Building Shared Advocacy and Care: Before Serious Illness or a Medical Crisis

Serious illness can affect anyone, but healthcare systems are not always prepared to meet the needs of neurodivergent people. This practical toolkit helps Autistic and neurodivergent people, with or without intellectual disabilities, and the people who support them prepare for medical encounters, communicate what matters, and share the work of advocating for needed accommodations, understanding, and care.

Disclaimer
This toolkit briefly explores questions to consider when deciding whether to disclose a neurodivergent diagnosis to healthcare professionals or include it in a medical record. Disclosure is a personal decision, and the possible benefits, risks, and implications may vary. Medical charting systems and practices also differ, including where information is recorded and whether it can later be changed or removed. These considerations extend beyond the scope of this toolkit.

Click here for 2-page printable response template to accompany this toolkit.

Click here to download!