New Social Work Role with Autistic Young Adults and Trans-ideology Really Worrying!

Keep EVERYTHING, and record stuff that is not written down if you can, for when these poor kids want to sue?

What an excellent post.
If your work with young people is based on empathy, professional knowledge and skills you shouldn't go far wrong. Enabling the young to experience university life and learn / develop is critical. Everything that adults around then do to help them focus outwards and engage with activities that engage their minds and bodies helps.

Your post might be a bit outing OP? This board is heavily monitored by some quite unpleasant bullies so you might be better asking Mumsnet to pull this thread?

I work in a related field and encounter this a lot. I adopt a very direct and open approach along the lines of:

• some people have a trans identity and some people mistakenly think they have a trans identity.
• some people hold rigid ideas about gender stereotypes and how they intersect with sex. In all instances (trans identity or not), these misconceptions should be addressed as they are unhealthy and limiting for those who hold them and others
• some people are distressed by their sexed bodies due to a range of issues that have nothing to do with gender identity. Here, a trans identity can seem like a good solution to the distress but is very unlikely to help long term when the underlying issues are not identity related.
• it's really important that we treat/support the whole person and not just their identity. Having a stable identity is an important factor for wellbeing but so are healthy thinking patterns and understanding root causes of distress.

I find I get very little push back from the above other than from people who are desperately trying to run from feelings of shame about their bodies or sexual orientation. Many autistic patients tend to have concrete and rigid ideas about the categories of male and female and what determines belonging.

The key is to acknowledge the importance of identity (not dismiss it) whilst simultaneously highlighting other key factors that are equally important. It's the 'yes and' approach.

I’m autistic & I do not have a gender identity. If I come across ticky boxes trying to tell me I must have one I get quite cross about it - & even crosser if I can’t tell them that they have no business trying to collect data about gender rather than sex (etc etc etc).

What - as I’m sure you’re aware - is a big part of “high functioning” autism is the desire to fit in & awareness you don’t. In today’s world, that will naturally lead to “I must be non-binary/trans”. Affirmation is the worst possible thing, because a new identity won’t create a magical ability to fit in. It might create a new social circle that is more accepting of your autism, but that’s not the same thing. At some point, the illusion will no longer be sustainable, & the damage will be irreparable. Of course, there are autistic people for whom being trans & transitioning becomes a special interest.

Maybe your university should have a look at the recent ruling against the Metanoia Institute (MN thread) on a similar matter.

Good luck.

No advice but thank you for asking the question. Could James Esses Thoughtful Therapists help?