Since being diagnosed, the hardest thing to deal with has been the negative perceptions, stereotypes and assumptions people have about autism.

Some people won’t believe you’re really autistic because you don’t fit the negative perceptions, stereotypes and assumptions they have about autism.

Likewise, some people will think lower of you when they see you as autistic because of the negative perceptions, stereotypes and assumptions they have about autism.

Either way, it’s because society sees being autistic as being incapable and impaired.

I wish people would stop seeing autistic people as if we are walking, breathing, living DSM 5 criteria actually saw us.

I wish people would start coming to actual autistic people to learn about autism instead of deferring first to professionals like we’re some mythical species you talk about, but never to.

What makes being autistic so difficult isn’t being autistic itself.

It’s the mental and emotional struggle it takes to live in a society that demeans and discredits you without demeaning and discrediting yourself.

I’ve had to learn who I am and how to remain confident of that despite messages to the contrary.

What’s all the more frustrating is that overall professionals don’t get this.

They think correcting our “impairments” is what will enrich our lives, while we desperately want to take off our masks.