Media Appearances

National Geographic

Dr. Karissa Burnett was featured in National Geographic’s Nov. 2024 magazine article, “This is How Autism Looks Different in Girls and Women,” which challenged outdated stereotypes, highlighted the need for inclusive diagnostic practices, and provided nuanced insights into autistic brain differences from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective.

  • National Geographic subscribers: read the article here

  • Local libraries often provide access, or readers can view and translate the article to their preferred language using browser tools on NatGeo’s French website

National Disability Institute

Dr. Karissa Burnett appeared on the National Disability Institute's Disability Owned Podcast in Sep. 2024 to discuss "The Neurodivergent Advantage: Unique Perspectives in Business Leadership." Hosted by disability justice leader Lydia X.Z. Brown, this episode explored the strengths neurodivergent entrepreneurs bring to their work and the barriers they face, offering lived insights into the realities of running a business while navigating the intersections of autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and chronic illness.

  • Listen online or via Spotify or Apple Podcasts

  • Check out the NDI and their Small Business Hub for resources, training, and tools designed to help disabled entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses

The Fire Tribe:
CRPS Community

Dr. Karissa Burnett joined The Fire Tribe in June 2024 for a powerful event titled, Neurodivergence & Chronic Illness: Shattering Stereotypes & Embracing Authenticity. Drawing on her personal journey and professional expertise, Dr. Burnett provided insights into the intersections of autism, ADHD, trauma, mental health struggles, other forms of neurodivergence, and chronic illnesses such as CRPS, MCAS, EDS, dysautonomia/POTS, and long-COVID. Throughout, she illuminated the impacts of internalized ableism while empowering viewers to cultivate self-understanding and self-advocacy.

  • Watch the full recording here

AirTalk on LAist
(NPR Affiliate)

Dr. Karissa Burnett was featured on AirTalk on May 13, 2024, where she addressed the barriers to autism diagnosis in adulthood, the validity of self-ID, and the transformative power of the autistic community. She shared her personal journey and emphasized the urgent need for clinicians to break out of the ivory tower and learn from those with lived experience.

This segment was part of a week-long neurodiversity series featuring other advocates like Steve Silberman (NeuroTribes) and Dr. Devon Price (Unmasking Autism).

  • Explore the full neurodiversity series here

  • Listen to the segment with Dr. Burnett here

APA Monitor on Psychology (2024)

Dr. Karissa Burnett was a key contributor to a continuing education article in the March 2024 issue of the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology magazine. This piece was designed to educate psychologists on neurodiversity-affirming best practices for treating autistic adults in therapy. Dr. Burnett emphasized the importance of understanding sensory differences, masking as a survival strategy, and the root causes of secondary mental health struggles (e.g., ableism, misdiagnosis).

  • APA-member psychologists: access & earn 1 CE credit here

Unfortunately, this article is only available to APA members due its CE format.

APA Monitor on Psychology (2023)

Dr. Karissa Burnett was featured in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology magazine, where she advocated for neurodiversity-affirming care and provided insights from professional expertise and personal experience.

This article signaled a step in the right direction, describing autistic burnout and emphasizing the psychological toll of stigma, masking, and misdiagnosis.

  • For a closer look at the print version, click here

  • For better access to the full text, click here

Images of Adulting on the Spectrum by Rachel Fairbanks, APA Monitor on Psychology, Nov/Dec 2023, pp. 50-57. Photos by Ken Richardson.