18. S2, Ep6: Behind the mask: being true to your autistic self and finding your tribe

Noheli Rosas is 28 and was recently diagnosed, after first recognising she might be autistic two years ago. She lives in Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, where she runs her own eco salon specialising in henna body art, ayurvedic hair care and incense making. Her salon allows exposure space for over 30 artists, including many queer and neurodivergent people. Through her business she has found a way to explore her special interests, work to her strengths, meet her needs and make a living - while creating a vibrant and supportive community of like minded people. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Cultural attitudes to autism in the Carribean ➡ The positives and negatives of masking ➡ Relating to others - both neurotypical and neurodivergent ➡ Turning special interests into a thriving business ➡ Creating a life and work that plays to your strengths and support your needs as an autistic person ➡ The importance - and power - of community Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I'm Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I'm now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn't quite fit.   EPISODE LINKS: Instagram: https://instagram.com/hennaturalpr  https://instagram.com/bruma.incense  https://instagram.com/lapimpitud  Website: http://hennatural.com     If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/  Or on my website: https://squarepeg.community/  Support Squarepeg on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast