Wellbeing as a Protective Factor: Reducing Stigma and Centering Joy

• By: Katie Curran, MAPP Proof Positive
• July 9th, 2025
• happiness, inclusion, joy, neurodiversity, psychology, stigma, strength-based approach, Summer 2025 Issue, wellbeing
• 931    0

There’s a deeply ingrained belief in our society, rarely said aloud but often reinforced, that autistic people can’t be happy. It shows up in lowered expectations, social exclusion, and systems that treat disability as a barrier to flourishing. This message is at the core of stigma, and it’s...