Meet Katie Oswald: a female autistic entrepreneur, self-advocate and Ann Arborite. Diagnosed with autism at age 38, she has faced several struggles and setbacks over the years. However, Oswald’s resilience has shone through: she is a true beacon of light within the neurodivergent community. Oswald promotes disability inclusivity and creates spaces for autistic individuals to feel seen and heard.
Oswald has spearheaded several diverse programs to support autistic individuals transitioning to adult life. In addition to her non-profit agency, she is also a travel coach, and consults with large-scale non-profit organizations and social enterprises. In a world where different neurotypes may not be accepted, Oswald’s advocacy efforts have given many autistic adults a voice.
The Journey to advocacy
Oswald’s story began during a time when the world did not fully grasp the meaning of autism. “We didn’t know enough about autism in the 80s and 90s,” Oswald said. Since she was misdiagnosed during her early years, Oswald wasn’t given the tools to succeed during school and frequently felt overwhelmed and on the verge of a meltdown. After graduating high school, Oswald experienced 3 years of autistic burnout , which she describes as a phase of “chronic overload from constantly having to push past [her] limits…”
Still, Oswald enrolled in Michigan State University at the age of 26, persevering to earn a bachelor’s degree in statistics. Later, she served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Uganda, and earned a master’s degree in Applied Economics and Statistics from Clemson University. It was during this time that, equipped with her past experiences, she was officially diagnosed with autism, connected with a therapist, and started living life in a more sustainable manner.
Girls and autism
Research supports the fact that males are diagnosed at a higher rate than females. Some sources even pin the ratio of autistic men to autistic women at 3:1. Autism presents differently in girls. Some signs include passionate interests, sensory challenges, social difficulties and anxiety. Girls may also have difficulty navigating social interactions.
According to Oswald, “girls [may be] better able to hide [their] autistic traits than boys…” This is called masking, and it can lead to extreme anxiety. For this reason, women are often diagnosed later in life, and many self-diagnose. Reflecting on her school years, Oswald said that having accommodations to allow for social breaks would have been incredibly helpful.
Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults
Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic AdultsToday, Oswald channels her past experiences and challenges into a social enterprise to help other fellow autistic adults thrive in the world. Her autistic-led 501c3 corporation, Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults, provides an array of supports. Her vision is to create “a world where autistic people of all backgrounds and abilities are accepted and included as valued members of society and our respective communities”.
Full Spectrum Agency hosts a peer support meetup, social activities, individual coaching for life skills and career guidance, and corporate consulting to guide companies in how to best support autistic employees. A listing of community resources can be found here. The group often hosts potlucks, walks, museum and game days, a book club and AuDHD (Autism/ADHD) support group.
Autistic Adult Meetup: meetup.com/Full-Spectrum-Agency-Autistic-Adults
Allies and Autistic Adults Meetup: meetup.com/full-spectrum-agency-friends-family-group
RELATED: Autism Alliance of Michigan Launches $1.5M Education Campaign
Upcoming Projects and Ongoing Initiatives
Full Spectrum Agency has many exciting initiatives in the pipeline. Thanks to a new grant from NEXT for AUTISM, they recently launched an online community timebank program where members can “exchange time”, fostering connections and friendships within the group. Individuals can post what they need help with and what they can offer.Oswald’s non-profit partners with several autism advocacy organizations, including Autism Alliance of Michigan, Disability Network and Willow Integrated Therapy. They also collaborate with Michigan Autism Council through MiA3, a statewide committee for autistic adults to “design potential solutions to challenges”.
