Autism and Identity: Raising Pride Instead of Shame

In this one-hour episode of Autistically Speaking, Mary Stanley explores the life-changing question every parent faces: Should I tell my child they’re autistic? With honesty and compassion, Mary reveals how labels can either wound or empower, depending on how they’re shared. She unpacks how parents may unintentionally hinder identity through masking expectations, “fix-it” thinking, and silent grief — and offers practical tools for raising children with pride instead of shame. “Your child doesn’t need to be less autistic. They need to be more themselves.”