At ABS Kids, we strive to bring awareness to these issues and create a supportive community for all individuals on the autism spectrum.
By Jeremi Fulmore, Communications Associate at ABS Kids
This week on the Autism Weekly podcast, we discussed the importance of safety and social challenges for autism woman. Our guest is expert Robyn Steward, who is an autism trainer with over 15 years of experience specializing in practical strategies for supporting autistic individuals. Her work focuses on helping create inclusive environments and improving understanding, particularly for autistic women, who often face unique challenges in safety and social settings.
Throughout the episode, Robyn shares her personal journey of growing up autistic and the challenges she encountered, including dealing with bullying and a lack of understanding from educators.
She discovered early on that there were gaps in how people, particularly women, were perceived and supported in the autism community. This realization drove her to become passionate about autism education and eventually led to her work as a global autism trainer, consultant, mentor, and author.
One of the most significant issues Robyn highlights is how autistic women are often misunderstood or misdiagnosed due to their ability to mask traits associated with autism. Masking can be a survival strategy, where individuals suppress their natural behaviors to fit in with societal norms.
However, constant masking can have detrimental effects, including mental and emotional exhaustion. Robyn emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between masking and genuinely adapting to environments without losing one's sense of self.
A key concern for many autistic women is safety. Studies show that autistic women are disproportionately affected by sexual abuse and violence, making it critical to address this issue openly.
Robyn points to the importance of teaching consent at an early age, not just in relation to sex but in everyday interactions – whether it’s giving a hug, shaking hands, or expressing boundaries. Learning these skills early can empower autistic women to navigate relationships and social situations more safely.
Robyn also touched on the broader social challenges faced by autistic women, such as difficulty forming social connections due to misunderstandings in communication styles and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. She advocates for teaching autistic individuals how to express their needs and boundaries in ways that feel comfortable to them, rather than forcing them to mask or fit in with non-autistic standards.
While society has made progress in discussing consent and personal safety, Robyn reminds us that the landscape was very different just a decade ago. The rise of movements like #MeToo has brought these conversations to the forefront, but more work is needed to ensure that autistic women feel safe and supported in all environments.
Robyn’s work emphasizes the importance of fostering understanding between autistic and neurotypical individuals.
As she notes, real change comes when both groups learn to work together, meet in the middle, and create inclusive spaces. Whether it's within families, schools, or workplaces, inclusion starts with awareness and education. As a community, we must move beyond outdated stereotypes and recognize that autism is not tied to any one gender or behavior.
Robyn leaves us with a powerful reminder: true success for autistic individuals isn’t just about academic or professional achievements. It’s about equipping them with the social and emotional skills they need to navigate adult life.
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