Unmasking: Embracing, ADHD, Autism, and Queerness

In this presentation, Amanda invites you to join in on a discussion of the ways that ADHD, autism, and queerness contribute to experiences with masking, and therefore, unmasking. Amanda will discuss the ways that masking arises, and how this informs the ways that we approach unmasking. Special attention will be paid to the ways that gender and sexuality interact with the AuDHD mask, and this interacts with the unmasking journey. Additionally, consideration will be paid to the role that intersectionality like race, religion, socioeconomic status, and more plays in unmasking.Opportunities for self-reflection will be provided throughout, and participants are encouraged to bring things to write and/or draw with if they would like to engage with these prompts in full.To support participants in beginning or continuing their own unmasking journeys, Amanda will provide information on community resources, literature, and more. Discussion and sharing is encouraged throughout as contributes to a more rich learning experience for everyone!

Amanda Montey (they/them) is a Registered Psychologist who works with kids, teens, and adults who have, or suspect they have ADHD and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Within these populations, Amanda works extensively with folks from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, often helping clients to navigate the unique circumstances presented by the ways that sexuality, gender identity, and neurotype can interact. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with their spouse and their cats, playing video games, crocheting, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends. Amanda is ADHD, Autistic, non-binary, and queer, and they believe in drawing from their lived experience in combination with the available research, best practices, and experiences of community members to help folks meaningfully understand how best to accommodate their unique needs.

Special Guest: Ian Brown (they/them) is a queer and trans neurodivergent human living in Edmonton. Their background is in social services and high-risk youth work. They have been doing community education work on queer and trans issues and doing community resource building for over a decade. Over the past few years, they have been working to understand and accept their autism, and in the past year have been working on recovering from autistic burnout caused by high-risk youth work.

For more information, check us out at: adhdedmonton.com.

Host or Publisher ADHD Association of Greater Edmonton