This has made me more determined to talk about autism. I had no idea some people's perceptions were still so backwards, that they had no idea that autistics can be verbal, married, have children, jobs, enjoyable lives etc. The only way that will change is by us being more 1/

visible and vocal. I rarely mention it irl because I've always considered it something that doesn't concern anyone else but if people like me don't talk about it, ableists will and they spread horrible misinformation. So, autism. What actually is it? 2/

It's a different type of brain structure. That's it. Its not a "non functional brain" or a problem. Its just different. Like different skin colours, genders, sexualities etc, brains can also be varied. This is called a neurotype. Neurotypical people 3/

have the most common neurotype. A neurodivergent person is someone who is autistic, has adhd, dyslexia, dyspraxia and a few others. You can have any combination and these often occur together (i have the 4 mentioned above!) 4/

But what does this actually mean? Simply put, we process things differently. So an NT and an ND person can access the same stimulus, but will perceive it in different ways. And we will respond to situations differently because we think differently 5/

But why is this a problem? Objectively its not. But unfortunately, a lot of NTs are us as defective "normal people" and try to force us to think like they do. We can't do it because our brains don't work that way. So what happens is that we get stressed and upset 6/

because of the way we are treated, often by parents, teachers and health care professionals. A lot of the "problem" behaviours associated with ND people are actually trauma responses caused by a lifetime of bullying and abuse by people telling us 7/

We are wrong for existing as we are and using abusive tactics to try to force us to be something else.

"But Alicia some ND people never communicate!"

I hear you. But non verbal doesn't mean non communicative. There are NV people who write books! 8/

ND people may not communicate -how you expect us to- but we do communicate.

"But its alright for you Alicia you have a husband and kids, you're not REALLY autistic!"

This is a dangerous and damaging stereotype that dehumanises us. ND people are capable of 9/

loving relationships, adult relationships, parenthood, having jobs, owning homes. Before you give me an anecdote about an ND person who is not, remember NT people who are not capable parents or are not suitable partners exist too. 10/

Someone's neurotype does not determine whether they'll be a good partner or parent. It just doesn't.

Secondly, I am not -less autistic- because I can do those things. Certain noises still disable me, I still can't eat foods with certain textures and I don't suddenly 11/

enjoy small talk or think like a neurotypical.

Also remember a lot of ND people have ND families. So our family lives dont look like yours and thats okay. 12/

But what isn't okay is demeaning us, dehumanising us, and talking over us just because we are different to you. We are not lesser. We are not better. We are neurodiverse!

I've said before, I'm happy to answer good faith questions about me or ND in general. #ActuallyAutistic