Things you must *not* say to #autistic people - a Public Service thread to save you from faux pas.

Please read and share - though there's an element of fun about this, I'm also deadly serious...

1. "You don't look autistic."

There is no 'look'. You can't 'look autistic'. You don't get a hat. This just screams stereotyping. #autism

2. "But girls can't be autistic"

Yes they can. Women too in fact, which brings me to...

3. "But you're an adult!"

Obviously autistic children grow into autistic adults. We don't shed autism like a snake and its skin - we are autistic. That's it.

4. "Well we're all a little autistic aren't we."

Usually stated as fact, this can really diminish our experience and can be really damaging as we may feel we're over exaggerating our struggles. Please don't say this.

5. "Oh I'm so sorry."

No no no, we mostly don't need to be consoled or grieved for. That can makes us feel like we're lesser, somehow.

6. "My nephew's autistic and you're nothing like him."

Well obviously, given we're two distinct, unrelated humans. Autism is not so monolithic that this could ever be a reasonable utterance.

7. "I bet you'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.

8. "What's your superpower?"

I get the impulse, but not all autistic people have things they're unusually good at. Suggesting we do is a bit rude and tactless.

9. "It's not a disability! You can do anything! Be strong!"

It's a bit patronising, isn't it? And many of us, myself included, do view it as a disability and that has to be respected.

10. "You're not though, you're just pretending to get internet sympathy."

It happens - some people actually accuse autistic people of this. Not.ok.

Hope that's been useful. I leave this here to try to grow a career out of this stuff... https://www.buymeacoffee.com/UfTVnRY