TRADITIONALLY, women and gender-diverse people were less likely to be identified as autistic because they didn’t fit the stereotype of how autism “should” look. This generalisation was based on research conducted with mostly young,

Gardner-Wright added that this is a big indicator and an internal experience at that — you cannot look at a person and know if they feel like an outsider. The feeling could be overpowering or could be more subtle, it depends on the person, she said.

Autism advocates have had mixed reactions to the release of an autism Barbie, designed to increase awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity in children, particularly girls. American toymaker Mattel announced the new doll this week,