Episode 49: Christmas is Autistic

M: Because when you go to somebody's house, it's rude—apparently—to not eat all the food. A: That's the really hard one. M: What is up with that?

Navigating the Holidays with Neurodiversity: An Actually Autistic Perspective

• Autistic podcast hosts Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry discuss their complicated feelings around the Christmas season, acknowledging both the holiday magic and the potential for overstimulation, family stress, and past trauma.

• They explore how certain Christmas TV specials, like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "The Grinch," resonate with autistic experiences of feeling overwhelmed while others find joy.

• The hosts highlight the concept of "autistic glimmers" - positive sensory experiences and routines that bring joy, like Matt's son's love for Christmas villages and light displays.

• They also validate the challenges autistic individuals face during the holidays, such as increased social expectations, gift-giving misalignments, and food sensitivities.

• The discussion analyzes the autistic traits of iconic Christmas characters like Santa Claus, as well as the parallels between neurodivergent people feeling excluded for being "different" and outcast characters like Rudolph and Hermie the elf.

• The hosts express a wish for more openness and acceptance during the holidays and throughout the year, sharing a story Matt wrote about an autistic child who finds understanding and joy in a magical Christmas dragon.

• The podcast emphasizes the importance of celebrating neurodiversity and creating spaces of belonging, even amidst the potential stressors the holiday season can bring for autistic individuals.

What are some of your holiday glimmers? Tell us in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your answer on your social media and connect with other listeners!

• Available on Apple+: Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special

• Episode 08: Peanuts is Autistic

• Episode 21: Dino Nuggets are Autistic

• Episode 03: Poetry is Autistic (Emily Dickinson episode)

• Episode 22: Trains are Autistic

• Episode 35: Sex is Autistic (Kinsey episode)

• Episode 32: Animation is Autistic

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Learn more about Matt at Matt Lowry, LPP

Matt’s social media: Autistic Connections Facebook Group

Learn more about Angela at AngelaLauria.com and Difference Press

Angela’s social media: Twitter and TikTok

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