Amy Shamanov
Indiana University Bloomington

Conference presenters shared with the Center on KTDRR these biographical statements. The bios represent their choices about how to describe their expertise.

Amy Shamanov (they/she) is a full-time professional in Graduate Student Services at Indiana University Bloomington. Amy prefers to use identity-first language to describe their autism (“autistic person” vs. “person with autism”). Amy is autistic and has ADHD but was not diagnosed until their late 30s. Amy is new to, and very passionate about, autistic self-advocacy and bringing awareness to the general public about autism. After years of struggle that stemmed from being undiagnosed, Amy’s main areas of focus within this space include intersectionality; combating the stigma and prejudice aimed toward autistic people of all walks of life; trauma-informed practice in educational, employment, and medical settings; the physical and emotional health and well-being of autistic people; combating the loneliness and lack of community experienced by people with disabilities; and the importance of lived experience to educate allies and help other autistic people. While we all have different stories and support needs, Amy believes that we all deserve the same access, human rights, and considerations as the rest of the American public.

Conference Presentation: Panel - HANDS Autism Engagement Network: An Evolution to Best Elevate and Learn from First-Person Voices and Lived Experiences