A Mandurah woman's diagnosis of autism after her son was diagnosed has been the catalyst for establishing a monthly autistic women's support group.
Aptly named Au-some Women, the group explores a range of topics to inform and support those living on the spectrum.
From the importance of self-care, sharing passions and interests with the group, to sharing their experiences of masking and camouflaging.
Group founder Natalie Garmson is a mum, university psychology student, and a researcher, and spent hundreds of hours delving into the topic of autism in women, eventually diagnosed by Dr Ritu Campbell, who specialises in autism diagnosis for females.
Dr Campbell said the markers of the disorder were often not detected in girls in early life because they are adept at what is known as "social masking".
"For example, a female with autism may have learned to rehearse common conversational exchanges before entering a social situation," she said.
"There is a growing body of research that refers to the lost generation of females who weren't diagnosed as autistic in their younger years, really because the more typically male presentation was more readily recognised."
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This has been the experience of Clair, whose name has been changed for privacy reasons, diagnosed at the age of 38 after a throw away comment from her sister.
Clair said that she had struggled with interacting and socialising with others throughout her life.
"I don't need as much social interaction as neurotypical (non-autistic) people," she said.
"As much as I have tried, I feel that I come across as withdrawn at times, or not bubbly enough, particularly when overwhelmed, which causes me to become very tired, as a result of masking.
"This has affected my ability to maintain employment."
There is a growing body of research that refers to the lost generation of females who weren't diagnosed as autistic in their younger years
- Dr Ritu Campbell
Another woman on the spectrum, Toni, whose name has also been changed for privacy reasons, is a special needs teacher with two degrees, managing a job, household and two children both living on the spectrum.
She was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 38 and with autism at the age of 41.
Toni said the main areas she had struggled with for most of her life had been on focusing on things that haven't interested her, self-confidence, friendships and the years of exhaustion due to masking.
Natalie said raising awareness of how autism presents in women is crucial, so autistic women are better understood, and correctly diagnosed from an early age.
Natalie also added that many women experience great amounts of anxiety, due to the constant struggle of having to 'appear neurotypical', due to camouflaging their autistic identity. This has been the experience of all three women.
For more information on Au-some Women, contact www.au-somewomen.com
