Published 4/4/2024 by Taylor Mizuno-Moore, written by Lance Aja

This will be the first blog in a month-long series related to autism.  As an autistic adult, I welcome autistic people, their families, friends, allies, and others to engage in conversations this month that enable opportunities for autistic people. 

Autism, the Numbers

As autism has become more mainstream in society, research on autism has also bolstered.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 1 in 36 children has been identified with autism in 2020.  This is a significant increase from 2000 (1 in 150) and 2010 (1 in 68).  There is an overwhelming bias towards people assigned male at birth (AMAB), with them being diagnosed at rates of 4 to 1 to people assigned female at birth (AFAB). 

The National Institute of Health (NIH) published a study in 2011 that autism is an “extreme manifestation of the male brain”, stating that extreme male brain (EMB) theory may be why prevalence is higher in boys.  The NIH published another study in 2021 that posited that boys are diagnosed more than girls because girls have “increased reciprocity” (compensatory camouflaging).

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) published an article in 2022 that found screening tests are creating “a gender gap that may hinder diagnoses and treatment for women and girls”.  Research is still ongoing, and it may be some time before we have an answer.  It is important to note that autism affects every sex, race, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. 

My Diagnosis

I will be 45 years old at the end of this month.  Besides my birthday, it is also the 1-year anniversary of the day I was diagnosed with autism.  My autism diagnosis came about rather haphazardly.  Someone I know was diagnosed and I started thinking about the similarities and differences between us.  Autism diagnosis can be expensive.  I have heard people spending upwards of $10,000 on the test.  I enlisted my ability to rabbit hole on the internet like no other to find a few places that offered the testing.  I ended up finding Dr. Lauren Elder.  She is a PhD, ABPP, owner & licensed psychologist at Ascent Psychological Services.  Not only is she qualified in the neurodivergent space, she also offers very affordable options for testing. I remember Lauren saying, “So, before I give you your results, do you think that you are autistic?”.  I said no and gave my reasons.  Looking back on it, I think what prevented me from making the connection is because I had the same assumptions about what autism was or wasn’t as most people.

My Job Search

I spent 13-years in the Marine Corps and was two months shy of 13-years at a large aerospace company when I received my diagnosis.  Ironically, it was my 2+ year effort of trying to move to a management position that ultimately led to my diagnosis.  With my experience and education, there is no reason why I could not obtain and excel in a leadership role.  In those 2+ years, I had a paid subscription to LinkedIn.  I found amazing advice from people like Dilara Casey.  I paid to have my resume updated 3 times.  I interviewed with and without scripts.  Nothing was working.  Finally, I decided to write a cover letter to my resume.  In it I mentioned I was neurodivergent and I do not interview well for this reason.  I offered to fly onsite for my interviews, so they could see what I was not able to convey over the phone or WebEx.

My New Job

Finally, after 170 applications and 15 interviews, I found my current boss.  I ended up making a lateral move, not an upward one.  I did so because I saw that my work group was not only not helping me, but was really hindering me.  I said to myself, “if I find the right fit, they will see what I can do and I will get an opportunity to lead”. 

I asked my new boss why she hired me.  She said that she interviewed me because I mentioned being neurodivergent in my cover letter.  That still doesn’t explain how I made it past the interview.  I realized the interview was more of a conversation.  All four women on the WebEx (my new boss and 3 of my new colleagues) are why I did a good job that day.  They made sure that I was comfortable from beginning to end. 

Final Thoughts

I have been in my new position as a deployment manager since June.  My mental health has completely turned around.  I still have anxiety, but have not had a bout of depression in over 6-months.  I will never forget the feeling of complete joy, sadness, anger, and bewilderment that I felt when Lauren gave me my autism diagnosis.  After being misdiagnosed as Obsessive Compulsive many years ago, I always thought that what I had was curable… that I wasn’t trying hard enough or putting the work in to be “normal”.  I can finally say, I am not normal.  I am autistic. 

I am able to take care of myself with little to no support, which also makes me fortunate, as so many autistic people require constant, even around the clock care.  I am hoping I can contribute to the future success of autistic people.  Revamping or removing the interview process from the hiring workflow seems like a good place to start. 

What are your suggestions for improving outcomes for autistic people?