Hello lovely humans, and welcome back to another episode of Autism, ADHD and Us Three. If you’re new here, I’m so glad you’ve found us. And if you’re a regular listener, thank you for being part of this space 💜

If you enjoy the podcast, it would mean the world if you could leave a quick review. It helps more people find these conversations and feel a little less alone.

In this episode, I’m joined by Yenn Purkis, an autistic and ADHD advocate, author of 18 books, TEDx speaker and PhD candidate. We talk about how Yenn was unexpectedly pulled into advocacy, and the moment that shifted everything for them. From there, we explore the realities of being visible, the impact of deficit-based narratives around autism, and why so many common assumptions about autistic people are still so harmful.

We also dive into gender identity, inclusion, and what it really means to stand up and be seen in a world that doesn’t always feel safe to do so.

This conversation is honest, thoughtful and at times challenging, but also incredibly grounding for anyone navigating identity, late diagnosis, advocacy or burnout.

• ​How Yenn found themselves in advocacy and what changed their direction
• ​The impact of deficit-based messaging on autistic people
• ​Why visibility and representation matter so much
• ​The truth about “functioning labels” and why they’re often misunderstood
• ​Navigating identity, including gender diversity and autism
• ​Dealing with criticism, pushback and online spaces
• ​Burnout, work and creating a life that actually fits
• ​Autism diagnosis should mean liberation
• ​Visibility is vital for change
• ​Functioning labels are not diagnoses

00:00 Introduction to advocacy and autistic identity

01:34 The journey into advocacy

04:54 Writing as a tool for change

10:37 The evolution of public speaking

15:26 Changing perspectives on neurodiversity

19:39 Balancing advocacy and academia

20:36 Embracing passion and overcoming adversity

24:50 Redefining work and income streams

28:05 Identity and advocacy in the non-binary and asexual community

32:11 Navigating pushback and promoting visibility

34:52 Debunking myths about autism

41:51 Future aspirations and life philosophy

--------------------------------

You can find Yenn and their work here:

Website https://www.yennpurkis.com

Books on Amazon*https://amzn.to/4dg03Eg

If something in this episode resonated with you, I’d love you to share it with someone who might need to hear it too. And if you want more conversations like this, you can follow along wherever you listen to your podcasts.

*Affiliate links are used in these show notes.