Kaelynn Partlow is an author, speaker and online content creator whose work deserves your time and attention.
Over the years, I have seen the work of dozens of Autism Spectrum Disorder online content creators. When asked for recommendations, my first suggestion is always Kaelynn Partlow. Ms. Partlow, who has created hundreds of videos for YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, is an individual on the spectrum, a #1 best-selling author, and a mental health professional who works with people and families dealing with ASD. Her brief videos are incredibly thoughtful, entertaining, informative, and applicable, especially to parents of Autistic children and to people who are on the spectrum, and to help them gain more insight into why they sometimes act and feel so differently than their non-neurospicey peers.
Ms. Partlow combines skits, short stories from her own experiences, and research into a delightful cocktail of helpful and captivating videos that are as enjoyable to watch as they are informative. Unlike many creators who discuss mental health, I have found that most of Ms. Partlow’s work is accessible and understandable to children, even as young as seven or eight. I would still recommend some parental supervision; she does discuss situations that can be distressing to children. However, she is clearly an expert at working with children and teens, and the preponderance of her work is absolutely child-safe and appropriate.
As a psychologist who works with people on the spectrum, I am ashamed to say that even the field of psychology is playing catch up when it comes to understanding and treating this condition. For years, including during my training 15 years ago, parents and teachers were taught to put children on the spectrum into holds when they were overwhelmed; children on the spectrum were pressed to act in ways they did not understand, which led to intense anxiety, confusion, sadness, and pain. Only in the past few years has this really started to change. In many ways, I think Ms. Partlow’s work is actually more helpful and useful than many of the older books and ideas about the Autism Spectrum that have been around for decades. Previously, the goal had been to make people on the spectrum less “spectrumy”. This is about as useful (and harmful) as forcing someone who is left-handed to use their right hand only or making someone who is an introvert act just like an extrovert. These ideas were misguided, unhelpful, and caused a great deal of suffering. I am happy to see things are changing in the field.
One of the reasons for this change, this movement towards acceptance and tolerance for individuals on the Autism Spectrum, is because of people like Ms. Partlow. In addition to offering many techniques and insights that families, schools, and individuals can use to address the challenges people on the spectrum experience, she also promotes acceptance and compassion for people on the spectrum. Like Dr. Temple Grandin before her, Ms. Partlow has fearlessly spoken up about her experiences and rejected messages that have often come from our culture and the mental health professional community about how people on the spectrum “should” act. Most importantly, she promotes pride and healthy self-esteem for people on the spectrum despite their condition.
Ms. Partlow acknowledges it is very difficult for people on the Spectrum in our society. This makes tremendous sense to me. I have worked with the parents of many teenage males on the Spectrum who are terrified that their children, especially their sons, could get into a situation with a police officer and end up in serious trouble, injured or dead because of a miscommunication or their child not responding immediately and as expected to an order given by a police officer or other authority figure. She talks about not being included by peers and being misunderstood by other people in society. Anti Autism bias is real. I was recently told a story by a colleague who completed an Autism Spectrum Disorder assessment for an adult. The colleague stated that the client and their partner attended the feedback session together. During the feedback session, the client asked his wife, “If you had known I was on the Spectrum, would you have still married me?” She responded, “I don’t know.”
This is a tragedy.
We need people like Kaelynn Partlow in the media ecosystem, making informative and entertaining content that increases understanding, awareness, and empathy, and highlights ways to address difficulties people in our culture can experience because they are on the spectrum.
Many individuals, friends, and family members ask me about online resources about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Kaelynn Partlow is always the first name I give them. If you are looking for information about the spectrum, I recommend checking out her work, too.
David Nathan, MBA, PsyD, LP
I offer ADHD and ASD testing in St. Paul, MN. I would love to help you or a loved one if you are seeking an ADHD or ASD evaluation. For more information, please call me at (651) 337-3944 or fill out my contact form.
Disclaimer:
This site is for information only. It is not therapy. This blog is only for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered therapy or any form of treatment. We are not able to respond to specific questions or comments about personal situations, appropriate diagnosis or treatment, or otherwise provide any clinical opinions. If you think you need immediate assistance, call your local emergency number or the mental health crisis hotline listed in your local phone book. Use of this blog establishes your consent to the provisions of this disclaimer.
