Hi! I’m Nicola Heady, a very proud mother of two beautiful autistic daughters. However, it took a long, exhausting seven years to get my first daughter assessed for Autism. Eventually she was diagnosed at the age of 13 but by that time; she had developed debilitating anxiety and other co-existing conditions that resulted in her becoming school phobic. So, I did my MSc in Autism & Related Conditions, specialising in autism and girls, to help support her and understand ‘why it had taken so long for professionals to see’ what I could clearly see as a parent. I am now in my last year of PhD but I still love to share my knowledge and support families who are still struggling out there like I was, all those years ago.
Nicola Heady looks at the phenomena of “camouflaging” in girls with autism, and the mental health repercussions it can create.
Autism mom Nicola Heady discusses common reasons girls with autism go undiagnosed, and why it matters.
