Skip to main content

The Autism Library

Evidence-based articles to help you understand autism traits, neurodivergence, and next steps on your journey.

A person laughing genuinely in sunlight, representing the intense joy autistic people experience.
Joy Strengths 7 min read

Autistic Joy: Why We Need to Talk About the Good Parts

Autism discourse focuses on struggles. But infodumping, stimming, special interests, and pattern recognition are sources of profound happiness.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-02-06
A person deeply absorbed in reading, representing the joy and depth of special interests.
Special Interests Strengths 8 min read

Special Interests Aren't Obsessions — They're Your Superpower

The world calls them 'fixations.' Autistic people call them the best part of being alive. Here's why special interests deserve respect.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-02-05
A peaceful bedroom at night, representing the challenge of achieving restful sleep.
Sleep Sensory 9 min read

Why Autistic People Can't Sleep (And What Actually Helps)

Up to 80% of autistic people struggle with sleep. Racing thoughts, sensory sensitivity, and circadian differences all play a role.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-02-03
A notebook with handwritten notes, representing the preparation that goes into social interactions.
Communication Masking 7 min read

Scripting: Why Autistic People Rehearse Every Conversation

Planning what to say before, during, and after every interaction isn't anxiety — it's an autistic communication strategy.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-02-01
Sound waves or sensory patterns, illustrating sensory processing.
Sensory Environment 7 min read

Sensory Processing: Why the World Feels So Loud

Explore the sensory aspect of autism, from light sensitivity to 'stimming,' and how to create a more supportive environment.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-01-28
A rainbow prism of light, representing the spectrum of gender identity and neurodiversity.
Gender Identity 9 min read

Autism and Gender: Why the Overlap Is Real and Significant

Autistic people are 3-6x more likely to be transgender or non-binary. Researchers are finally exploring why.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-01-20
A person in a meditative pose, representing the connection between mind and body awareness.
Sensory Interoception 8 min read

Interoception: The Hidden Sense That Controls More Than You Think

Can't tell if you're hungry, thirsty, or need the bathroom until it's urgent? Interoception differences are common in autism — and rarely discussed.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-01-14
A person holding different masks, symbolizing masking behavior.
Masking Mental Health 10 min read

Autism Masking: The High Cost of 'Fitting In'

What is masking in autism? Learn why many autistic people (especially women) hide their traits and the mental health toll of camouflaging.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-01-10
An abstract watercolor of blended emotions, representing the difficulty of naming internal feelings.
Emotions Alexithymia 8 min read

Alexithymia: When You Can't Name What You're Feeling

Up to 50% of autistic people experience alexithymia — difficulty identifying emotions. It's not that you don't feel. You feel everything.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-01-06
A notebook and pen on a desk with scattered sticky notes, representing the challenge of task planning.
Executive Function Daily Life 9 min read

Executive Dysfunction: Why 'Just Do It' Doesn't Work for Autistic Brains

You know what you need to do. You just can't start. Executive dysfunction isn't laziness — it's a neurological bottleneck.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2026-01-02
A stormy sky clearing, representing the contrast between overwhelm and recovery.
Overwhelm Sensory 8 min read

Shutdowns vs. Meltdowns: Two Faces of Autistic Overwhelm

Meltdowns get attention. Shutdowns are invisible. Both are the nervous system's response to overload — and both need understanding.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-12-28
A parent and child walking together, representing the journey of shared discovery.
Parents Adults 8 min read

Recognizing Your Own Autism Through Your Child's Diagnosis

It's one of the most common paths to adult discovery: your child gets assessed, and suddenly your own life makes sense.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-12-17
An adult in a reflective pose, representing self-discovery.
Adults Self-Assessment 8 min read

The Adult Autism Self-Assessment: Beyond the Score

Understanding what an autism screening tool can reveal for adults, the role of self-discovery, and when to seek a clinical evaluation.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-12-15
A diverse group of people, representing the need for equitable autism diagnosis across all communities.
Equity Diagnosis 10 min read

The Diagnosis Gap: Autism in Black and Brown Communities

Autistic people of color face longer waits, more misdiagnosis, and deeper stigma. Here's why — and what needs to change.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-12-03
A colorful abstract pattern representing the complexity of overlapping neurological conditions.
ADHD Comorbidity 9 min read

AuDHD: When Autism and ADHD Overlap

Up to 70% of autistic people also have ADHD traits. Here's what it's like to live at the intersection — and why it's so often missed.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-11-30
Two people walking together outdoors, representing navigating relationships.
Relationships Adults 10 min read

Dating While Autistic: Navigating the Unwritten Rules Nobody Explains

From decoding flirting to managing sensory needs on dates, autistic dating comes with unique challenges — and unique strengths.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-11-18
A beam of focused light, representing monotropic attention tunneling into a single channel.
Research Theory 9 min read

Monotropism: The Theory That Explains Autism Better Than Anything Else

Forget 'broken social skills.' Monotropism explains autism through attention — and it changes everything about how we understand the autistic mind.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-11-05
A vintage photograph fading into modern color, representing the journey from unidentified childhood to adult discovery.
Adults Late Diagnosis 10 min read

The Lost Generation: Growing Up Autistic Before Anyone Knew

Millions of adults were autistic children who never got identified. If you were 'gifted but weird' or 'too sensitive' — this is your story.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-10-30
Two people in conversation, representing different communication styles meeting.
Research Social Skills 8 min read

The Double Empathy Problem: Autism Isn't a Social Deficit

New research shows autistic people aren't bad at communication — they just communicate differently. The real problem is mutual, not one-sided.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-10-22
A crossroads sign against a blue sky, representing the need for autonomy and choice.
PDA Anxiety 10 min read

PDA: The Autism Profile That Gets Mistaken for Defiance

Pathological Demand Avoidance isn't 'being difficult.' It's an anxiety-driven need for autonomy that's finally being understood.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-10-15
A person resting their head on a desk, representing exhaustion and burnout.
Burnout Mental Health 11 min read

Autistic Burnout Is Not Depression (Here's How to Tell the Difference)

They look similar on the surface. But autistic burnout has different causes, different triggers, and needs a completely different recovery approach.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-10-08
A therapy office setting, representing the clinical context where autism can be overlooked.
Diagnosis Mental Health 10 min read

Why Your Therapist Might Have Missed Your Autism

Misdiagnosis is rampant among autistic adults. Here's why anxiety, depression, or BPD may be covering the real picture.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-09-28
A calculator and financial documents, representing the hidden costs of being neurodivergent.
Finance Advocacy 9 min read

The Autism Tax: What It Really Costs to Be Neurodivergent

From noise-canceling headphones to private diagnosis fees, the hidden financial burden of being autistic is real and rarely discussed.

Jack Squire
Jack Squire 2025-09-12

Stay informed on neurodiversity

Join our community to receive the latest research-backed resources and autism guides.

Ready to take the next step?

Choose from four clinically validated assessments. Free, private, and instant.

Choose Your Test