This. As I'm getting older, autism has made it harder and harder for me to live a normal life. I'm glad that the stigma around autism is starting to wear away, but it can be frustrating to hear people treat autism as a quirky personality trait rather than a (sometimes) debilitating disability.
What irks me is when people equate neurodivergence as immaturity and assume we’re incapable of knowing which accommodations we need. We’re all unique with different needs, and micromanaging only triggers my PDA!
I'm weird because I watched the Teletubbies. I'm autistic because I watched the Teletubbies. I have ADHD because I watched the Teletubbies. I have schizophrenia because I watched the Teletubbies. Tv shows are the real problem in our modern world and can give illness to a well being human. /Joke ofc.
Thank you for saying this! As someone on the spectrum, I’ve seen so many misinterpretations and misunderstandings of what autism truly is. It’s not a trend or a quirky label—it’s a real part of who we are. I appreciate you for pointing this out.
I felt those words deeply—they stayed with me for a long time. But recently, I’ve come to embrace who I am, autism and all. Autistic people are some of the kindest and most genuine souls in the world. People on the spectrum deserve nothing but respect and understanding!
Tshirt and cap worthy 4 sure
Also maybe “Not that kind of Autistic” sign to hold up for awkward neurotypicals jokes directed at me that have nothing to do with any enduring pattern behaviors that I have
Same for other mental illnesses. I am exhausted when people say they're "so OCD" or have anxiety or "panic attacks" just because they're a little nervous.
Or worse, stupid - and I've seen it in this context way more. And what makes this even shittier is that these people are usually not even aware they most likely have a few autistic people in their lives, they just don't know. And why wouldn't we tell people? Because of that exact stereotype.
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Also maybe “Not that kind of Autistic” sign to hold up for awkward neurotypicals jokes directed at me that have nothing to do with any enduring pattern behaviors that I have