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EPISODE 12
Challenging the Stigma of Autism

Play the Episode…

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1) Stigma that some people still associate with autism can have a varied and wide-ranging impact on autistic people. What aspects of stigma have impacted you or have you observed as an autistic person, or one who is in relationship with an autistic person?

2) Given current trends in societal understanding of the autistic experience and how autism is portrayed in the media, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the likelihood that stigma related to autism will decrease or be eliminated? Why?

3) In your experience, what are the most effective ways to reduce or eliminate stigma that you use, or that you have observed others employ?

Show Notes

There remains a great deal of controversy and divisiveness around how Autism is viewed. This has a direct impact on the stigma that historically has become associated with the word Autism or ASD. Is autism a “disease” that needs to be cured, or is it a human condition that is as much a part of a person as is their gender and racial identity? Is it something that a person has, or is it more about who a person is?

Barry and Dave discuss the varying layers around this topic and share thoughts and perspectives from our Uniquely Human Podcast Community about the stigma around the word autism.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.