Autism and Pregnancy: How to improve pregnancy care experiences for autistic women
Online | Online
What does research tell us about the pregnancy outcomes and experiences of autistic women? In this webinar, an autistic self-advocate discusses her experiences. Then, three researchers discuss their investigations into perinatal health of autistic women, from preconception to postpartum. Together, the speakers talk about ways to create tailored resources for autistic women.
About the Speakers
Dr. Ami Tint, Ph. D., C.Psych
Dr. Ami Tint, Ph.D., C.Psych Dr. Ami Tint is a clinical psychologist and clinician scientist at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Her research focuses on how to improve supports and services for people with neurodevelopmental conditions and their families.
Dr. Lesley Tarasoff, Ph.D
Lesley A. Tarasoff (PhD, University of Toronto) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Health and Society at the University of Toronto Scarborough and in the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She leads the qualitative component of a NIH-funded project on the perinatal health of women with disabilities in Ontario and her own CIHR-funded research on the preconception health and reproductive life plans of women with disabilities. For more information about her research, visit www.latarasoff.com
Dr. Hilary Brown, Ph.D
Hilary Brown, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and an Adjunct Scientist at Women’s College Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. Dr. Brown holds a Canada Research Chair in Disability & Reproductive Health. Her research program examines maternal and child health across the life course, with a focus on populations with disabilities and chronic illness.
Amanda (Mandy) MacKearney
From Amanda:
“My name is Amanda (Mandy) MacKearney and I am an openly Queer, Autistic woman. I have been advocating for myself in the medical system and beyond since I received my diagnosis in 2013, in between my two youngest daughters. I have six children
in total, ranging in ages from seven all the way to just about 25. For me, self-advocating is not only about advocating for myself, but for all neurodivergent people, including my children, of which only one is neurotypical.
I was completely unaware that I was Autistic for my first five pregnancies. Those experiences were not horrible as I had the wonderful option of midwives for all five. During my last pregnancy, I had the standard OB-GYN pregnancy and birth experience,
living in a new area where midwives were not yet permitted. Overall, the experience could have been worse I suppose. For someone who is already uncomfortable with people in general, having a new person for every prenatal appointment, and someone
you have never seen before for the birth, was not the best experience for me.”
