The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy

Join author and scholar Jennifer Brunton, Ph.D for a discussion of her new book The #ActuallyAustistic Guide to Advocacy, which she co-authored with Jenna Gensic, M.A. The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy takes an in-depth look at the key elements of effective, respectful, inclusive advocacy and allyship. Every topic was chosen, shaped, and informed by #ActuallyAutistic perspectives.

The step-by-step guide discusses various aspects of how autism is perceived, explores how best to speak up for individual needs, and introduces advocacy for the wider autistic community. Each step outlines one vital aspect of advocacy and allyship, such as emphasizing acceptance, avoiding assumptions, and assuming competence. The advice and strategies laid out in this guide center the wisdom and experiences of Autistic people and enable the reader to confidently speak up with insight and understanding.

Biography:

Jennifer holds a doctorate in sociology from Columbia University. At Columbia, she was a fellow throughout her many years of graduate school based on the quality of her academic work, but struggled to navigate departmental dynamics. She decided early on that she wanted to be a community college professor, both to teach underserved students and to be in a presumably less difficult environment.

She then spent 10 years teaching ethics, bioethics, religion, and philosophy at the Community College of Vermont, while working as a freelance editor on Fulbright proposals and academic books. Jennifer has also written and edited for some of the most distinguished names in publishing, including Forbes, Random House, and Mirabella. As well, she has owned her own yoga centers and real estate businesses.

A neurodivergent parent of an Autistic son and a neurotypical daughter, Jennifer is passionate about making the world a better place for people who think, learn, and experience life in unique ways. Her parenting blog, Full Spectrum Mama, has been advancing civil rights for all—with a focus on neurodiversity and intersectionality—for more than 10 years.