CHAPTER 5: PART 2 - DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT

Early Access to Chapter 5 of Dr. Angela Kingdon's memoir and self-identification guide, Am I Actually Autistic? for Sustaining Supporters The Autistic Culture Podcast

Ready to start connecting the dots? This chapter is where the raw data from your seven assessments meets actual diagnostic criteria—but not the cold, clinical kind. I’m ditching the ableist DSM and using a neurodiversity-affirming framework to map your results against what autism actually looks like in real life.

You’ll analyze your scores, compare patterns, and see how your experiences align with the revised diagnostic criteria crafted by Autistics, for Autistics. From communication quirks to SPINs, interoception to stims, this is where your Autistic profile starts coming into focus. Think of it like holding up a mirror to your neurology—only this mirror knows what masking is and won’t ask you to fake eye contact.

If you’re wondering, "Am I really Autistic?"—this chapter gets you closer to answering that for yourself, with evidence, honesty, and zero pathologizing.

From world-building and deep pattern recognition to justice sensitivity and superfan loyalty, this isn’t about symptoms—it’s about belonging. You’ve already taken the tests and combed through diagnostic criteria. Now it’s time to ask: Do I just fit with Autistic Culture?

By the end of this chapter, you’ll have not one, not two, but up to four different lenses confirming your identity—including one that doesn’t need a gatekeeper to make it real. If you’re ready to stop doubting and start claiming your space, this chapter might just be your Autmitzvah.