Autistic first-hand accounts about eating
When caring for an autistic person who has eating struggles it can be difficult to understand, after all we have all been surrounded in a neuro-normative culture that dismisses difference as disorder for so long. The tide is turning. Experts-by-profession (like me) are listening to the voices of autistic people (experts-by-experience) who can give us great insight into the role food plays in their lives. Autistic advocates suggest that we accept and support autistic eating differences rather than assuming that enjoying a wide and infinitely varied diet is the goal for all. Researchers may call this 'epistemic humility', only by being humble and recognising that our experiences of the world are not universal, can we be more accepting of how other people experience the world.
A list of first-hand accounts
In no particular order, here are some first-hand accounts I have found useful. Some of them are specifically about eating. Some are more generally about wider life experiences.
Emily Hammond aka NeuroWild: autistic speech and language therapist, illustrator, and advocate on Facebook, Instagram and elsewhere: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/emily-hammond-neurowild
The National Autistic Society website has two insightful anonymous eating-related personal accounts: one entitled autism and controlled eating and another: autism and eating: compassion and connection.
The Get Permission Institute host a series of interviews with autistic experts including autistic nurse Laura Hellfield, and autistic feeding therapist Yiannis Kanakis
Autistic nurse Laura Hellfield has a blog where she posts about her experiences including about eating: Context Eating: Why We Prefer Specific Foods in Specific Situations; More on Context Eating: Understanding Food Preferences Without Pushing for Change; Why We Need Low Pressure Food Opportunities; How to Get Them to Eat: Rethinking Some Traditional Parenting Strategies,
Naoki Higashida's books are bestsellers internationally: The Reason I Jump and Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8. He is non-speaking and autistic and is on Twitter (X).
Rob Partin is an autistic advocate and public speaker: a recording of one of his amazingly insightful talks is here. Book him for a talk here.
Harry Thompson's book: The PDA Paradox: The Highs and Lows of My Life on a Little-Known Part of the Autism Spectrum
AutChat is the archive of weekly chats on social media discussing all different aspects of autistic lives, feeding has been covered a few times, eg food sensitivities: taste and texture; cooking, cooking and meal prep; eating difficulties; and eating disorders.
NeuroClastic is a website that hosts many first-hand accounts on diverse topics, including The Right to Privacy for Nonspeaking Autistics; On Representation and Communication: On the intersections of being Black, Deaf, and Autistic; autism and pica; autism and food aversions; PDA parenting
Autism and Eating Issues: The Reasons I Don't Like to Eat - the account of an autistic 8-year-old in her own words (trigger warning that her BMI and weight are discussed)
Chris from Auticate with Chris and Debby has a very educational and entertaining 15-minute YouTube video sharing his experiences here: Insane Autistic Eating Habits Explained.
Your turn!
This list will be added to! Any suggestions for things to add please let me know in the comments.