Welcome to the Autistic Culture Substack.
At Autistic Culture, we believe that autistic lives are worth understanding, celebrating, and documenting—and that our stories deserve to be told by us.
That’s why this publication exists.
We’re here to help you:
🧠 Make sense of your identity so you can live with clarity and self-trust.
💬 Find people who think like you and build meaningful, sustainable connection.
📚 Explore autistic culture through writing, podcasts, research, and shared stories.
🌱 Create a life that fits your brain—not the other way around.
Autism isn’t a disorder, or even a less common neurotype, it’s a culture. And when you see it that way, something powerful happens: you start to understand your story, your patterns, your passions… and your people.
This space is for late-diagnosed and self-identified autistic adults who are done trying to “fix” themselves and are ready to write, reflect, and reconnect.
Whether you’re just discovering this identity, rethinking everything, or finally stepping into your voice, there’s a place for you here.
And don’t worry…
We’re saving you a seat.
Who We Are
The Autistic Culture Substack was founded by Dr. Angela Kingdon and is run by a small, all-Autistic team of writers, researchers, and creators dedicated to documenting and celebrating Autistic life.
After being diagnosed at 39, Angela created this space to offer what she couldn’t find herself, a grounded, intelligent community where Autistic identity, culture, and creativity are explored with honesty and depth.
She’s a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and host of The Autistic Culture Podcast, as well as a researcher at the University of Kent and member of the Neurodiversity Journal editorial board.
Together, our small Autistic team manages the Substack, The Autistic Culture Podcast Network, and The Late Diagnosis Club, alongside projects like Neurodivergent Voices Live, our annual storytelling festival, and Neurodivergent Narratives, our yearly literary anthology.
We’re not just publishing content. We’re building an archive of autistic thought, creativity, and connection by us, for us.
Recent Awards
💫 What You’ll Find Here
Our goal at Autistic Culture is to support you in the ways that help you feel seen, grounded, and connected without the performance pressure that so often comes with “social media” spaces.
That’s why we show up every week to share stories, research, and conversations that help you understand yourself, find your people, and build a life that feels emotionally regulated and authentically autistic in a world designed for someone else.
This is what you’ll find inside the publication as a free subscriber:
1️⃣ Articles, Essays & Research
Weekly posts exploring Autistic identity, emotional regulation, sensory life, creativity, and belonging. These are our cultural essays, the heart of our writing and thinking.
2️⃣ Podcast Reminders
Stay in the loop when new episodes drop across the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, featuring:
🎧 The Autistic Culture Podcast
🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club Podcast
🎧 Neurodivergent Narratives
3️⃣ Early Access to events and Periodic Free Gifts
We host live events both in person and virtually and always let our subscribers know about them first. We also offer free worksheets and webinars first to subscribers.
This is what you’ll find inside the publication as a paid subscriber:
1️⃣ The Late Diagnosis Club Meetings
Our live weekly community calls Wednesday at 4pm UK (Nov–June) and the full archive of past sessions — where late-diagnosed and self-identified autistic adults process identity, burnout, and unmasking together.
2️⃣ Managing Identity Shock Course
Eight self-paced classes that guide you through the emotional and cognitive process of late discovery helping you understand your diagnosis, release internalized ableism, and rebuild a sense of safety, agency, and belonging. This is our foundational course for navigating identity shock and living authentically autistic.
3️⃣ The Members’ Library
A growing Members’ Library filled with courses, books, workshops, and event recordings created for late-identified autistic adults. Inside, you’ll find everything from self-paced classes and creative prompts to downloadable guides, writing contests, and replays of our weekly calls.
4️⃣ The Autistic Culture Book Club
Monthly selections of Autistic-authored | autism-centered books, with reading guides and member discussions.
5️⃣ Free Books
Receive complimentary digital and audio editions of
📘 Am I Actually Autistic?
📗 Neurodivergent Narratives: Literary Anthology Vol. 1
6️⃣ Writing Contests & Prompts
Each month features a themed prompt and the option to submit your work for the next Neurodivergent Narratives literary journal.
7️⃣ 🎟 The Live Festival
Your membership includes a ticket to our annual Neurodivergent Voices Livestorytelling festival — three days of creative and cultural celebration:
Day 1: Late Diagnosis Club Meet up cultural events and performances
Day 2: Autistic Voices Live - Meet your favorite Autistic authors and podcasters
Day 3: Neurodivergent storytelling and book discussions
No missing puzzle pieces here! We're persistent. We're Autistic. Get used to it! Thank you for joining us in celebrating differences and embracing the fullness of Neurodiversity.
Do you want to book Angela to be a guest on your podcast or to speak at your event?
To inquire, e-mail Angela@AutisticCulture.co.uk with:
The name + a link or web address for the podcast or organization.
The venue (virtual or in-person).
Times and dates of recording or event.
What is the topic of the podcast or event?
How did you learn about Angela and why do you think she’d be a good fit?
*The Neurodiversity movement is a grassroots movement that wouldn’t exist without the support of people like you! As always, please share Autistic Culture on your social media and with your family, friends, (and, hey, if you can) doctors, therapists, teachers, and local politicians! Together, we can make the world a safer, more accepting place, where people of ALL neurotypes can thrive!
P.S. Want access to all our exclusive articles, courses, workshops, and live sessions? Click the button below to see everything you’ll get as a paid member:
