com (publisher)
ORGANISATIONS
I CAN Network (mentoring for autistic kids and teens)
Minus 18 (advocacy and support for LGBTQIA+ kids)
Spectrum Intersections (support for Neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ people)
A Gender Agenda (gender diversity support and advocacy
MORE ABOUT YENN PURKIS
Yenn Purkis is an autistic and non-binary author, public speaker and community leader who also has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Yenn is the author of eleven published books on elements of autism and is a regular blogger. Yenn was named the 2016 ACT Volunteer of the Year and received the ACT Chief Minister’s Inclusion Award in 2019. Yenn is also a prolific public speaker and has presented at a range of events including at TEDx Canberra in 2013. Yenn works for the Australian Public Service and lives in Canberra, Australia.
MORE ABOUT DR WENN B LAWSON
Dr. Wenn, (Phd) is a British Psychologist, a member of the Australian Psychological Society and Australian Association of Social Work, an autistic lecturer, advocate, researcher, writer and poet who has passionately shared professional and personal knowledge of autism over the past 3 decades. In Australia Wenn is an Associate Researcher with Curtin University (WA) & Macquarie University (NSW). In the UK Wenn is a Tutor Practitioner with the University of Birmingham’s (UK) Masters Autism course. Back home in Oz, Wenn is a member of the autism Co-operative Research Centre (ACRC), member of the Australasian Autism Research Council, (AARC) & Ambassador for ‘I CAN’, Australia. Internationally Dr. Wenn is on the Board for ‘Good Autism Practice (GAP) UK, Editorial Board for ‘Autism in Adulthood’ and the US Autism Association’s Advisory Board. In 2021 Dr. Wenn was awarded the Lesley Hall National Lifetime Achievement Award for Disability Leadership. Dr. Wenn is a family man with autistic offspring and grandchildren.
CONNECT WITH US
*affiliate links