{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"135 [S10 E7] A blessing and a curse: autism, masking and miscommunication","description":"My guest this week is Clara T\u00f6rnvall, an author and journalist who lives in Stockholm, Sweden with her two children. Clara was diagnosed autistic five years ago at age 42, leading her to write her first book, The Autists - Women on the Spectrum, a personal essay and cultural history of autism, which has been sold to 13 countries. In 2023, she published a second book, The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy, which places autistics as the \u2018normal\u2019 ones and neurotypicals as the outsiders.  Clara\u2019s background is in radio and TV presenting and she has also been the editor of several Swedish national TV shows. Since 2021 she has worked as a cultural journalist for television, radio and newspapers, covering literature, music and film. She also lectures on autism and inclusion.  Clara shares her experience of growing up undiagnosed in Sweden, a \u2018silent, too intense\u2019 child, feeling \u2018out of step\u2019 with others and filled with ever-present anxiety. We talk about Swedish attitudes to neurodivergence and equality, masking, the communication differences that can cause autistics so much trouble - despite our best intentions - reactions to Clara\u2019s books from autistic and neurotypical readers, and why it\u2019s never too late to get an autism diagnosis.  Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they\u2019ve learned along the way. I\u2019m Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I\u2019ve been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020. I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they\u2019ll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.   \u27a1\ufe0fLISTEN AD-FREE WHEN YOU BECOME A PATREON SUPPORTER https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/squarepegpodcast    EPISODE LINKS: Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/claratornvall Website: https:\/\/www.claratornvall.com\/    If you'd like to connect with me, get in touch or follow Squarepeg, you can find me on: Website: https:\/\/squarepeg.community\/  Patreon: https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/squarepegpodcast  Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/squarepeg.community\/ Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/squarepegautism\/  THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS!   A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast:   Abi Hunter, Alex, Alex Lee, Alice Kemp, Amy Adler, Anika Lacerte, Anna Grojec, Annette, Annie, Anya Nebl, Aubrey Brand, B Martinez, Barbara, Basia, Becca Lee, Becky Beasley, Ben Davies, Beth Kelly Herbert, Caprice, Caroline, Cat Preston, Catherine, Cathy Oliver, Charlotte Keen, Claire Gerard, Corinne Cariad, Corrine L. McDermid, Dana, Dana Bradley, Danielle Warby, Danielle Wrench, Daphna Epstein, Deaborah, Deanna M. Counts Goldy, Dennis McNulty, E, Em, Emma Franks, Erica Kenworthy, Erin Mazow, Evgeniia Pupysheva, Ewan McNeill, Fiona Connor, Frederike, Galina, George Cole, Hannah Breslin, Heather Peake, Helen Anne Hooker, Helen Delaney, Helen White, Holly Knight-Smith, India, Jackie Allen, Jane Galloway. Jaqueline Coursey, Jayne Hutchinson, Jenn W, Jo, Joanna McKnight, Julie, Julie Gillespie, Julie Goldberg, Karen, Karin Parker, KatF, Kate and Kathryn, Katharine Richards, Katherine, Katherine Meizel, Ken K, Kim Mortstock, Laura, Laura, Laurin Aman, Lilli Simmons, Lisa, Lisa Joy Powley, Lisa Williams, Liz, Lizzie, Lula Cork, Mandy Allen, Marjory Webber, Meg c, Melissa Shaw, Meredith L. Freyre, Mindy Wigzell, Monica Toohey, N, NC, Nicola Neil, Rebecca, Rebecca Biegel, Sadie Slater, Sandra Chapman, Sandy Klarsten, Sandy Ladkin, Sarah Ivinson, Sarah Jeffrey, Sarah LW, Sarah Musgrave, Sarah Raine, Shelia Smith, Sophie King, Talia's Nature,Tamsen Staniford, Tris, Vicki Temple, Victoria Jeffrey and Zans McLachlan. If you\u2019re enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from \u00a33 per month: https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/squarepegpodcast  ","author_name":"The Squarepeg Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/squarepeg.community\/podcast\/","html":"