Let’s talk about autism diagnosis criteria, and how it’s largely based on trauma responses. This will be a long thread so buckle up. TW for talks of trauma relating to autistic experience, throwing up, and general shaming.

Let’s start off with the most obvious one- Meltdowns/Shut downs. These are the result of repeated trauma to an autistic. Whether that be neglect, repeated sensory exposure, or forcing neurotypical behaviour. It is true that not all meltdowns can be avoided. Life happens 2/

Meltdowns and shutdowns are extreme responses that our bodies exhibit when we are completely overloaded. When we are pushed so far that we lose control of ourselves. These are different then ‘tantrums’. We do not have have control. 3/

The fact that one of the main diagnosis criteria is based on this, is frankly, upsetting. There are many groups of people forced to hide these meltdowns, to mask to an extent that they may not seem like they qualify. 4/

On the other hand, you can also have people who are in ideal environments, so the meltdowns may not be as common. This doesn’t mean they aren’t autistic. 5/

Another criteria is lack of friends, issues socializing. This one has always boiled my blood a bit. Because it’s not really about socializing, it’s about how NT socialization is approached. How others react. This is all based on who is around the autistic. 6/

It’s been proven that neurodivergent people have our own social rules. What happens if as a child, you not only make friends like you, but also are surrounded by people who want to make an effort? Not every autistic will have extreme ‘deficits’ (quotes on that) 7/

These ‘deficits’ might not be apparent until later years. This whole section is reliant on an autistic being repeatedly rejected, bullied, or otherwise ostracized. This does not always happen. 8/

And now to address sensory issues. It is pretty unavoidable. Not all people have obvious sensory problems. Lots of the stuff that is observed are ones pushed to extremes. 9/

For instance, as a child I was a nudist. Still am, really. I hate things touching my skin. Loud noises hurt me, physically. I cringe, whine, cover my ears and flee loud situations. 10/

But I also have texture issues while eating-this is easily overlooked as children being picky. I also have sensitive nose. I get headaches often, the wrong smell can burn my nose+throat, fogging my head up. Im so used to it you wouldn’t even know. It isn’t obvious, until it is.11

When I start crying because my head hurts and I feel like I can’t breath. When I throw up because the food that I ate was rejected by my body. By now, I am already too far gone into a shutdown or a meltdown. 12/

Let’s talk about verbal speech. Many autistics take longer to develop speech, some never do. The pressure to speak verbally is immense. To be repetitively forced to try to speak a foreign language would traumatize anyone. 13/

Our nonverbal communications are ignored. We are not taught sign language or given AAC. I often wonder how many children would thrive if we stopped stressing verbal speech. 14/

What does being ignored or misunderstood lead to? A meltdown. This all leads to a meltdown. Repeated trauma. Over and over. And yes, being pressured into things you aren’t ready for IS trauma. 15/

Now autism is a developmental disorder. But what if we just gave kids more time? This isn’t something I publicly talk about- but I wore pull-ups to bed until I was 7 or 8. My parents never treated me as odd. I didn’t even know this wasn’t normal. It wasn’t shamed. 16/

My little sister and I (4 years apart) stopped wearing pull-ups at the same time. That’s when I started to realize. But what if everyone approached us like this? Gave us the time. Instead of forcing us for things we aren’t mentally ready for. 17/

So much of diagnosis is based trauma. On our environment, our community. This isn’t even diving into groups that are already overlooked (like bipoc, working class, and anyone not a cis, white, male). 18/

Imagine if we just included the autistic a bit more- asked about them. Listened to adult autistics? The diagnosis process would be completely different. We wouldn’t rely so heavily on trauma responses. 19/

I can spot an autistic easily. We shouldn’t have to rely on ableist, traumatic processes often run by neurotypical doctors to find out who we are. We shouldn’t have to hide. With widespread acceptance, change, and advocacy, we can do this. End of thread.