We autistics are notorious for seeing things in black and white and taking things somewhat literally. And while amusing and frustrating, here’s why it’s not necessarily always a bad thing…
High-functioning autism is another one of those irritating, annoying, and misleading labels we’d all be better off without.
Why?
Because it’s predicated on a flawed understanding of what autism is as a spectrum disorder, and ultimately makes life harder for a huge numbers of people who walk around with the label stuck to them.
First…
Alexithymia and autism are strongly correlated, way beyond the correlation with it among neurotypicals (around 10% of NTs have alexithymia, whereas alexithymia and autism are correlated at around 50%).
Fascinating facts, I’m sure.
But what is alexithymia, even?
Yeah… […]
Autism and empathy, one of the most contentious topics I see thrown about by autistics and NTs alike (with the latter claiming the former don’t have it, the former claiming they do, and both of them missing the mark).
Here’s my take on it, from an autistic point of view.
Autism is woefully misunderstood and the common stereotypes are not just plain wrong but wholly unhelpful. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about it…
So, are you “autistic” or are you a “person with autism”.
It comes up more frequently than you imagine, and just like religion and politics, everyone’s got their own opinion.
Here’s mine.
A common question: can autism be cured?
Nothing quite stirs up the hornets’ nest of autistic indignation, outrage, and offence more quickly and comprehensively than this.
The answer is simple…
The myths around autism and eye contact are rife — and mostly inaccurate.
And it’s not just annoying but it’s harmful. Here’s why…
The term “mild autism” is not only inaccurate and misleading, but it’s also harmful.
Why?
Because it merely describes how YOU experience my autism, and not how I experience it. Moreover, it suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of what autism and the autistic spectrum is.
Just watch, listen, and learn.
How does autism feel? It’s a common question I get from people, paraphrased in a few different ways (perhaps the most common being “What’s it like being autistic?” or, less politely, “What’s it like to be so different?”.It’ll probably surprise you to discover I don’t take exception to this kind of question. In fact, as I hope […]