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In this episode of the Leta’s Tap Styles, Leta and Amanda discuss the lifelong impacts of masking on autistic dancers. They discuss how dance studio owners and teachers – while well meaning – often cause harm by not understanding what masking is, how it manifests itself, and the physical and emotional harm masking causes. Even the most “inclusive” space seems to demand that their autistic dancers mask in order to make the studio owners and dance teachers not feel uncomfortable.

Amanda and Leta share personal stories of when they were forced by adults to mask, just so others felt more “at ease” with Leta and Amanda. Throughout the episode, they criticize the lack of genuine inclusivity and address the misconceptions about autism being a 'superpower.' They also highlight the importance of creating an environment where autistic dancers can be themselves without the need to mask, referring to their own Autistic Wings Dance Company as a model for inclusivity.

Places like Autistic Wings Dance Company - where autistic dancers aren't asked to mask but allowed to have their "quirks" - are few and far between. Help Leta's dream soar by donating today. https://www.autisticwingsdancecompany.org

Visit our podcast website to find out more about Leta, about Amanda, and about our past and future guests. https://www.letatapstyles.com

Masking and learning all about what masking is and what the affects of masking are on people (mentally and physically) is a new field of study. Very few papers currently exist. Below are a few of those papers.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8992921/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6483965/