Amazing Autistic Women

Whether they call themselves Autistic, on the autism spectrum or simply (insert their name here), here is a robust list of accomplished autistic women and nonbinary people who are making positive change in this world.

It has been the experience of many autistic mothers that their Autism or Asperger diagnosis did not come until after they became moms and learned that they had a son or daughter on the autism spectrum too. Some of these mothers are also parents to typically developing or otherwise neurodivergent children.

As you begin to meet or become familiar with other women on the spectrum, you will find that many of them enjoy writing, educating and helping others along their journey. Many are strong advocates with significant stories to share. Read the words they write, listen to the words they speak and perhaps you will find part of your story overlapping theirs.

Please let us know if you think someone should be added or if you find an outdated link.

Each is an autism advocate in their own right. The people on this list can be found online and throughout the world. Please note that while most people on this list identify with she/her/hers pronouns, some are nonbinary and included because of their work’s importance and their intersection with autistic groups like Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network.

This is an alphabetical listing by last name. 

Let your light shine!

• Julia Bascom – Executive Director, Autism Self Advocacy Network
• Corina Lynn Becker – Fantasy Writer, Webcom Artist, Blogger at http://nostereotypeshere.blogspot.com/
• Susan Boyle – Scottish singer, Gained fame on Britain’s Got Talent – https://www.susanboylemusic.com
• Jenny Bristol – Editor-in-Chief of GeekMom.com and an editor at GeekDad.com. Gen-X author and freelance writing nerd. Writes A Day in Our Lives – Autistic Adults in the Real World series for Spectrum Life Magazine. 
• Lydia X.Z. Brown – Asian-American Autistic and Disability Rights Activist,  LGBTQ Activist, Speaker, Blogger – www.autistichoya.com
• Rebecca Burgess – Full-time autistic illustrator who identifies as asexual. Their comics have been featured in The Guardian, and they love telling stories. Illustrates A Day in Our Lives – Autistic Adults in the Real World series for Autism Empowerment and Spectrum Life Magazine. https://www.rebeccaburgess.co.uk/
• Marcelle Ciampi / Samantha Craft – Learning & Development Specialist, Employment Consultant, Founder of My Spectrum Suite LLC 
• Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg – Writer, Photography, Disability Rights Activist. Blogger at www.disabilityandrepresentation.com
• Jennifer Cook (formerly Jennifer O’Toole) – Author of multiple books in the Asperkids series. Speaker, Founder Asperkids, LLC, 2012 GRASP DSM winner. https://www.jenniferotooleauthor.com/
• Sharon DaVanport – Executive Director, Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network
• Paula C. Durbin-Wesby – Disability Rights Activist – paulacdurbinwestbyautisticblog.blogspot.com
• Judy Endow, MSW, LCSW – Author, Speaker. Provides consultations in Madison, Wisconsin for families, school districts and other agencies.  www.judyendow.com
• Karla Fisher – Advocate, founder of Karla’s ASD Page, 2012 GRASP DSM winner, published in Different, Not Less
• Carly Fleischmann – Autism Advocate, author of Carly’s Voice
• Karyl Frankiewicz – Miss Native American USA 2018-2019, Autistic and Native American advocate. Featured on cover and in the Winter 2018 issue of Spectrum Life Magazine.
• Dena Gassner, LMSW – Program Director, Center for Understanding, published in Scholars with Autism Achieving Dreams – www.denagassner.com
• Morenike Giwa-Onaiwu, Autism and Race Committee Chair, Autism Women’s Network, Blogger at Just Being Me… Who Needs “Normalcy” Anyway?
• Temple Grandin, PhD– Author of multiple books, Advocate, Speaker. An HBO movie was made about her life – www.templegrandin.com
• Amy Gravino – Autism Consultant and College Coach, A.S.C.O.T. Consulting – AmyGravino.com
• Carol Greenburg – Executive Director, New York Special Needs Consulting, East Coast Regional Director of Autism Women’s Network, contributing editor to The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism
• Daryl Hannah – American Film Actress – www.dhlovelife.com
• Liane Holliday Willey, PhD – Author of multiple books, Advocate, Speaker, 2012 GRASP DSM winner – www.aspie.com
• Karen Krejcha – Founder & Executive Director, Autism Empowerment. Editor & Publisher, Spectrum Life Magazine. Host of Autism Empowerment Podcast. Autism Consultant, Public Speaker and Founder of Spectrum of Voices LLC. Former professional bowler. Published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories from the Spectrum (2013), Been There, Done That, Try This: An Aspie’s Guide to Life on Earth (2014). 2012 GRASP DSM Winner.
• Wendy Lawson – Author – www.mugsy.org/wendy/
• Anita Lesko – CEO of Born with Aspergers, Author, Blogger – http://bornwithaspergers.com/blog/
• Yvonne Mikulencak – Retired director of Asperger Women’s Association
• Haley Moss – Attorney, contemporary American pop art artist, author, and advocate for people with disabilities. https://haleymoss.com/
• Sarai Pahla – Doctor, Translator and Self-Advocate from South Africa. See her TEDX Talk on Women and Autism at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MA7o6FgPRU
• Valerie Paradiz, PhD – Director, Autistic Global Initiative at Autism Research Institute,  published in Scholars with Autism Achieving Dreams – Valerie Paradiz
• Lyric Rivera – Autistic self-advocate from Texas who runs the neurodiversity lifestyle blog Neurodivergent Rebel and is a columnist for Autism Empowerment and Spectrum Life Magazine. Creator of the#AskingAutistics and writes monthly columns about this topic for AE. #AskingAutistics.
• Zoey Roberts – Advocate, runs a lot of Facebook groups, including http://www.facebook.com/groups/autismsupergroup/
• Chloe Rothschild – Advocate, Presenter, Author – https://www.chloerothschildasd.com/
• Alis Rowe – Author, blogger, weightlifter  – http://thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk/
• Amy Sequenzia – Autistic Self-Advocate, Poet, blogs at www.ollibean.com and Autism Women’s Network
• Ivanova Smith – Autistic & Developmental Disability Self-Advocate, contributing writer to NOS Magazine
• Rudy Simone aka Artemisia – Author of multiple books including Aspergirls; Musician, Speaker, Founder International Aspergirl Society  and www.help4aspergers.com
• Lynne Soraya – Blogger for Psychology Today – www.psychologytoday.com/blog/aspergers-diary
• Greta Thunberg – Swedish autistic climate justice activist – www.facebook.com/gretathunbergsweden/
• Helen Wallace-Iles – founder of Autism All Stars Foundation UK
• Lydia Wayman – Freelance writer. Guest editor for Zoom Autism Magazine Issue #19: A Job for Everyone
• Adriana White – Librarian. Author. TEDx Speaker – https://adrianaluisawhite.wordpress.com/
• Alexis Wineman – Autism Advocate, Miss Montana 2012 – https://www.facebook.com/MissMontana2012

There are many more! Please let us know if you think someone should be added.