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Things you must *not* say to #autistic people - a Public Service thread to save you from faux pas.
Please read and share - though there& #39;s an element of fun about this, I& #39;m also deadly serious...
Please read and share - though there& #39;s an element of fun about this, I& #39;m also deadly serious...
1. "You don& #39;t look autistic."
There is no & #39;look& #39;. You can& #39;t & #39;look autistic& #39;. You don& #39;t get a hat. This just screams stereotyping. #autism
There is no & #39;look& #39;. You can& #39;t & #39;look autistic& #39;. You don& #39;t get a hat. This just screams stereotyping. #autism
3. "But you& #39;re an adult!"
Obviously autistic children grow into autistic adults. We don& #39;t shed autism like a snake and its skin - we are autistic. That& #39;s it.
Obviously autistic children grow into autistic adults. We don& #39;t shed autism like a snake and its skin - we are autistic. That& #39;s it.
4. "Well we& #39;re all a little autistic aren& #39;t we."
Usually stated as fact, this can really diminish our experience and can be really damaging as we may feel we& #39;re over exaggerating our struggles. Please don& #39;t say this.
Usually stated as fact, this can really diminish our experience and can be really damaging as we may feel we& #39;re over exaggerating our struggles. Please don& #39;t say this.
5. "Oh I& #39;m so sorry."
No no no, we mostly don& #39;t need to be consoled or grieved for. That can makes us feel like we& #39;re lesser, somehow.
No no no, we mostly don& #39;t need to be consoled or grieved for. That can makes us feel like we& #39;re lesser, somehow.
6. "My nephew& #39;s autistic and you& #39;re nothing like him."
Well obviously, given we& #39;re two distinct, unrelated humans. Autism is not so monolithic that this could ever be a reasonable utterance.
Well obviously, given we& #39;re two distinct, unrelated humans. Autism is not so monolithic that this could ever be a reasonable utterance.
7. "I bet you& #39;re great at maths/science/trains."
Again this is a stereotype and is nowhere near accurate enough to be worthwhile. Autistic people have a total range of skills and interests.
Again this is a stereotype and is nowhere near accurate enough to be worthwhile. Autistic people have a total range of skills and interests.
8. "What& #39;s your superpower?"
I get the impulse, but not all autistic people have things they& #39;re unusually good at. Suggesting we do is a bit rude and tactless.
I get the impulse, but not all autistic people have things they& #39;re unusually good at. Suggesting we do is a bit rude and tactless.
9. "It& #39;s not a disability! You can do anything! Be strong!"
It& #39;s a bit patronising, isn& #39;t it? And many of us, myself included, do view it as a disability and that has to be respected.
It& #39;s a bit patronising, isn& #39;t it? And many of us, myself included, do view it as a disability and that has to be respected.
10. "You& #39;re not though, you& #39;re just pretending to get internet sympathy."
It happens - some people actually accuse autistic people of this. Not.ok.
It happens - some people actually accuse autistic people of this. Not.ok.
Hope that& #39;s been useful. I leave this here to try to grow a career out of this stuff... https://www.buymeacoffee.com/UfTVnRY ">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/UfTVnRY&q...
