Makerspace’s Story

 
 

Over the years, you’ve noticed that your child is different: highly sensitive and easily overwhelmed, wildly passionate about their interests, less fascinated by social drama than other kids, delightfully quirky. Maybe somewhere down the line, someone labeled those differences “autistic,” or maybe not.

But with or without the label, it’s been challenging to watch your precious, innocent child navigate our harsh culture. You’ve watched other kids reject and exclude your child, subtly or not-so-subtly, again and again. You’ve helped them navigate bullying or “frenemies” or feeling left out every single school year, even if you’ve changed schools. The exclusion is not in your child’s head: Research proves that neurotypical people are less willing to interact with autistic people, even as children (Sasson et al, 2017).

These experiences of rejection harm your child’s confidence, their self-esteem, and their health. We know that loneliness (real or perceived) is as harmful to human health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad et al, 2015). Social isolation is a really big deal.

You know what else is super harmful to an autistic child’s wellbeing? Masking.

Masking means suppressing their autistic traits or “acting neurotypical” to socially survive. Well-meaning adults often teach autistic kids how to mask, hoping that it will help them make some friends and fit in. Sadly, the research doesn’t support that outcome; we know that autistic masking actually correlates with “thwarted belonging” and “lifetime suicidality” (Cassidy et al, 2020). Masking is also associated with autistic burnout (Mantzalas, 2022) and disconnection from a true sense of self-identity (Miller, Rees & Pearson, 2021). Not good.

So how can we help our autistic children survive and thrive in this crazy-making, no-win situation, where the choices seem to be either: A) social rejection or B) masking their way into oblivion? Both end up in the same place: poor mental and physical health.

My answer is this: we need another option. We need to build a different culture, a better culture, for our children. That’s the vision behind Makerspace: A culture where autistic children are loved and accepted for exactly who they are. Somewhere it is fun to unmask and easy to belong. A community where the emotional, sensory, and social needs of autistic children aren’t “special,” but centered as the norm.

 
 

What We’re Cultivating at Makerspace:

Safety & Belonging

Did you know that autistic masking causes suicide attempts? It doesn’t “correlate” with suicide attempts- it actually causes them (Cassidy, S., Bradley, L., Shaw, R., & Baron-Cohen, S., 2018). This is one life-saving reason to find places for your child be authentically autistic and loved for exactly who they are. Each Makerspace invites autistic children and families to find the “safety of one another” within authentic community. It’s a safe, accessible place for autistic children and families to set down their masks and belong.

Positive Identity & Self-Love

Imagine if you were a young girl, and you lived your entire life without ever meeting another girl or woman. How would you come to know your “self?” Probably through harmful and hollow stereotypes. The truth is, we discover our identity through relational mirrors: the people in our lives who share our identities and intersections. Autistic children need and deserve to see themselves reflected in the relationships around them. Makerspace provides this healthy relational mirroring and positive identity development.

 
 

Equity & Inclusion

Our society is deeply unjust and all of the “isms” (racism, sexism, transphobia, etc.) impact our children. Makerspace is an intentional community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion— through not just words, but actions. We work hard to create not just a safe space, where children’s accessibility needs are met, but also a brave space where we can confront our own biases. We want to build a happier, more just world for every child.

Creativity & Love of Life

Playfulness, creativity, and joy are valuable in their own right! Art-making reduces stress and connects us back to our humanity. Most of our autistic young people spend hours upon hours masking their true selves, being “therapized” or taught coping skills, and trying to fit in with neurotypical children. This is exhausting— the opposite of what childhood should be! Makerspace is a safe haven where autistic kids can play, relax, create, and just be kids!