Em Rusciano has explained why her autism may not be immediately apparent to others.
In a lengthy statement posted to Facebook, shared in full at the end of this article, Em, 43, outlined how “heavily masking” her symptoms helped her cope, but also made it less obvious to outsiders, that she was fighting.
The statement comes after media personality Meshel Laurie doubled down on her false accusation that the comedian was “faking” her autism diagnosis.
“The truth is that I’ve spent my entire life developing coping techniques to help me fit in, I’ve become an expert at looking ‘good,’ but in reality my apparent skill was actually heavy masking,” Em wrote.
“It’s the same with most late-diagnosed women. I now know that so many of my mental health problems stem from trying to force my brain into neurotypical structures and systems that weren’t designed for me.”
Em Rusciano (pictured) has explained why the symptoms of her autism may not be immediately apparent to others
Em continued, “I just didn’t understand why life was so freaking exhausting, then I found out it was because I had to spend all my time pretending I found certain parts of it easy .
“I didn’t know that everyone else knew how to make the right eye contact during a conversation with a stranger.
“I pay a lot of attention to detail because I spend hours anxiously rethinking everything I do in case there’s a mistake and someone realizes I’m not really up to the task.
“I watch myself in social interactions, I work really hard not to interrupt the person speaking, not to take over the conversation and go on a five-minute info-dump frenzy because they brought up a topic I know all about . If I’m excited or tired or anxious, I stimulate.”
The statement comes after media personality Meshel Laurie (pictured) doubled down on her false accusation that the comedian was “faking” her autism diagnosis
Em also addressed the drama surrounding her statement that she could use the “sensory inclusivity space” at Marvel Stadium during the Harry Style concert in Melbourne.
“I am extremely sensitive to light, sound and texture. Sensory overload and burnout happen to me five or six times a week, so when I saw that Marvel Stadium had a sensory room, I was excited,” she said.
“These are just a few examples of how my ASD is showing up, but I shouldn’t have to explain myself. But this week I’ve had to endure people’s arguments about whether I’m autistic enough or even at all. How is that ok?’
The former radio star also called the questions about her autism “limiting and empowering” and that neurodivergent women, whose symptoms can present slightly differently than men, are often left out of the conversation.
“The truth is that I’ve spent my entire life developing coping techniques to help me fit in, I’ve become an expert at looking ‘good,’ but in reality my apparent skill was actually heavy masking,” Em wrote
“The only examples of ADHD and autism I had seen were male presentation. But that’s the whole point, so representation matters. More women like me need to be seen and heard so we can change attitudes and narratives about ADHD and ASD,” she said.
On Monday, Em insisted in a series of videos shared to Instagram Stories that she has the “receipts” and can provide medical reports if needed, proving she was indeed professionally diagnosed with a developmental disability.
“Every instinct in me wants to bury myself, and ironically my symptoms have gotten worse over the past few days because I can’t regulate my emotions,” she began.
“All this stuff made it clear why I can’t, because representation matters, the only representation of me in the media is like Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man, the extreme male portrayal (of autism).
On Monday, in a series of videos shared to Instagram Stories, the star insisted she has the “receipts” and can provide medical reports if needed, proving she was, in fact, professionally diagnosed with a developmental disorder
“There needs to be more people like me, women, so other women who are diagnosed like me don’t have to hide it or face things like this because they know [sic] one should face such things,” she continued.
“Accusing me of faking autism is pretty wild. I have a detailed report. I recorded the sessions so I can remember them. My friends and family were interviewed. If it comes to that, I have the receipts,” Em insisted.
“It’s just so wild that someone thinks it’s okay to say you’re faking it because your life looks a certain way, because you’re highly functional.
“I’m actually pretty dysfunctional, I just learned how to survive. Just because you know one autistic person doesn’t mean you know all autistic persons.
In a series of videos shared on Instagram Stories, she insisted she has the “receipts” and can provide medical reports if needed, proving she was, in fact, professionally diagnosed with a developmental disorder
In a separate post on Twitter, Em wrote, “It shouldn’t come as a shock to people that someone with sensory issues needs a space to regulate themselves.”
“I’ve been really overwhelmed by the ignorance and ableistic attitudes and it really scares me for my son because he’s at stage two (autistic),” she concluded.
In a separate post on Twitter, Em wrote: “It shouldn’t come as a shock to people that someone with sensory issues needs a space to regulate themselves.
“It’s not okay to tell someone they’re not autistic enough. Or that they are lying. Or that they choose and choose when they are ND. It’s stunningly fucked. Really.’
It comes after Meshel doubled down on her savage tirade against Em after falsely accusing the comedian of “faking” her autism diagnosis.
Podcaster Meshel accused Em of “jumping on the bandwagon” for clout and refuses to back down despite being called out by thousands on social media
The 49-year-old podcaster accused Em of “jumping on the bandwagon” for clout and refuses to back down despite being called out by thousands on social media.
Laurie’s vicious tirade came on Friday after the former radio host said she might seek sanctuary in the “sensory inclusivity room” at Marvel Stadium during the Harry Style concert in Melbourne.
Meshel shared a photo of a young girl yelling into a megaphone on Instagram on Saturday, captioning it with a few choice words.
“Success = never having to apologize for telling the truth,” she wrote alongside the snap, turning off comments so followers couldn’t respond.
She also took to Facebook to tell her fans that she’s “tired” of celebrities making “mindful” posts about autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Meshel shared this photo of a young girl yelling into a megaphone on Instagram and captioned it with a few choice words on Saturday
“As a distressed mother of an ASD child, I stand by what I have said about certain adults who are known to seek attention and their recent posts about their diagnoses,” she wrote.
“Next time you hear an adult celebrity say they’re on the spectrum, please whisper in your head, f*** you, you successful mother f*****. Obviously you’re not very far on the spectrum.
“Our education system only recognized this shit ten years ago and learned to deal with it. You’re lying,’ she added.
Rusciano was diagnosed with autism last November, just a year after being diagnosed with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).
Meshel also posted a lengthy tirade on Facebook calling out “attention-seeking” celebrities who were discussing their ASD diagnosis on social media
On Saturday afternoon, Rusciano shared a response to Laurie’s tirade in a lengthy Instagram post.
She uploaded a photo of herself looking relaxed in a floral dress and a caption imploring fans to leave the “troubled” Laurie alone.
She wrote: “Who knew my gratitude for a stadium with a sensory room would become what it did.
“I’m exhausted TBH and don’t have the heart for a topic reset. I had to resist the urge to write a song parody of Kasey Chambers’ hit “Not Pretty Enough” and include “Autistic” – it’s a bit early for that.
The drama began when Em said she may seek sanctuary in the “sensory inclusivity room” at Marvel Stadium during the Harry Style concert in Melbourne
“It seems like Meshel is having a hard time at the moment and I was with me. Don’t get me wrong, what she wrote was just plain wrong and hurt my feelings. I don’t want the comments to become attacks on Meshel,” she concluded.
Rusciano’s followers were quick to praise her for taking the big road during this difficult time.
Feminist author Clementine Ford commented, “What a weird thing for someone to attack like that,” while another fan said they “unfollowed” Meshel after her tirade.
Laurie launched a tirade against Rusciano on Friday.
Laurie unleashed a tirade against Rusciano in a now-deleted Instagram post on Friday
The author falsely accused Rusciano of “hopping on the bandwagon for clout,” calling her a “c**t” in a vile rant on Instagram that she’s since deleted.
The author falsely accused Rusciano of “hopping on the bandwagon for clout,” calling her a “c**t” in a vile rant on Instagram that she’s since deleted.
Laurie then went to her own comments section to continue her rant, falsely accusing her of faking her autism to “excuse” her past misbehavior.
In a response to Twitter Saturday morning, Rusciano said she never thought she would receive such baseless allegations.
“Being accused of faking autism to get attention wasn’t how I imagined the end of today would be, but here we are!” she tweeted.
“I’m going to put this on a t-shirt for my next merch run: ‘Autistic for Attention’.”
Full statement by Em Rusciano
This week has been tough and it’s only Tuesday.
When I decided to be open about my ADHD and autism, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t be believed. I’ve spent my whole life trying to figure out why I felt like an outsider, and when I was told why, I almost didn’t believe it myself. Because the only examples of ADHD and autism I’d seen was the male presentation. But that’s the whole point, so representation matters. More women like me need to be seen and heard so we can change attitudes and narratives around ADHD and ASD.
The truth is that I’ve spent my whole life developing coping techniques to help me fit in, I’ve become an expert at appearing “good”, but in reality my apparent competency was actually heavy masking.
So it is with most late-diagnosed women. I now know that so many of my mental health problems stem from trying to force my brain into neurotypical structures and systems that weren’t designed for me.
I just didn’t understand why life was so damn tiring, then I found out it was because I had to spend all my time pretending to find certain parts of it easily. Little did I know that everyone else just knew how to make the right amount of eye contact during a conversation with a stranger. I have great attention to detail because I spend hours anxiously rethinking everything I do in case there’s a mistake and someone realizes I’m not really up to the task. I watch myself in social interactions, I work really hard not to interrupt the person speaking, not take over the conversation and go on a five minute info dump tour because they mentioned a topic I know all about . When I’m excited or tired or anxious, I stimulate. I’m extremely sensitive to light and sounds and textures. Sensory overload and burnout happen to me five or six times a week, so when I saw that Marvel Stadium had a sensory room, I was excited. These are just a few examples of how my ASD is showing up, but I shouldn’t need to explain myself. But this week I’ve had to endure people’s arguments about whether I’m autistic enough or even at all.
how is that ok
Also, the idea that I can’t possibly be autistic because I’ve been successful in my career and in my life is limiting and powerful.
So much brilliant music and art and science has come about because of autistic people.
Since speaking publicly about being neurodivergent, I have been overwhelmed by messages from late diagnosed women and women who suspect they may be ND too. Women who are afraid to speak openly about their struggles or even get a diagnosis because what happened to me this week happened.
I didn’t disclose my ADHD and autism out of attention or sympathy, I did it because my son has stage 2 ASD. I can imagine how society will make it difficult for him to just be who he is and I absolutely cannot allow that. I also think of ten-year-old Em and how difficult it was for her to find her way in the world. I owe it to these two children and every child like them to keep moving forward, and also to all the late diagnosed women. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but mothers of autistic children are a fkn force to be reckoned with. Autistic mothers of autistic children are another level.
I have attached the speech I gave to the National Press Club last year discussing my ADHD diagnosis. I was in the process of getting an ASD at the time, but so does this.
In particular, the problems associated with misdiagnosis and the bias in symptom recognition that exist in both ADHD and ASD. In news that shouldn’t shock anyone, don’t use male criteria when judging a woman.
If you’re new here, you should listen to my podcast called Emsolation. You can find her on Spotify, this week’s episode will be an interesting one, that’s for sure!)
Thanks for all your support,
Em