Autism Awareness Month: Healthcare Professionals and ASD

As a medical device manufacturer (and one of New York’s largest private employers of people with developmental disabilities) we’ve had lots of conversations with healthcare professionals who work with people on the autism spectrum. What we’ve heard less about – much, much less – is practitioners who themselves have an ASD diagnosis. While there isn’t a large body of knowledge about neurodivergent nurses, doctors, and others in the field, there are some stories out there, stories definitely worth reading. We’ve linked to three women’s accounts below.

While each profile is unique, there are a few common themes:

• ASD symptoms are often overlooked in women and girls, and many are not diagnosed until later in life.
• Women are much more likely than men to have their ASD mislabelled as a mental health issue, such as anxiety or depression.
• Some ASD traits, like a sensitivity to sound or touch, can be strengths that lead to improved patient care.
• Personal experience with diagnostic history or misconceptions about abilities can help professionals become stronger advocates for their patients.

Autistic nurses: Do they exist?

By Åsa Hedlund, February 23, 2023

“The literature does not reveal much about autistic nurses. Searching ‘nurses’ and ‘autism/Asperger’s syndrome’ in PubMed, CINAHL and PsychINFO resulted in rows of articles about caring for, or communicating with, people (often children) with autism spectrum disorder. But what if the nurse him/herself has autism?”

Read more: https://www.britishjournalofnursing.com/content/professional/autistic-nurses-do-they-exist/

I am a mental health nurse. So why did it take me so long to realize I’m autistic?

By Victoria Sweetmore, April, 18, 2021

“Women and girls often present autistic traits differently to men and boys. … Often the stereotypical obsessions with trains or space do not capture the attention of females. My own special interests over the years have included animals, specific authors, niche film genres, as well as a consistent drive to understand people, which has helpfully led to a deep and sustained interest in mental health and wellbeing and a career in this.”

Read more: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpm.12762

How Jackie Anne Blair’s Autism Helps Her Be A Better Nurse

Interview by Ron Sandison, September 17, 2020

“Jackie’s autism has provided her with gifts as a nurse to serve patients and staff. ‘I have an excellent memory. My hearing is very sensitive in a way that I can hear things that others can’t. I’m often the first to hear alarms. I can differentiate sounds quickly and more easily. My sensitivity to touch helps with palpation during a nurse exam. I can feel if something is different or off.’”