About
Zhara Astra is a pioneering expert in female autism, a film and television writer, producer, and autism advocate. She holds the distinction of being the world's first professor of female autism after developing the first-ever university course on understanding neurodivergent women and girls.
After discovering as an adult that she is autistic with ADHD, Zhara dedicated herself to transforming the understanding of how autism presents in females—an area long overlooked in both the medical field and mainstream narratives. Her mission extends to advocating for improved medical practices, better representation of neurodivergent women in media, and empowering women and girls to embrace their unique strengths.
Zhara is an international public speaker and thought leader, having written groundbreaking articles for Scientific American Magazine, Los Angeles Psychologist Magazine, and other influential publications, helping to reshape the way female autism is perceived and addressed worldwide.
Her expertise in this specialized field also led her to produce the Cambridge University Autism Education Project with renowned autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen, creating vital educational resources to advance global understanding of autism, particularly in women and girls.
Zhara's work extends to film and television, where she was brought on by Stone Village Television to produce and host two documentary films exploring autism and ADHD. In these films, she interviews the world’s leading experts, researchers, and neuroscientists to uncover cutting-edge insights into neurodiversity.
Her film, Understanding Autism, now available on PBS, is a testament to her commitment to raising awareness and understanding of autism, especially in women and girls, and her ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and informed world.