Episode 123 (Season 4): Not an Epidemic: Behind the Rise in Autism Diagnoses | Dr. Donna Henderson

Language matters, especially when it shapes how we, as neurodivergent people, are seen and understood. Conversations about an alleged "Autism epidemic" are everywhere—and can lead to misinformation, stigma, and feelings of shame for Autistic people and families. This episode aims to untangle the myths versus realities, providing crucial clarity and validation in a world full of loaded headlines. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the narrative that autism is an "epidemic" with Dr. Donna Henderson, a neuropsychologist and co-author of Is This Autism? They discuss the real reasons behind the increasing rates of autism diagnosis, unpack harmful rhetoric, trace the shifting diagnostic criteria and historical context, and highlight what these changes mean for Autistic people today. 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟯 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲: 1. Gain accurate, research-driven explanations for rising Autism diagnosis rates—understand how changes in diagnostic tools, societal awareness, and self-identification impact the numbers, rather than believing harmful, epidemic-based narratives. 2 Learn how language like "epidemic" can shape public perception and personal identity, fueling unnecessary shame and fear, and creating barriers to self-understanding, safety, and acceptance for Autistic people. 3. Hear expert insights and engaging stories, plus practical discussion about self-advocacy, changes in mental health fields, and the vital importance of community, representation, and historical context. If you've encountered confusing headlines or questions about "what’s going on with increased Autism discovery," this episode provides the clarity, validation, and nuanced perspective the neurodivergent community deserves. 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧: Read Donna's full bio here: https://www.divergentpod.com/123 🔸 Website: https://drdonnahenderson.com 🔸 Books: https://isthisautism.com Donna’s Trainings: 🔹 Is This Autism? — Clinical Version: https://courses.isthisautism.com/cour... 🔹 Is This Autism? — For Everyone Else: https://courses.isthisautism.com/cour... 🔸 Dr. Neff’s article: Is Autism Really On the Rise: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/ri... 🔸 The Lost Generation of Autistic Adults (Neurodivergent Insights Training) https://trainings.neurodivergentinsig... 🔸 Original Video on Substack: https://neurodivergentinsights.substa... —————————————— 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞, & 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✨ 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 Landmark College Success Center, located in San Mateo, California, provides academic support, executive function coaching, and transition-to-college skills training for neurodiverse learners, both in-person and online. A subsidiary of Landmark College (landmark.edu) – the world’s first and foremost college for neurodivergent students – the Success Center is equipped to put you or your student on the path to success. Visit: https://www.landmark.edu/successcente... ✨ 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙚 Jane is a clinic management software and EMR designed to be an extra set of helping hands in your health and wellness business. Available online and on any device, Jane has branded online booking, scheduling, insurance billing, customizable documentation templates and online forms, integrated payments, telehealth, and more—wrapped up in one beautiful package. With unlimited human support by phone, email, and chat (even on Saturdays), Jane helps you get back to the work you love. Get 2 months off new Jane subscriptions with code DCPOD. Visit: https://janesoftware.partnerlinks.io/... ✨ 𝙉𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 If you want to supplement your learning on burnout, check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/bu... —————————————— 💬 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 Divergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you want to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: https://divergentconversations.substa... —————————————— 🎧 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁: https://www.divergentpod.com —————————————— 💻 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝗳𝗳’𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://neurodivergentinsights.com 💻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://www.allthingspractice.com