Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression (UNM)

Elvira Dennison

Naschitti, NM

July 13, 2026

When I first registered for the presentation through the UNM Center for Development and Disability, I did not know what to expect. The topic was autism and gender diversity, and although I had attended trainings before, I was not sure how this one would connect to me personally. I thought I would simply listen, take notes, and learn a few new terms. I did not realize that the presentation would touch something much deeper in my heart.

The presentation began with a scenario about a young person who was seventeen years old and attending a charter school. The presenters described her strengths first. She was creative, brave, loving, humorous, and eager to learn. She also had perspective and many good qualities that made her more than just a list of diagnoses. That part stood out to me because it reminded me that every person has strengths, even when they are going through difficult challenges.

As the presenters continued, they explained that this young person was also dealing with autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and gender incongruence. She faced school challenges, social stress, transphobic comments, and the difficulty of leaving home and feeling exposed in public. She had experienced hospitalizations because of suicidal thoughts, self-injury, and destructive behaviors. Hearing this was painful, but it helped me understand how complicated life can be for autistic and gender-diverse youth, especially when they do not feel safe or accepted.

One part of the presentation that helped me understand was the support diagram. The presenters placed the young person in the center and showed the people connected to her life. Around her were family members, friends, school staff, mental health professionals, and others who could offer support. The diagram showed that one person does not heal or grow alone. Support comes from relationships, communication, encouragement, and understanding. It also showed how important it is for families and professionals to work together.

The presentation also explained gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and sexual orientation. The presenters used Gender bread Person as a visual example, and that helped me understand these ideas more clearly. I had heard about pronouns such as she/her, he/him, and they/them before, but it had taken me time to understand and adjust. Over time, I learned that respecting a person’s pronouns is one way to respect who they are. This presentation made that lesson even clearer for me.

As I listened, I began to think about my own daughter. For years, I had tried to understand who she was and what she was going through. There were times when she would tell me, “You don’t understand,” and I did not know how to respond. I wanted to understand her, but I did not have the words, the education, or the resources. Living in a rural area of the Navajo Nation, information about autism, gender diversity, and mental health was not easy to find. Families like mine were often left trying to figure things out on our own.

During the presentation, I felt emotional because I began to see my daughter’s experience in a new way. I thought about the discrimination she faced in public and the way people treated her differently. I thought about the lack of education in our schools and communities. I also thought about how many young people may be struggling silently with mental health, identity, bullying, suicidal thoughts, or substance use because they do not feel understood or supported.

This presentation made me realize how much education is still needed in rural communities. Parents, families, schools, and community members need access to information about autism, gender diversity, mental health, and suicide prevention. These conversations are not always easy, but they are necessary. Without understanding, people can feel alone. With understanding, families can begin to support one another with more compassion.

By the end of the presentation, I was grateful that I had attended. I wished I had learned this information years earlier, when I was first trying to understand my daughter. Still, I am thankful for what I know now. The presentation gave me clearer understanding, more compassion, and a stronger desire to see education and resources become available for families in our communities. It reminded me that when people are supported, respected, and seen for who they are, healing and understanding can begin.

LINK to the training provider: UNM Center for Development and Disability