Understanding Autistic Masking

Autistic masking is more complex than simply hiding Autistic traits or trying to appear non-Autistic. Autistic people grow and live within social environments where their natural ways of communicating, moving, regulating, interacting and experiencing the world may be misunderstood, corrected or stigmatised.

Across time, a person may consciously or unconsciously adapt how they express themselves in response to these experiences. Autism and masking therefore requires us to look beyond what other people can observe and consider the wider context of stigma, safety, identity, belonging and acceptance.

This Little Puddins Autism Masking hub explores Autistic masking across childhood and adulthood, including masking at school, identity, burnout, unmasking and how we can create environments in which Autistic people feel safer to be authentically themselves.