Calendar of events
The Science of Autism and Shame
Autistic individuals often experience shame with particular intensity, yet this vulnerability is rarely addressed in clinical or educational contexts. This talk explores the science behind why autism and shame intersect so powerfully, then moves toward actionable solutions: how parents, clinicians, educators, and communities can practise genuine empathy and reduce the shame-generating patterns that compound across autistic people's lives. Crucially, this presentation examines how contemporary neoliberal culture - with its emphasis on productivity, neurotypical conformity, and the relentless demand for self-optimisation - intensifies shame experiences in autistic individuals, creating additional layers of perceived inadequacy and exclusion.
Whether participants work with autistic individuals or are autistic themselves, this presentation offers both understanding and practical pathways toward more affirming relationships and systems. By interrogating the cultural narratives that pathologise autistic ways of being and examining how institutional contexts amplify shame, participants will gain insights into interrupting these dynamics in their own professional and personal contexts.
