Ideas change everything

Why autism is often missed in women and girls

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Kate Kahle |

TEDxAustinCollege

• September 2021

Women and girls with autism spectrum disorder often don't display the behaviors people typically associate with neurodivergence, greatly impacting when, how -- and if -- they are diagnosed. Autism acceptance advocate Kate Kahle makes the case for more research into this gender discrepancy, sharing her personal experience with masking, being diagnosed as a teenager and how it allowed her to better understand herself. "Autism is not a disease, and it doesn't need to be cured," she says. "It's just a different way some brains can work."

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Women and girls with autism spectrum disorder often don't display the behaviors people typically associate with neurodivergence, greatly impacting when, how -- and if -- they are diagnosed. Autism acceptance advocate Kate Kahle makes the case for more research into this gender discrepancy, sharing her personal experience with masking, being diagnosed as a teenager and how it allowed her to better understand herself. "Autism is not a disease, and it doesn't need to be cured," she says. "It's just a different way some brains can work."

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxAustinCollege, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Promote autism acceptance. This means seeking to understand autism, listening to autistic individuals and understanding that neurodiversity makes us different —not less-than. You can do this by using resources that center autistic individuals rather than those that speak over autistic individuals and promote "cures."

Promote more research on autism in women and girls. Support scientists who want to conduct research on autism in women and girls, and promote resources that can help parents and educators identify autism in young girls.

About the speaker

Kate Kahle

Student

Kate Kahle is a sophomore at Austin College from Dallas, Texas, and is studying Political Science and Art. At Austin College she is involved in Mock Trial, Pre-Law Society, and Xi Epsilon sorority. She is also a ceramicist and skateboarder. As an autistic woman, Kahle is an advocate for autism acceptance. She hopes promote autistic self-love as well as help neurotypical individuals see autism not as a tragedy or a disease but rather for what it is, a lifelong, genetic developmental disability that is just another way of thinking and being in the world.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxAustinCollege, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Promote autism acceptance. This means seeking to understand autism, listening to autistic individuals and understanding that neurodiversity makes us different —not less-than. You can do this by using resources that center autistic individuals rather than those that speak over autistic individuals and promote "cures."

Promote more research on autism in women and girls. Support scientists who want to conduct research on autism in women and girls, and promote resources that can help parents and educators identify autism in young girls.