Autistic masking is a survival strategy for autistic people. It is used to hide autistic symptoms or traits and to mimic the neurotypical. Masking in school can present in many different ways. Find out more about masking in autism.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. About 1 in 100 people have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many researchers believe that autism is almost 3 times more prevalent in boys than girls, but more girls and gender-diverse people are being diagnosed in their later years.

Children and young people with autism are often faced with mental health difficulties on a daily basis, leading to meltdowns, sensory sensitivities and feeling like they can't communicate well enough to be heard.

Growing up, I never managed to feel a connection between my sex and identity. I knew that I was assigned female at birth but aside from that, I didn't associate gender with how I viewed myself. I never engaged in any form of strict gendered play, preferring to spend my time alone and acting out scenes from Harry Potter than playing with dolls with the girls or football with the boys.

For many people, communicating with an individual with autism can be difficult. We take everything literally and don't always understand the small intricacies of small talk and conversation. We have quirks that can often be perceived as strange or unusual which can lead to miscommunication and frustration on both the neurotypical and neurodivergent people respectively. These ten tips will aim to enrich, destress, and aid interactions with people with autism.