Okay, back for another Field Notes Friday.
I’ll admit — I caught myself feeling a little bad that this week’s share continues to pivot from the usual rhythm (10–20 minutes of half-baked, off-the-cuff thoughts).
But then I remembered: that’s exactly what field notes are for.
They’re a place to capture what’s alive in my mind — whatever shape it takes.
And because I’m ADHD, the form will likely shift — from off-the-cuff thoughts, to a spontaneous Substack Live with one of you, to a conversation with a friend about all the nonsense happening in the world... to a deeper dive, like today’s conversation with Dr. Donna Henderson in response to it.
Context for this conversation:
Donna and I recorded this about a week and a half ago (which already feels like ages ago in autism-world time).
We didn’t know exactly where we’d release it — we just knew we needed to sit down and talk through the question that’s been resurfacing lately: Is autism really an epidemic?
In this conversation, we talk about how things have shifted for clinicians, walk through the DSM revisions, and zoom out to explore the broader historical and social forces that have shaped today’s rising rates.
For a deeper dive into the history, you can also check out the article I recently wrote: "Why are autism diagnoses rising? (Hint: it’s not an epidemic."
Want to learn more from Dr. Megan Anna Neff?
If today’s conversation sparked something for you, you might enjoy The Lost Generation of Autistic Adults course.
You can also learn more about neurodivergence, diagnostic overshadowing and misdiagnosis through our library of resources over at Neurodivergent Insights website: neurodivergentinsights.com
Want to learn more from Dr. Donna Henderson?
Donna is one of the great clinical educators in this space — and someone I feel deeply grateful to learn from and be in relationship with. If you want to explore more of her work, here are a few places to start:
Book: Is This Autism?(co-authored with Dr. Sarah Wayland)
Trainings & Learning Opportunities:
Is This Autism? — Clinical Version
Is This Autism? — For Everyone Else
You can also check out some of Donna’s recent guest interviews on various podcasts — she’s shared such rich conversations there too.
Conversation Entry Points:
What stood out to you most from today’s conversation?
As you reflect on the historical and social shifts we explored, what resonated most with you? Is there anything you would add to the conversation?
What conversations about autism do you wish were happening more often — or happening with more depth and nuance?
After hearing the rundown of the DSM changes, at what point do you think you would have met diagnostic criteria?
When you look toward the future of the autism community, what gives you hope?
