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Spectrum presents ‘Flying University: Women on the autism spectrum’

There’s been an increasing awareness in American culture of autism and what it’s like to be a person on the spectrum. Yet most of that discussion focuses on the experience of men, leaving unheard the voices of women. Join Caveat and Spectrum for three talks on dating, employment and race, by women on the spectrum.

By Spectrum

12 July 2018 | 75 min watch

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This article is more than five years old.

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Most autism research — and, by extension, most stories about autism — focuses on men and their experiences. To shine a spotlight on women with autism, on 28 March, Spectrum teamed up with the science-storytelling venue Caveat in New York City. Three autistic women talked about their experiences dating, looking for jobs and the particular challenges that racial minorities with the condition can face.

Lindsey Nebeker spoke about negotiating love and romance on the spectrum. Sara Luterman told heart-rending stories about the problems she and other autistic adults face when trying to find — and keep — a job. She also weighed the pros and cons of disclosing an autism diagnosis during a job interview. Finally, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu explored the complications race and ethnicity can layer on top of an autism diagnosis.

To see the full-length video of the Caveat Flying University event from March 2018, watch the above video. To see the individual speakers separately, see videos below.

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