Jennifer Macko

My work focuses on the power of focused interests for autistic female well-being. This is partially rooted in my own monotropism centered on books and the joy and peace I get from reading.

Here is what that looked like for me in January. ❤️📖

#ActualAutistic #Monotropism #BookSky

It makes me wonder how we could create flow-enabling spaces in schools and workplaces and what impact that would have autistic student and employee well-being.

Transitioning in and out of Autistic Flow: A Qualitative Study Presenting a Non‐Pathologising Approach to Autistic Well‐Being and Conceptualising Autistic Ways of Being in Clinical and Therapeutic Set... Introduction Autistic flow is a term that has been used to describe the autistic experience of being deeply immersed in an activity. Autistic flow theory proposes that autistic people may be uniquel.....

I love so much in this article: the summary of the importance
phenomenological autism research, its gender inclusivity, & the findings that flow state is essential for autistic well being & that environments have the ability to enable these states. #AutRes onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

This is such an important question, and I hope you get an answer. Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't even think of this aspect.

Yes, they are definitely did show a lot of respect and I appreciate that they worked with ASAN to create her. I’m just saying it didn’t sit right with me & sharing my thoughts as someone who does deep dives into autism research as my job. I get that other people have different feelings about it. ✌️💛😊

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was wondering what other actually autistic folks thought. So I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Great point! When masking many girls tend to mimic their peers to effectively camouflage to their differences. The Mattel version would be more reflective of those experiences.

Oh, I love this work! Research shows that a lack of teacher knowledge and inadequate accommodation contribute to autistic female student anxiety, frustration, and sadness that can lead to emotionally-based absenteeism, which can then impact academic success. Check out Anderson, 2020: doi.org/gjb7k8

I’m so conflicted about the new Autistic Barbie. On one hand, it’s a huge win that Mattel partnered with ASAN to push past the little boy who loves trains trope and challenge the male-centric… | Jennifer S. Macko I’m so conflicted about the new Autistic Barbie. On one hand, it’s a huge win that Mattel partnered with ASAN to push past the little boy who loves trains trope and challenge the male-centric stereotypes of autism. The press coverage highlighting the female presentation of autism is bringing vital awareness to autistic females. That said, the doll itself didn't quite land for me. I couldn't put my finger on why until I saw this fan-created version. To me, the fan version feels much more representative of the community I know and love—it captures a specific, authentic "vibe" that goes beyond functional accessories. Here is why: There is often a significant disconnection between female autistic experience and traditional womanhood (Bargiela et al., 2016; Cooper 2024). Research shows that autistic females often define their identities through their focused interests rather than conventional feminine social frameworks (Kourti & MacLeod, 2019). Common interests among autistic females include technology and media, animals, dolls or figurines, and collectibles (Bourson et al., 2024; Nowell et al., 2019). While the Mattel version feels "conventionally feminine" and adheres to a very standard "Barbie" aesthetic, the fan version captures this interest-based identity perfectly with its subculture-inspired style. It reflects the happiness that personal interests—or "enthusiasms," as Clara Claiborne Park called them (n.d., as cited in Prizant, 2015)—can bring, and how clothing that represents them can serve as a form of self-expression and a medium for those feelings of joy (Knight & Birtles, 2025).  Autistic females often have a greater sensitivity to touch (Kumazaki, 2015; Osorio et al., 2021). The Mattel version wears a short, loose-fitting A-line dress and flat Mary-Jane style shoes. While the fabric is sensory-friendly, the bare legs and "standard" silhouette require careful movement to avoid exposure. This overlooks a common sensory need for full coverage and clothes that allow for unrestricted movement to avoid undesired tactile sensations (Kyriacou et al., 2023). In contrast, the fan version opts for an oversized graphic tee, vibrant patterned lounge pants, a plushie dog hat over her headphones, a crocheted bag with pins, and Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High Tops. It reflects how many of autistic females actually navigate the world—prioritizing personal comfort and self-expression over social expectations and fashion (Knight & Birtles, 2025). While I truly appreciate the awareness Mattel and ASAN are building, I’m so moved by the thoughtfulness of the fan-created version. It captures the heart and spirit of the people it represents. I’m curious how actually autistic females feel about this—does one version speak to your experience more than the other? Image Credit: LuCiette  https://lnkd.in/e2ScuS4h

Why does the fan-created Autistic Barbie feel more authentic? I couldn't help myself. I had to do an infodump on the research on autistic female "enthusiasms," sensory needs, and disconnection from traditional womanhood to explain why this version hits home. bit.ly/3YC0mkj #ActuallyAutistic #AutRes

Really appreciate Mattel & ASAN for pushing past the "little boy who loves trains" trope with the new Autistic Barbie. The awareness it’s bringing to autistic women is vital. But, the doll itself didn't quite land for me. This fan version feels way more authentic: www.facebook.com/share/p/1DgT...

The decision to disclose to my students that I am multiply neurodivergent with invisible disabilities was one I struggled with all semester. Ultimately, I did decide to share with them.

This new research from Curnow et al. (2025) captures the dilemma perfectly. www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10....

Zooeyia: the positive benefits to human health from interacting with companion animals (Hodgson & Darling, 2011).

Also known as the perfect spoon-building self-care option after a week long conference with a lot of peopling. #caturday

Alice Wong on Instagram: "💀Death is my intimate shadow partner. It is a disability intimacy. I wrote for @time magazine about my relationship with mortality as someone who just turned 50 as a disable... 4,995 likes, 127 comments - disability_visibility on March 27, 2024: "💀Death is my intimate shadow partner. It is a disability intimacy. I wrote for @time magazine about my relationship with mortalit...

Thank you Alice for your wisdom & guidance in how to live in & leave this world. Your joy was contagious—even in the littlest things like your delightful alt text descriptions of your smile and lipstick colors. www.instagram.com/p/C5B3bmkPxO5

My favorite find at the @ted-cec.bsky.social conference was this feminist disabilities studies coloring book created by Miso Kwak and Emily Nott. I am enamored with FDS theory & its principles but don’t often see it used in educational spaces so this made my heart very happy!

Attending my first @ted-cec.bsky.social conference. While I usually find conference networking difficult, connecting with the Neurodivergent Educators and Researchers w/Disabilities SIG made it much easier to chat authentically & share my work. Yay for neurodiversity-affirming spaces & colleagues!

I'm getting ready for the new semester and trying time blocking to manage teaching two courses, a research assistantship, a project coordinator role, and my dissertation. For those who've done it, how many hours a week did you typically spend writing your dissertation? #phdlife #AcademicSky

I would love to be added. I'm a neurodiveregent PhD candidate researching how to improve the well-being and mental health of autistic AFAB students.

You did a great job! I really appreciated the way you handled the round table discussion too. Using the ipad to have multiple screens was really effective! I might have to borrow this idea for next year.

This is so exciting! Your presentation at AERA was so good. I can't wait to read the article.

It's been a day. I finished my written PhD comprehensive exams this morning. They were planned for next semester, but my advisor & I decided that given the uncertain times, I should just get it done. Then this evening I submitted my final assignment for my last required course. Exhale.😮‍💨 #academicsky

Been a bit quiet, navigating program uncertainty to ensure I can keep doing the work I'm passionate about. Taking those steps feels important (more on this later.) Now I’m at #AERA2025 —a space where folks are deeply engaged in the work. It’s a welcome contrast to recent distractions. My ❤️ is happy.

Hi Kristen, I’d love to hear thoughts on this. I’m on Dr. Jamie Pearson’s team and we just discussed needing to figure out my timeline in relation to this issue.

I just added your session to my agenda on the app.

Thinking about your essay in Care Work on the pressure on femme leaders to be perfect and push through and proud of you for making the choice to cancel/reschedule to take care of your body. I hope you feel better soon!

U.S. Department of Education Cuts Over $600 Million in Divisive Teacher Training Grants The U.S. Department of Education today announced it has terminated over $600 million in grants to institutions and nonprofits that were using taxpayer funds to train teachers and education agencies on...

I completely agree with you and here’s your proof. The latest Department of Education press release explicitly states that they are terminating funding for grants addressing systemic ableism. www.ed.gov/about/news/p...

U.S. Department of Education Cuts Over $600 Million in Divisive Teacher Training Grants The U.S. Department of Education today announced it has terminated over $600 million in grants to institutions and nonprofits that were using taxpayer funds to train teachers and education agencies on...

If more proof is needed, check out the latest press release from the Department of education. It explicitly states that they are terminating funding for grants that are addressing ableism. www.ed.gov/about/news/p...

Specifically, it mentions the termination of grants for teacher preparation programs that involve “acknowledging and responding to systemic forms of oppression and inequity, including racism, ableism, “gender-based” discrimination, homophobia, and ageism”.

I’ve seen the posts hypothesizing that the special education transition program funding was accidentally cut due to a control F search for the word transition. However, this press release makes clear that disability justice in education efforts to reduce ableism are intentionally being targeted.

This a beautiful first person narrative of coming to self acceptance after learning about Indigenous views of autism. The author is
Cree and she explains that her “people have long had a word for people like me: pîtoteyihtam, which means ‘he/she thinks differently.’”

@aportraitinflesh.bsky.social Thank you for sharing. Autistic burnout is real and I’m so sorry you are struggling. You are not alone in feeling scared.