#6 - Late Autism Diagnosis & Autistic Revelations | Donna Brendel

In this episode of the Jeffrey van Leeuwen Podcast, I have an enlightening conversation with Donna Brendel, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 44. Donna shares her transformative journey of self-discovery, discussing how her late diagnosis provided a sense of relief and a new lens through which to view her life. We delve into her experiences raising three children, two of whom are autistic. Donna opens up about her passion for books and learning, her hyperfocus on specific interests, and the sensory sensitivities associated with autism. We also discuss overcoming trauma and social navigation techniques. She is currently working on a 7-book memoir series titled "Autistic Revelations", with the first book, "Body Edition", already published. Donna also hosts a podcast called "I Should Say That Out Loud", where she shares her thoughts and experiences. Please join me for a heartfelt and insightful discussion that sheds light on the nuances of living with autism and the journey toward self-understanding and acceptance.   EPISODE LINKS: Autistic Revelations: Body Edition: https://a.co/d/6B2rcWv I Should Say That Out Loud Podcast (Apple Podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-should-say-that-out-loud/id1535524396 I Should Say That Out Loud Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/7n8EvfJE6tBZr7eYgf9vTd I Should Say That Out Loud Podcast (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@IShouldSayThatOutLoud   CONTACT LINKS: If you'd like to be on a future episode: https://t.ly/qoasL   PODCAST LINKS: Podcast Website: https://podcast.jeffreyvanleeuwen.com/ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4lLpEXA Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42kcOYy   YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOv56NTjNAeK7cUVamIPioSCsr06-vSGG RSS: https://podcast.jeffreyvanleeuwen.com/feed.xml   SOCIAL LINKS: X: https://x.com/RealJvanLeeuwen Patreon: https://patreon.com/JeffreyPvanLeeuwen