How It Feels to Be Me: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS ON-DEMAND WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***

Embark on a journey into the world of autism through the eyes of Jon Davis, an information services assistant at the Spartanburg County Public Library in South Carolina. Jon is an autistic person living in a neurotypical world, and he is pleased to have the opportunity to guide you. In this on-demand webinar, you explore the history of autism—including various misapplied theories about its origin—learn appropriate terminology, gain insight into the facets of diagnosis and the diagnostic process, and examine both common and lesser-known characteristics. The on-demand webinar also addresses the harmful effects of misinformation, as well as some of the challenges and joys experienced by members of the autistic community. Discover elements of autistic culture and explore unique touchstones, including the impact of autistic creators and artists on the wider world, to better understand the realities of being autistic in a predominantly neurotypical society.

Recorded live on January 21, 2026.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will be able to:

• Better understand autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including what it entails, how it is “gotten,” and how it can manifest in a myriad of ways;
• Identify misapplied theories about the origin of ASD and the harmful effects of misinformation about this neurotype; and
• Discover some of the ways that autistic people have navigated throughout the world, including masking and camouflaging, along with cultural impacts made by autistic creators and artists.

Who Should Attend

This on-demand webinar has information that needs to be seen by all members of a library staff, from those who face the public every day to those who work behind the scenes or in administration.

Panelists

Jon B. Davis (he/him) has worked in reference for the Spartanburg County (SC) Public Library system for eight years. He is married with two college-aged kids, and a grumpy cat. When he can, he writes a blog on Medium dedicated to trying to understand his place as an autistic adult in a neurotypical world. He is an avid reader, has an MFA from the University of Memphis, and hopes to retire to Atlantic Canada someday (if they’ll have him).

Important Registration Information

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Redeem your signup code to complete your registration

Once you’ve registered for this on-demand webinar, a signup code will be added to your ALA eLearning account and emailed to you. Find the signup code on your signup code page, then redeem it on your account’s dashboard to complete your enrollment in this on-demand webinar.

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Accommodations

This on-demand webinar is closed captioned in English (United States).

If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your access to this on-demand webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) prior to registering so we can attempt to provide appropriate accommodations.

Tech Requirements

To play this on-demand webinar you should use a browser with native HTML5 support. Please use the most up-to-date version available of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edge. A fast Internet connection and computer is recommended.

Contact

This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

If you have questions or problems accessing a recording, send a message to plawebinars@ala.org or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).