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Autism Awareness Day


solace

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As some of you might know, today is World Autism Awareness Day.

Why I care: I have Asperger’s Syndrome, also known as high-functioning Autism.

Why you care: 1% of the population has autism. That’s 3.5 million people, just in the U.S. (autismsociety.org)

Here are some helpful tips for understanding/interacting with said people:

It is not uncommon for people with autism to be uncomfortable when making eye contact. Around 99% (this may or may not be a real statistic) of people with autism find small talk to be pointless, painful, and difficult, as most of us are hyperrational. Much of the time we don’t like being asked personal questions or questions we think are irrelevant, and a lot of things count as personal or irrelevant to an autistic person. (Ex: why would you want to know my favorite color or what I want to be when I grow up??). People with Asperger’s syndrome or autism are often extremely uncomfortable in social situations. Online interactions are preferable. (I don’t bite virtually!) People with autism will occasionally be hypersensitive to certain senses. For example, I am hypersensitive to sound and light, aka screaming small children and high concentration sunlight will send me running for the hills.

Also avoid these dumb stereotypes that I’ve encountered:

  • People with autism are idiots (common among teachers)
  • I must treat you like a baby because you have autism (common among idiots)
  • There is no variety on the autism spectrum (warning:if you act like because you know one thing about autism you know everything, you are likely to be clobbered over the head by an autistic person)
  • Autistic people are rude (dislike of personal questions isn’t the same as rudeness)
  • Autistic people can’t manage themselves. (Not necessarily all people on the spectrum can’t manage themselves. Some extremely successful people with autism include Temple Grandin and John Elder Robison.)

If I had to summarize the positive bits of autism, I would say we have an increased ability to focus (when we’re interested in the topic, that is), rather jovial personality once we get to know you, and a connection to animals.

Remember, we don’t hate people (most of the time). If you have any questions about autism or my experiences with autism, please comment or send me a PM.

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I'm actually mildly autistic myself, and I have friends who have high functioning Autism as well.  Interacting with them is refreshing because you know they'll always tell you what's on their mind, even if the truth is inconvenient.  That's a strength, not a weakness.  Autistics are often extremely honest with a strong sense of integrity.

 

Autistics tend to be nonconformists.  From their perspective, it's "neurotypicals" who end up seeming same-ish.

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