It’s time to focus more on girls with ASD. Stereotypes of autistic girls all-too-often prevent them from getting the help they need. Society tends to draw a narrow picture of what autism looks like. That means so many girls go undiagnosed or misunderstood. It is important to dismantle these myths to create more understanding and bring about a world wherein every autistic girl feels valued and accepted. [caption id="attachment_65543" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Photo by Tara Winstead[/caption]

Autism Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

One of the greatest myths is that autism presents in every individual the same way. Girls on the spectrum will often present differently than boys, which can make their autism less obvious. For example, girls may have socially accepted interests, such as animals or characters in fiction, while boys are more likely to have interests traditionally associated with autism, like trains or technology. Many girls learn to camouflage their autistic traits. They may imitate social behaviors or suppress stimming to fit in, which makes their challenges less noticeable. This can bring about emotional exhaustion and delayed diagnosis.