The Panic of Being Misunderstood

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Christopher Cosby on Monday, December 8, 3-4 p.m. EST (12 p.m. PST, 8 p.m. GMT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome.

TITLE: The Panic of Being Misunderstood

DESCRIPTION: For many autistic people, the fear of being misunderstood is a constant, embodied panic. We carry the memory of words being twisted, intentions erased, and clarifications dismissed in our bodies at all times, often anticipating and bracing for it before we even speak. This session will trace how misunderstanding becomes panic, how discounting deepens harm, and how autistic modes of communication create their own counter-practices of trust. Drawing on research on invisible chronic illness and invalidation, we'll examine how these experiences compound for those with co-occurring conditions like fibromyalgia, EDS, MCAS, and POTS. Recognizing that the risks of being misunderstood fall unevenly across race, gender, and class, we will also discuss some of the ways privilege and intersectionality shape these experiences.

BRIEF BIO: Christopher Cosby is a PhD candidate in applied anthropology at Oregon State University. Their dissertation explores how invalidation and validation affect the well-being of late-diagnosed autistic adults in the U.S. Grounded in disability studies, feminist methodologies, and applied medical anthropology, Chris approaches research as a practice of care and accountability.

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou