Mojdeh Mostafavi, MD<\/a>, shares her deeply personal journey as a sibling supporting a loved one with profound autism. She describes her experiences from early childhood through adulthood, highlighting the challenges and triumphs that her family and care team have experienced. The speaker shares ten meaningful insights about her family\u2019s journey, highlighting the importance of communication and advocacy from a very young age. Mostafavi emphasizes the complexities of ever-evolving sibling relationships before the Q&A.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\" style=\"--awb-text-transform:none;\"><h2><strong>In this webinar<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>2:00<\/strong> – Introduction<br \/>\n<strong>4:30<\/strong> – Early life, diagnosis, and family response<br \/>\n<strong>9:00<\/strong> – The role of siblings and at home care<br \/>\n<strong>14:05<\/strong> – Behavioral challenges during adolescence<br \/>\n<strong>17:00<\/strong> – Adulthood milestones and medical crises<br \/>\n<strong>21:30<\/strong> – Ongoing care and the unknown future<br \/>\n<strong>23:00<\/strong> – Welcome to Holland – a sibling\u2019s perspective<br \/>\n<strong>27:00<\/strong> – Ten reflections from an adult sibling of someone with profound autism<br \/>\n<strong>34:00<\/strong> – Communication challenges and triumphs<br \/>\n<strong>43:00<\/strong> – Family, community, care teams — the importance of support<br \/>\n<strong>47:40<\/strong> – Q&A<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Early Life, Diagnosis, and Family Response<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mostafavi’s brother was born in 1995, when she was just two years old. During pregnancy and early infancy, his development seemed uncomplicated. However, at around 18 months, their parents, both medical professionals, noticed a profound developmental regression. He began losing words as he learned new ones, stopped responding to his name, started to avoid eye contact, and exhibited classic stimming behaviors like lining up toys, hand flapping, and finger twisting. The speaker explains that this regression occurred within a five-or six-week period, during which his preschool teacher suggested they get an autism assessment <\/span><b>(4:30)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1996, her brother was diagnosed with autism; this was a traumatic experience for her parents, who received a largely negative prognosis. Her parents recall being told that he would likely never speak or live independently and that many strongly suggested institutionalization. Mostafavi reminds viewers that during the mid-1990s, autism prevalence was reported as 1 in 10,000, so there was very little understanding or resources available <\/span><b>(7:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Undeterred, her parents embarked on a journey of self-education, extensively researching interventions and support strategies. They successfully pioneered a home-based program to address their son’s profound needs in an area with few specialized services.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Sibling’s Role: Integration and Transformation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Growing up, Mostafavi’s life was intrinsically linked to her brother’s care. Their home was a hub for various therapies, including occupational therapy (OT), speech-language pathology (SLP), and ABA. From a young age, she was actively involved in these sessions, often tasked with modeling behaviors or assisting therapists. The speaker emphasizes how this deep involvement made her feel valued and important, which mitigated feelings of being a “glass child” and fostered an understanding and supportive sibling relationship <\/span><b>(9:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It was in her elementary years, around ages six to eight, that she first recognized the unique differences in her family life compared to her peers <\/span><b>(12:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Adolescence and Behavioral Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adolescence proved to be an exceptionally challenging period for her brother, particularly due to his limited verbal communication skills and subsequent difficulty expressing his needs and emotions. These challenges often led to intense behavioral outbursts, primarily aggression, including hair pulling, scratching, and biting, usually received by herself or her mother <\/span><b>(14:05)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Mostafavi underscores that her brother showed remorse after such outbursts, highlighting not only their close bond, but also the lasting distress externalized behaviors can have on everyone involved. The hormonal shifts of puberty further complicated her brother’s ability to self-regulate. The presenter recalls the incredible support they received from her brother’s care team and how they assisted in navigating this challenging moment for their family <\/span><b>(15:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Mostafavi notes her brother’s naturally loving disposition, stating that, even in these hard moments, 95% of the time, it was just awesome. It was that 5% where he struggled with communication that would result in aggressive behaviors.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Adulthood and medical crises<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mostafavi highlights that her experience differs from many because all the support systems they had took place <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in their home<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. During early adulthood, her brother reached many key milestones, like going to the movie theater, getting his first hair cut at the barber, and getting his wisdom teeth removed <\/span><b>(17:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The speaker briefly describes the first severe medical crisis her brother had when he was 27, which led to hospitalization and an induced coma. The cause was eventually traced to severe, unexpressed pain, leading to extensive medical evaluation and ultimately a diagnosis and intervention. The presenter comments on how disruptive it was to the entire family to be unable to manage and care for her brother at home. This process forced the family to reassess their resources, their son’s evolving needs, and the family’s well-being. It was a transformative period that instilled a deeper sense of awareness and appreciation for the ongoing challenges of supporting a loved one with profound autism <\/span><b>(20:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her brother remains at home with their parents, benefiting from a consistent care team, some of whom have been involved for over a decade. While aggression has subsided, he still experiences self-injurious behaviors, mainly head-hitting, often linked to unexpressed pain. The family is actively working with his medical team to mitigate these symptoms and behaviors. Despite these ongoing challenges, a home-based program with his long-standing care team remains the most effective option for his needs <\/span><b>(21:30)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Reflections on the complexities of being a sibling<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To articulate the sibling experience, the speaker references Emily Pearl Kingsley’s poem,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emilyperlkingsley.com\/welcome-to-holland\"> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Welcome to Holland<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, originally about the parental journey of having a child with special needs. Mostafavi adapts this analogy to the sibling perspective, explaining that a child growing up in “Holland” (a life with a sibling with autism) doesn’t initially understand the concept of “Italy” (a typical life). As they grow, they begin to recognize differences and form their understanding of the world, realizing that “Holland” is the only life they’ve ever known. This perspective highlights that the complexity and evolution of their unique life journey only become fully appreciated in adulthood <\/span><b>(23:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The speaker provides ten insights\/reflections on her experiences as a sibling of someone with profound autism. She emphasizes the multifaceted and ever-evolving nature of the sibling relationship, explaining that their dynamic constantly shifts as both individuals navigate life stages\u2014childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. For Mostafavi, this role often includes aspects of caregiving and, in the future, the role of guardian <\/span><b>(27:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. She clarifies that her experience doesn’t align with the “glass child” concept because of her deep integration into her brother’s care, which made her feel valued. However, she acknowledges the profound and complex emotional and psychological impact, including feelings such as hurt, anger, guilt, frustration, love, sadness, and grief. All of these require continuous coping strategies even today <\/span><b>(30:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A significant aspect of the speaker’s experience is the unique “language” or means of communication she shares with her brother and sister. Living with someone with substantial verbal communication challenges has honed her ability to understand and interpret non-verbal cues <\/span><b>(34:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. She touches on the importance of advocacy and empowerment from a young age and the complexities of planning for the future <\/span><b>(40:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Mostafavi asserts the importance of finding “your people” and navigating social life and relationships. The power found in people who support, nourish, and understand the nuances of your life cannot be understated <\/span><b>(43:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The speaker ends by reminding viewers that these are her experiences and that this may look different for everyone. During the Q&A, she discusses therapy for siblings and much more <\/span><b>(47:40)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Originally published on January 6th, 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:40px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-one-sixth fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:16.666666666667%;width:calc(16.666666666667% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.16666666666667 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"jump\" class=\"fusion-container-anchor\"><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\" style=\"--awb-text-transform:none;\"><h3>The speaker:<\/h3>\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload alignleft wp-image-19314 \" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait-214x300.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"85\" height=\"119\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%2785%27%20height%3D%27119%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%2085%20119%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%2785%27%20height%3D%27119%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait-200x280.jpg 200w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait-400x560.jpg 400w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait-600x840.jpg 600w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait.jpg 750w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 85px) 100vw, 85px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mojdeh Mostafavi, MD is a dual-trained internist and pediatrician currently pursuing a pediatric fellowship in gastroenterology at Mass General Hospital for Children. With a profound personal connection to autism through her brother, Dr. Mostafavi\u2019s dedication to advancing autism care is driven by her commitment to equitable healthcare and her expertise in integrating behavioral theory. Her passion lies in providing care across the lifespan, reflecting her belief in how today’s actions shape future experiences. Her work exemplifies a deep commitment to enhancing access and quality of care for all individuals, particularly those affected by autism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:66.666666666667%;width:calc(66.666666666667% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.66666666666667 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><h4>Take the knowledge quiz<\/h4>\n<p>Can’t see the quiz below? 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fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:30px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-recent-posts fusion-recent-posts-1 avada-container layout-default layout-columns-3\"><section class=\"fusion-columns columns fusion-columns-3 columns-3\"><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/understanding-and-supporting-puberty\/\" aria-label=\"Understanding and Supporting Puberty in Autistic Girls and Boys\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/paid-teens-700x441.jpg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Diverse Teens Hands Star Concept\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271709%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201709%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271709%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/paid-teens-700x441.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/paid-teens-320x202.jpg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/paid-teens-700x441.jpg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-09-11T12:52:59-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/understanding-and-supporting-puberty\/\">Understanding and Supporting Puberty in Autistic Girls and Boys<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-09-11T12:52:59-05:00<\/span><span>August 28th, 2025<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/gender\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Gender<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/medical-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Medical Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/parenting-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Parenting<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/self-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Self Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/sexuality\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sexuality<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/social-skills\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Social Skills<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p> Blythe A. Corbett, Ph.D., discusses her lab's research on puberty, adolescence, and mental health in autistic individuals. She emphasizes puberty as a period of significant biological maturation involving several physical, biological, hormonal,<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/live-qa-masking-deconstructing-the-myths\/\" aria-label=\"Live Q&A\u2014Masking: Deconstructing the Myths\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/teens-2-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271583%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201583%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271583%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/teens-2-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/teens-2-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/teens-2-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-10-23T13:56:31-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/live-qa-masking-deconstructing-the-myths\/\">Live Q&A\u2014Masking: Deconstructing the Myths<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-10-23T13:56:31-05:00<\/span><span>August 5th, 2025<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/adults-on-the-spectrum\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Adults on the Spectrum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/medical-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Medical Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p> 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<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/sexuality-and-gender\/\" aria-label=\"Gender, Sexuality, and Autism\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_238082786-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"puzzle pieces with male and female gender symbols on the pink and blue background. concept equality\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201707%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_238082786-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_238082786-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_238082786-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-08-07T10:38:10-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/sexuality-and-gender\/\">Gender, Sexuality, and Autism<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-08-07T10:38:10-05:00<\/span><span>July 12th, 2024<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/adults-on-the-spectrum\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Adults on the Spectrum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/autism-spectrum-disorders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Autism Spectrum Disorders<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/gender\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Gender<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/self-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Self Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/seniors\/\" rel=\"category tag\">seniors<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/sensory\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sensory<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/sexuality\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sexuality<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/social-skills\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Social Skills<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/autism-spectrum-disorders\/ways-to-help\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Ways to Help<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p> Dr. Wenn Lawson, Ph.D., delves into the intersection of autism, sexuality, and gender. He describes monotropism as a theory of attention and addresses common sex differences in autism. The presenter discusses<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gender-discomfort-and-autism\/\" aria-label=\"Gender Discomfort and Autism\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/AdobeStock_557444134-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Person made of colorful data in the virtual reality\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201707%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/AdobeStock_557444134-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/AdobeStock_557444134-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/AdobeStock_557444134-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-11-22T08:34:54-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gender-discomfort-and-autism\/\">Gender Discomfort and Autism<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-11-22T08:34:54-05:00<\/span><span>June 16th, 2023<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p> \"I think society has an expectation where you have to be male or female, or you can be somewhere in between [...]. But they don't get that, actually, there are many genders<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/lgbtq-and-autism\/\" aria-label=\"LGBTQIA+ and Autism\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/lgbtq-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Happy diverse young friends celebrating gay pride festival\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201707%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/lgbtq-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/lgbtq-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/lgbtq-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-05-30T18:35:02-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/lgbtq-and-autism\/\">LGBTQIA+ and Autism<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-05-30T18:35:02-05:00<\/span><span>June 13th, 2022<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/parenting\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Parenting<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p> Contemporary research on the intersection of autism, sexuality, and gender identity asserts that autistic individuals are more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ than the neurotypical population. Similarly, the prevalence of autism is<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/symptoms-are-similar-in-young-boys-girls-with-asd\/\" aria-label=\"Symptoms are similar in young boys, girls with ASD\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/faces-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Photo collage featuring smiling kids of different ages\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271209%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201209%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271209%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/faces-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/faces-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/faces-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-04-28T17:44:29-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/symptoms-are-similar-in-young-boys-girls-with-asd\/\">Symptoms are similar in young boys, girls with ASD<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-04-28T17:44:29-05:00<\/span><span>July 26th, 2021<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p> Research indicates that in school-aged children, teenagers, and adults with autism spectrum (ASD), symptoms differ significantly between males and females. Because of this, there are concerns that the skewed male-to-female ratio of<\/p><\/div><\/article><\/section><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":19316,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,21,4585,26,9651,20,5199,34,24],"tags":[4303,4693,9580,5195,9873,3985,3542,3535,4777,4713],"class_list":["post-19313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adults-on-the-spectrum","category-autism-spectrum-disorders","category-selfcare","category-health","category-medical-care","category-news","category-self-care","category-siblings","category-webinar","tag-adults","tag-ari-webinar","tag-autism-in-adulthood","tag-caregivers","tag-mostafavi","tag-parenting","tag-siblings","tag-social-skills","tag-stress","tag-support","webinar-author-mojdeh-mostafavi-md"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - 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