The Mighty

📖 Off the Spectrum: Why the Science of Autism Has Failed Women and Girls by Gina Rippon explores how autism research has historically focused on boys and overlooked how autism presents in girls and women.

The book explains why many individuals have been missed, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed—especially when camouflaging or masking behaviors are involved. This pressure to fit in and hide struggles often leads to emotional challenges that can take years to understand.

Key topics include late diagnosis, the female protective effect, and how conditions such as anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and eating disorders are often linked to autism in girls but frequently overlooked. Rippon calls for important changes in research, diagnosis, education, and support to ensure future generations receive better recognition and care.

If you’ve felt that autism diagnosis criteria didn’t fully reflect your experiences or those of people you know, this book offers valuable insights.

#OffTheSpectrum #AutismInGirls #LateDiagnosis #womenandautism #Neurodiversity #Camouflaging #MentalHealthAwareness #InvisibleDisability #TheMighty

June unleashed its storms, but I danced through the chaos and owned the calm. #chronicillnesswarrior #Bpdstrong #ptsdsurvivor #MightyAndUnstoppable #WinningJune #TheMighty

Sunday June 20th 1993. On this day I took this exam, in July the same year was my 24th Birthday. I am on the left side, Beryl the judge of the exam is in the middle and my mom is on the right side. This picture is taken in my mom's ballet shcool.