TILT Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids

TPP 292: Dr. Devon Price on His New Book, "Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity"

06.07.2022 - By Debbie ReberPlay

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

This week I'm talking about Dr. Devon Price, a social psychologist, professor, author, and proud autistic person, and the author of the new book, Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity.  In this conversation, Devon and I talk about what masking is, what it looks like, and whether it is something that autistic people choose to do or not. We also talk about why masking is more complex for people of color, the relationship between masking and gender, and what integration looks like for a neurodivergent person. 

Devon Price, PhD, is a social psychologist, professor, author, and proud Autistic person. He is the author of Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity. His research has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and the Journal of Positive Psychology. Devon’s writing has appeared in outlets such as the Financial Times, HuffPost, Slate, Jacobin, Business Insider, LitHub, and on PBS and NPR. He lives in Chicago, where he serves as an assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

 

Things you’ll learn from this episode

What “masking” is, what it looks like, and why most often it’s not a conscious choice

Why the decision to mask or not mask is more complex for autistic people of color

Devon’s thoughts on the recent explosion of neurodivergent kids coming out as trans and the relationship between masking and gender

Devon’s take on ABA therapy and alternatives ways of supporting autistic kids

Considerations regarding language in the neurodivergent and disability community

What integration is and what it looks like for a neurodivergent person

Strategies for ways parents can help their autistic children move through the world more authentically without masking

How Devon see our society currently changing in neurodivergence awareness and inclusion

 

Resources mentioned for Unmasking Autism

Devon Price on Medium

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price, PhD

Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price, PhD

Devon Price on Instagram

Devon Price on Twitter

We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia

How Unmasking Leads to Freedom for Autistic and Other Neurodivergent People (NPR Life Kit Interview)

Autism in Black / Maria Davis Pierre

Autistics Against Curing Autism

Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

Fidgets and Friends / Tiffany Hammond on Instagram

Queer Vengeance

Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting

Visit Tilt Parenting

Take the free 7-Day Challenge

Read a chapter of Differently Wired

Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More episodes from TILT Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids