This is a follow-up session to Dr. Dena Gassner’s June 11th, 2025, presentation on the same subject. You can watch the live recording for more context and information. In the presentation, she discusses the implications of executive function, memory, and not fully understanding how one experiences autism, and ideas and possible solutions to aid others in deconstructing their masking challenges.

Learning objectives from Dr. Gassner’s previous presentation include:

  • Recognizing that masking is a human behavior executed by many, not just Autistics.
  • Affirming that masking is not exclusive to girls/women who are Autistic.
  • Deconstructing masking means recognizing that masking is less about social demand and more about the need for instantaneous social performance while combating executive function/processing delays.
  • Learning strategies for adapting to these challenges.

Originally published on August 6, 2025

About the speaker:

Dr. Dena Gassner is a Senior Research Scientist for the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. She is a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) advising the White House on autism research and a member of the Executive Committee for the Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC). She has won the Trailblazer in Diversity and Equity Award from ABC-T (Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies) and was inducted into the Health Care Hall of Fame at Union Commonwealth University. Her dissertation addressed the barriers of administrative burden as experienced by late-diagnosed autistic women. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and an autistic researcher.

Take the knowledge quiz

Can’t see the quiz below? Take it online HERE