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.
🪑 Attendees
Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate
Guest: Becca Engle — Autistic educator, author, and disability advocate
You: The Listener!
🗒️ Meeting Agenda
1️⃣ Opening Remarks
Angela 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 Story
Becca 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 Highlights
4️⃣ Key Learnings
📌 Notice Board
Becca’s Social Media:
• Instagram: @StitchesStanzas
• Facebook: Becca Engle / Stitches & Stanzas
Becca’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
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