The Science of Autism & Women: Unseen and unheard

Discover the often-overlooked experiences of autistic women and why so many remain unseen and unheard. Followed by Q&A.

Autistic girls, women, and individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) have long been an overlooked and misunderstood group within an already marginalised community. Many are misdiagnosed—or missed entirely—leading to years of unanswered questions. Fortunately, this is changing, as more autistic adults seek assessments later in life to better understand their experiences.

This talk explores how autism presents in girls, women, and individuals AFAB, highlighting the unique challenges we face—including navigating social expectations, accessing mental health support, and the complexities of masking. Grounded in research, professional insights, and lived experience, this talk takes a human-rights approach to autism, fostering greater awareness and understanding.

Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!

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Dr. Catriona Stewart has been researching autism for over 20 years, earning her PhD in 2011 with a focus on the lived experiences of autistic girls. She founded SWAN: Scottish Women’s Autism Network to provide peer support, expand knowledge, and improve understanding of autism, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and human rights. An advisor to high-level national inquiries and campaigns, she contributed to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act (Scotland), served as an Ambassador for the Scottish Government’s #DifferentMinds campaign, and was a member of Lord John Scott KC’s COVID-response Independent Advisory Group to the Scottish Police Authority. She has presented academic papers, keynotes, and training workshops internationally and continues her research while providing diagnostic assessments for autism and ADHD in adults.

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This talk is 16+