038 – S2 E2 – Self-awareness, empathy, and the autonomy to choose our own labels

homeroom is an international podcast bridging the education gap between the classroom and the living room by starting conversations impacting the next generation. In this episode, I speak with Alondra—a social worker, author, consultant, and mom—about her earliest memories of feeling different from her peers. We talk about her journey towards receiving an autism diagnosis, her expert opinions on what autism is and isn’t, as well as her thoughts on both the challenges, drawbacks and benefits of self-diagnosis. She also entertains a few of my eccentric questions, and backs up her responses with the most current research. Check out our conversation, join our ongoing discourse on social media, and subscribe for more. https://www.instagram.com/homeroomed You can also check out an auto-generated transcript of this episode on our website https://www.homeroomed.com — Dr. Alondra Rogers is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Autism Consultant. She is a late diagnosed Autistic and ADHD mom of a non-speaking Autistic girl who spells to communicate. She is the author of three books. Her upcoming book is called Autistic Thinking: How Autistic Brains Think, Learn, Relate, and Remember. https://www.instagram.com/dr_alondra_rogers/ Rée is a visual storyteller and educator exploring the consequences that mass education has on creativity, identity, and interpersonal connection. https://www.instagram.com/theinterdisciplinarian — References: Open source project with MRI scans of people with autism (initiative) Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser (book) Thin Slice Judgments Study (report) Lurie Center for Autism (website)