Steven Kapp

Screenshot of the front page of a journal article titled "Navigating Teacher Agency, Empathy, and Disability Discourses in Schools: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Autistic Teachers' Perceptions of Work Experiences in the United States.

We have a new paper out! We interviewed 8 autistic teachers to ask about their experiences in US schools. www.liebertpub.com/doi/epub/10....

(PDF) Participatory Approaches to Neurodiversity-Affirming Research: Challenges, Strategies, and Recommendations for Conducting Better and More Intersectional Work PDF | Participatory research with Autistic collaborators uses democratic decision-making to maximize the collaboration of Autistic people throughout the... | Find, read and cite all the research you n...

For convenience: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
We provide an overview, case studies documenting issues, and suggestions for future research.

Beyond paper below I've contributed to many research outputs lately on reshaping research & practice for justice for neurodivergent ppl inc
Epistemic Justice, Safety, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice: A Lived Experience-Led Response to Wade and Waller (2025)
www.researchgate.net/publication/...

This manuscript is the culmination of years of discussions and work on how projects that aspire to do participatory research with autistic people can truly be inclusive and neurodiversity-affirming, reflecting our experiences on two initiatives. Nothing About Us Without Us!

Kennedy’s lies endanger public health and the disabled community The science is clear. As the American Academy of Pediatrics stated, “Since 1998, independent researchers across seven countries have conducted more than 40 high-quality studies involving over 5.6 mill...

Some of these organizations have, like ASAN, but in their own statements. We need to show the strength in coalition against this disinformation agenda. autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/kenn...

Leading Autism and Disability Organizations Statement on CDC's Vaccines and Autism Page As national organizations dedicated to advancing the well-being of autistic individuals and partners across the disability and public health sectors, we are deeply disappointed by the latest update to...

Leading health+
www.apha.org/news-and-med...
and autism & disability organizations
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead... have released "big tent" statements calling out the CDC's lies about vaccines & autism.
We need to also call for RFK Jr.'s resignation - his agenda is a danger to public health.

Flyer with text reading, “Calling Autistic Adults! “Want to help shape research on loneliness for autistic young adults? “We invite autistic adults (ages 18-35) to join our Community Council on a 5-year research study on how big life changes affect loneliness for autistic young adults. “Community Council members will partner with researchers to make sure that all parts of the research reflect the experiences, priorities, and needs of the autistic community. “We hope this research will lead to a better understanding of loneliness and help create better supports. “• Community partners meet regularly and are paid for their time. “• No prior research experience is needed. “• Your lived experience and perspective are what matter most, and all voices are valued. “For more info or to apply, email kc3673@drexel.edu”

Want to help with autism research? The Social Experiences of Loneliness of Autistic Adults (SELA) Project at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute is forming a Community Council of autistic adults (ages 18–35) to help guide a 5-year study on loneliness and social connection. Info in flyer and alt-text.

Kennedy’s lies endanger public health and the disabled community The science is clear. As the American Academy of Pediatrics stated, “Since 1998, independent researchers across seven countries have conducted more than 40 high-quality studies involving over 5.6 mill...

Dozens of rigorous studies with millions of children show vaccines don’t cause autism, as health organizations around the world and the leading autism organizations recognize. RFK Jr. and Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill are a danger to science and public health.
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/kenn...

“Trapped in a No-Win Situation”: A Qualitative Exploration of Autistic Adults’ Experiences of Loneliness | Autism in Adulthood Background: Loneliness is a major public health concern, affecting individuals’ mental and physical health. Autistic adults self-report higher levels of loneliness compared with non-autistic adults, y...

A qualitative analysis by @kanabaletti.bsky.social et al found that autistic adults face a conflict between balancing their desire for social connection with their limited energy for engaging in social experiences.

FREE until 25th November

www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Who Am I: The Balance Between Masking and Identity | Autism in Adulthood Background: Autistic people experience worse mental health outcomes than non-autistic people. Masking (concealing autistic traits) is found to relate to poor mental health. Research shows that autistic people indicate relationships between masking and difficulties creating or maintaining a sense of identity. Personal identity is rarely studied within autism research. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the connection between identity formation difficulties (both social and personal) and its impact on poor mental health in autistic people. It examines levels of identity conflict and distress in autistic and non-autistic people and whether identity distress mediates and identity conflict moderates the relationship between masking and psychological distress. Method: Data were collected for autistic (n = 139) and non-autistic people (n = 133) using an online survey. Results: Autistic people were found to experience higher levels of identity distress, conflict, and psychological distress. Identity distress represents a full mediation of the relationship between masking and psychological distress in the autistic cohort, but a partial mediation in the non-autistic cohort. Identity conflict did not moderate any relationships within the model for either cohort. However, it did have a significant direct relationship with masking identity distress and psychological distress. Conclusions: These findings suggest that autistic people may experience worse mental health outcomes due to difficulties with cohesive identity formation. Additional research into the role of autism in identity development may identify other areas in which identity difficulties negatively impact autistic people, such as long-term planning and suicidality.

In an online survey by @tmburns08.bsky.social @drmbothapsych.bsky.social @durhampsych.bsky.social, autistic people had more distress and conflict around their identity and poorer mental health than non-autistic people.

FREE until November 25th

www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Interview with Katie Munday (on the topics of intersectionality, ableism, gender identity, research, activism, advocacy & more) Podcast Episode · The Autism Podcast · 12/11/2025 · 1h 18m

"An essential listen for anyone interested in neurodivergence, gender and disability rights. Katie’s powerful voice, extensive knowledge, and commitment to their community provide a perspective that challenges assumptions and inspires action"
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

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My School is hiring two full-time academics on permanent contracts: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Applied Sport Psychology:
mss.port.ac.uk/ce0732li_web... & L/SL in Forensic Psychology: mss.port.ac.uk/ce0732li_web...
Exciting opportunity to join unique School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences.

YouTube video by Autism National Committee AutCom Challenging the ‘Profound Autism’ Label: A 2025 AutCom Webinar, Featuring Dr. Steven Kapp

I delivered a webinar for AutCom on Challenging the ‘Profound Autism’ Label: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfE7... (recording).
Subtyping into "profound autism" lacks scientific validity & weakens community power for us to collectively seek the systems change autistic people need for personalized support.

Books like Neurotribes and Autism: A Medical and Social History include some attention to the movement but are more broadly about autism history. For example, @autisticadvocacy.org’s impact on the DSM-5 was just a sentence in Neurotribes but a chapter in my edited collection.

I think it’s the first publication of its kind, a dedicated history of the neurodiversity movement, which features accounts by frontline activists. Older books that gave some attention to the moment were broader (and not necessarily in an academic format).

Book cover of Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement: Stories from the Frontline, edited by Steven K. Kapp. The artwork shows a bright, glowing sun above a vivid landscape of rolling green hills. A large rainbow arcs across the sky, filled with colorful stars. Below, a long procession of diverse people moves forward along a winding path through the hills, symbolizing community and collective movement. The cover features an open access label and the Palgrave Macmillan logo.

This open-access book marks the first historical overview of the autism rights branch of the neurodiversity movement, describing the activities & rationales of key leaders in their own words.
Edited by @drstevenkapp.bsky.social
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

SPSSI Journals The neurodiversity movement challenges traditional deficit-oriented models of autism. However, inclusion efforts often prioritize individual attitudinal change over structural reform (e.g., policies ...

This....Neurodiversity-Affirming Intersectional Approaches That Target Public Policy: Moving the Focus From Changing Individuals to Changing Systems of Power.
spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

New FORRT paper on the intersection of neurodiversity and open research is published, led by Jenny Mai Phan with @saralilplants.bsky.social @flavioazevedo.bsky.social @bethaniley.com Magdalena Grose-Hodge @sammiety.bsky.social @yskjdmmhnd.bsky.social @johnjshaw.bsky.social @helenahartmann.com.

Breakfast Show Podcast 17-10-2025: From Bondage to Brotherhood , Islam's Forgotten Revolution & Political leaders and Fueling Misinformation - Is paracetamol linked to autism? Introduction & NEWS Topic I: From Bondage to Brotherhood: Islam's Forgotten Revolution Topic 2: Political leaders and Fueling Misinformation - Is paracetamol linked to autism? Presenters: Waleed A

I spoke w/ Voice of Islam Radio (UK) about scientific evidence against a paracetamol (Tylenol)-link & against ableism, & for acceptance & support autistic ppl (including w/ significant disabilities) need, & actively including autistic ppl in autism matters.
~1 hr36: soundcloud.com/voislam/brea...

INSAR postdoctoral, early career, and full members are eligible.

Dangerous times - amid other cuts, the U.S. offices in charge of implementing education of disabled and other marginalized ppl were dismantled - the shutdown as an excuse to force out all the staff.
What is the shutdown accomplishing? It's not protecting healthcare...
eu.usatoday.com/story/news/e...

“It feels like holding back something you need to say”: Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults accounts of sensory experiences and stimming Restricted repetitive behaviours and sensory sensitivities are core features of autism and have been explored in childhood. However, few studies have …

Thanks @isabellefk.bsky.social. For stimming's regulation of attention, this study applied it further to autistic and non-autistic people: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

National Institute of Mental Health, Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Call for Committee Membership Nominations The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve as non-federal public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Com...

Nominations for public members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee are through Monday. This is an important opportunity for U.S. citizens to influence national autism policy; we need good research and advocacy that advance needs of autistic people www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

Disgust, horror, and "elimination": Trump and RFK Jr.'s eugenicist autism conference The most striking omission from Monday's White House pageant: autistic people.

“Autistic ppl are a natural part of the human experience & society needs to affirm the value of ppl—even with significant disabilities. I don’t think eugenics is ethical or warranted in science or research.” @drstevenkapp.bsky.social to @juliametraux.bsky.social:
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

The U.S. powers-that-be still want us to die or vanish into hyper-compliance that makes us more vulnerable to victimization: blogs.exeter.ac.uk/exploringdia...

Social Function and Communication in Optimal Outcome Children and Adolescents with an Autism History on Structured Test Measures - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Youth who lose their ASD diagnosis may have subtle social and communication difficulties. We examined social and communication functioning in 44 high-functioning autism (HFA), 34 optimal outcome (OO) and 34 typically developing (TD) youth. Results indicated that OO participants had no autism communication symptoms, no pragmatic language deficits, and were judged as likable as TD peers. Some group differences were found: OO youth had less insight into social relationships and poorer friendship descriptions than TD youth. OO participants had attention, self-control, and immaturity difficulties that may impact social abilities. However, OO participants were most engaged, friendliest, warmest, and most approachable. Overall, OO participants had no social and communicative impairments, although some exhibited mild social difficulties that often accompany attentional problems.

...and being so traditional relationship-normed-obsessed to think "the human race cannot survive without being married" link.springer.com/article/10.1... as having "beaten autism"... 3/

The Kids Who Beat Autism (Published 2014)

...normalization such as the U.S.'s 2010s celebration of he "friendliest" "and most approachable" children shoving their hands in their pockets rather than hand-flapping, being constantly monitored and lectured by parents about their particular social norms... 2/
www.nytimes.com/2014/08/03/m...

Interviewed by @juliametraux.bsky.social for @motherjones.com.
Ableist misinformation will lead to harm of pregnant people and more eugenics, abuse, and services destruction against autistic people. We are descending to new depths, but lately I also think about old-fashioned normalization... 1/

Frontiers | Sensory–movement underpinnings of lifelong neurodivergence: getting a grip on autism While the autism diagnosis emphasizes “deficits” in social communication, the article advances that sensory–movement differences underpin autism through a re...

This just in: sex causes autism.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...

Papers related to my talk include a critique of "profound autism" and functioning labels:
www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13...

The strengths of speech divergence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

and Sensory–movement underpinnings of lifelong neurodivergence:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int... 2/