Advocating for Other
Undiagnosed Autistic Women
Melanie received her autism diagnosis at 31, transforming the way she viewed herself, her work, the world and her place in it. She’s on a mission to help one million undiagnosed women discover their autistic identity.
The systems intended to identify & support autistic women are failing them
Autistic girls and women have long been viewed as an anomaly, with both trained professionals and society at large believing that autistic men and boys are 4x as common.
But autistic women are not rare. We’re just rarely diagnosed. Autistic girls typically receive their diagnosis years later than boys do… if they do at all. More than 80% of autistic women are still undiagnosed at age 18.
Without the support or context that comes with a diagnosis, autistic women experience disproportionately high damage to their physical health, mental health, relationships, and self-image.
As a late-diagnosed autistic woman, Melanie is advocating for change.
Melanie was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 31, and that realization brought about a burning desire to uncover and correct the systemic issues that resulted in her missed diagnosis, and that of millions of autistic women like her.
After 10+ years as a marketing keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, Melanie is putting her passion for teaching and her comfort on stage to work for a new purpose: Advocating for diagnostic processes, professional education, and broader social understanding that reflects the experiences of autistic women, as well as those with other intersectional identities.
We are not rare
Autism researchers have long claimed there is one autistic woman for every four autistic men. We now know the truth is closer to four autistic women for every three men.
We are being missed
Studies show that 80% of autistic women still have not been diagnosed by the age of 18.
This means the majority of autistic go through life unidentified and unsupported.
We are everywhere
If current estimates are correct, there are likely at least 8 million undiagnosed autistic women in the United States alone.
We are misdiagnosed
Autistic women are more likely to receive incorrect diagnoses first, including bipolar disorder, depression & anxiety. This can also mean being medicated necessarily.
We are powerful
Melanie dreams of helping 1 million undiagnosed women discover their autistic identity.
Learn More With Melanie’s Newsletter
Subscribe to Melanie’s newsletter on the late-diagnosed autistic experience: The Late-Diagnosed Diaries — featuring educational explanations, critical explorations, and vulnerable realizations, all seasoned with a teeny little dash of feminist rage.
What Newsletter Readers Are Saying…
This makes me feel so validated.
Thank you so much for writing this!
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Your journey is quite inspiring.
OOF This hits me at my core!!
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This means more than you know.
Stay updated about Melanie’s forthcoming book on how and why autistic women have been overlooked for so long!
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More about Autism in Women
Books by Autistic Women
“Odd Girl Out,” By Laura James
“Strong Female Character,” By Fern Brady
“Autism in Heels,” By Jennifer O’Toole