How Becca Reclaimed Her Voice as an Autistic Adult

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Becca Engle, an Autistic educator, author, and advocate whose early disability was recognised, but whose autism was not fully named until adulthood.Becca was identified as disabled at age three and was once non-speaking. She was repeatedly told she would never be independent, never succeed academically, and never become a teacher. Instead, she grew up navigating education systems that focused on compliance over understanding — systems that demanded silence, masking, and endurance rather than support.Together, Angela and Becca explore early childhood diagnosis without clarity, the harm of behaviour-based interventions, masking in higher education, autistic anger as a catalyst for advocacy, and what it means to design learning environments that support regulation rather than control.🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: Becca Engle — Autistic educator, author, and disability advocateYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Early childhood diagnosis and being “almost autistic”Discussion: Masking, compliance, and exclusion in education systemsRegulation, classroom design, and alternatives to seclusionKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela introduces Becca as someone whose autism was visible early but never fully acknowledged. Despite being labelled with multiple developmental diagnoses, Becca’s needs were misunderstood, and expectations for her future were set painfully low.What followed was not support, but pressure to conform.2️⃣ Member Introduction: Becca’s StoryBecca was diagnosed at age three with conditions that stopped short of autism and was repeatedly told she would never speak, learn independently, or attend school. Early intervention included speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exposure to behaviour-based systems that relied on control and seclusion.Years later, in college, Becca was told she was “too autistic” to teach. She graduated anyway — and later pursued further credentials outside traditional pathways.Becca formally received an autism diagnosis in adulthood, bringing clarity, legitimacy, and permission to name what had always been true.3️⃣ Discussion HighlightsEarly diagnosis without clarity: Being labelled disabled but not autistic shaped expectations and access to supportCompliance over care: Behaviour systems prioritised obedience rather than regulation or understandingMasking in higher education: Silence was rewarded; authenticity was punishedAnger as fuel: Advocacy emerged not from inspiration, but from injusticeRegulation-focused classrooms: Becca describes her three-zone regulation model as an alternative to calm corners, seclusion, and PBISStimming and creativity: Writing, knitting, and movement as regulation — not distraction4️⃣ Key LearningsEarly identification without understanding can still cause harmCompliance systems teach masking, not self-regulationSilencing autistic communication is often framed as professionalismAnger can be an appropriate and productive response to injusticeWhen environments change, people don’t have to disappear to succeed📌 Notice BoardBecca’s Social Media:• Instagram: @StitchesStanzas• Facebook: Becca Engle / Stitches & StanzasBecca’s Books:• Step Into My Shoes: https://a.co/d/hJRVXSG• Through Our Lens series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3XQZ8KV📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka ...