Supporting Autistic Well-being
This page lists trusted sources and tools created by autistic professionals, advocates, and individuals to support autistic mental health and well-being
Toolkits
7 Neurodivergent Interview Tips to Confidently Discuss Your Strengths
by Amy Sippl
May 14, 2024
lifeskillsadvocate.com
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Job interviews can be especially challenging for neurodivergent candidates, who may find traditional expectations, such as maintaining eye contact, engaging in small talk, answering vague questions, and meeting sensory demands, overwhelming. With the right preparation and strategies, however, interviews can also become opportunities to highlight unique strengths and self-advocacy skills. This guide outlines seven practical tips to help neurodivergent job seekers feel more confident and prepared. These include choosing the right time and context to disclose (if you wish), framing your neurodivergence as a strength with clear examples, preparing responses and using notes to stay focused, knowing your legal rights regarding accommodations, seeking out inclusive and supportive employers, practicing effective communication strategies such as the STAR method, and following up professionally after the interview. By approaching the process with preparation and self-awareness, neurodivergent candidates can communicate their value more clearly, reduce stress, and identify workplaces where they are more likely to thrive.
7 Interview Tips for Neurodivergent Job Seekers
by Eileen Hoenigman Meyer
July 16, 2024
Higher Ed Jobs
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Job interviews can feel overwhelming for neurodivergent candidates due to sensory demands, social expectations, and uncertainty. Preparation helps make the process more manageable. Key strategies include: reframing interviews as learning opportunities, considering if and how to disclose neurodivergence, looking for signs of inclusive workplace culture, practicing self-awareness, rehearsing answers, and using visual aids. Reflecting after each interview builds confidence and growth, regardless of the outcome.
Autonomy Support Toolkit for Support Staff and Caregivers
by Dr Jackie Ryan and colleagues
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"Autonomy is a fundamental human right regardless of disability and a key component of well-being. Autonomy refers to feeling in control of one's life, making choices, and acting voluntarily. Autistic people with and without intellectual disability (ID) experience decreased autonomy, perhaps due to having fewer opportunities and/or less support to act volitionally than others. [...]
This toolkit is to provide support staff and caregivers with information about the autistic person they are supporting so they can provide the best help for the autistic person to have autonomy."
LGBTQ2S+ Toolkit, Celebrating Neurodiversity, Gender Diversity and the Community
By Jaclyn Kozak, AIDE Canada
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This toolkit addresses LGBTQ2S+ awareness, visibility, and dialogue for individuals with neurodiversity and for their caregivers and families. Gender Identity, sexual freedom, and the rights of neurodiverse people are important for growing and thriving. All people have the right to self-determination meaning, in this case, the right to engage in mutual relationships that are consensual and respectful and, importantly, the right to be informed about our bodies.
Transitioning to Adulthood: Creating your Village
By Fakhri Shafai, PhD, M.Ed. & Christina Devlin, BA (Hons), RSSW, Autistic Self-Advocate
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This toolkit is designed for autistic teens and young adults navigating life after high school. It explains why no one is meant to be completely independent and how to build a supportive network. The toolkit offers concrete Canadian resources, tools, and webinars to help with education, work and housing
Warning Signs of Suicide for Autistic People – Toolkit
This resource discusses the warning signs that an autistic individual is engaging in suicidal thoughts or behaviours. It was developed by a group of experts, researchers and clinicians, and aims to show how these warning signs can look different from the general population.
Research 101: Collaborating in Participatory Autism Research
by Dr. Jackie Ryan and colleagues
Research 101 is a training program created by and for autistic people. It helps autistic people who aren’t professional researchers learn more about how research works. The goal is to make it easier for autistic people to work with research teams, share their ideas, and take part in projects that affect their community.
By building these skills, Research 101 supports what’s called participatory research — when researchers and community members work together as equal partners.
Research 101: Collaborating in Participatory Autism Research can be co-led by a main researcher and, whenever possible, an autistic researcher.
The training manual and slides are flexible tools — you can use them as they are or adapt them to fit your group’s needs. Adding your own examples and experiences can make the sessions more meaningful. Speaker notes are included with each slide and can be adjusted as needed.
Videos
Neurodiversity and Trauma for People with Developmental Disabilities
By Dr. Heather M. Brown, PhD, MEd
In this conference, Dr Heather Brown talks about neurodiversity and trauma for people with developmental disabilities. She explores the importance of recognizing individual strengths and possibilities, rather than pathologizing individuals who are neurodivergent. She shares her perspectives on interventions for individuals with intellectual or cognitive impairments, highlighting the potential benefits of mindfulness-based training programs. She also discusses the importance of collaboration, inclusivity, and how society can foster a supportive environment.
ND Summit: Dialogue on Behavioural Intervention
By Dr. Heather Brown, PhD, MEd, BEd, BA & Dr Aubyn Stahmer, PhD
This is a conversation with clinicians on the impact of conventional interventions on autistic people. It discusses how therapies focused on normalizing autistic individuals can be traumatizing and controlling instead of supporting. Alternative approaches, such as strength-based approaches are suggested as they prioritise autonomy and safety
Thriving and Autism: Tips, Tricks and Strategies for Success
By Dr. Heather M. Brown, PhD, MEd
This is a workshop presented by Dr. Brown, where she presents findings from research conducted primarily by autistic researchers themselves, in which they examined the constructs of well-being and quality of life for autistic individuals. By drawing on the lessons from the neurodiversity movement and personal experience, she will also present tips, tools, and strategies for learning to Thrive. The importance of (a) presumed competence and autonomy; (b) sparks, flow, and special interests; and (c) positive identity, belonging, and connection will specifically be considered.
Organisations
Autism Edmonton | Autism Society of Edmonton Area
Since 1971, Autism Edmonton (Autism Society of Edmonton Area) has provided services and support to autistic individuals in our community. Autism Edmonton has built a reputation as the "go-to" Autism Centre in Edmonton that connects families, individuals and professionals with autism-related resources and programs.
Autism Society Alberta
Autism Society Alberta (ASA) is a grassroots organization within the Autism community, connecting its provincial members to a regional collective of autism-serving societies and networking with agencies and associations throughout the province and nationwide.
ASA is dedicated to increasing public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by Autistic individuals, their families and the professionals with whom they interact. Our mission is to provide information, education, and support for research and programs for the Autism community.
Organization For Autism Research
The Organization for Autism Research is a science-based nonprofit that focuses on applied autism research and addressing social, educational, and treatment concerns of autistic people, parents, autism professionals, and caregivers. OAR funds research on education, communication, self-care, social skills, employment, mental health, and community living, and turns those findings into practical resources, guides, and programs to improve the quality of life for autistic individuals and their supporters. It also extends to issues related to family support, the efficacy of service delivery systems, and demographic analyses of the autism community.
Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network
The mission of Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) is to provide community support, and resources for Autistic women, girls, transfeminine and transmasculine nonbinary people, trans people of all genders, Two Spirit people, and all people of marginalized genders or of no gender. AWN provides support to various initiatives throughout the community, organizes various kinds of networking and social gatherings, and provides aid with meals, groceries, rent, moving expenses, bereavement & loss, healthcare, and assistance for many other unexpected life events.
Websites
Embrace Autism
By Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht MSc & Eva Silvertant BA, MSc
Embrace Autism is a website founded by Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht and Eva Silvertant to provide research and experience-based information on autism, especially in adults. The site offers research, education and training, tools, and diagnostic assessments. Its mission is to help autistic people understand and value their neurodiversity, and to educate families, professionals, and the wider community about the strengths and realities of autistic lives.
Radiant Neurodiversity
Sam Brandsen, Ph.D.
Radiant Neurodiversity is a channel that features neurodivergent and autistic individuals. Its videos combine interviews with neurodivergent individuals, discussions of research, and talks on ethics related to autism and neurodivergence. It prioritizes mental health and understanding what a neurodiversity-affirming approach looks like in various situations/contexts
Directory of Neurodivergent Therapists
Neurodivergent Therapists is a grassroots initiative founded by two neurodivergent women to connect neurodivergent clients to neurodivergent providers through an online directory. The directory features a wide range of licensed professionals, including counsellors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.
