What Is Autism?

Intro~

This episode of RAW-tism is about what Autism is.

Add clip “Intro Music” to episode

Explanation

Wow, I’ve had this podcast for a while, and I haven’t done an episode focused on the diagnosis of autism in general. Autism is a huge part of who I am. You cannot separate me from my Autism. Well, now is as good a time as any to finally cover it.

What is Autism?

Some people see an Autism diagnosis as a cage, holding back those affected from functioning amongst “typical” people. That’s not how I see it. Autism relates to how my brain was formed; I’ve always been autistic, even before I knew what it was.

My diagnosis has given me a community that has helped me learn safer coping mechanisms and which accommodations I need. Once I had an explanation for my struggles, I started doing better in school, my social life, and my mental health. It wasn’t “all in my head” in the way that implies my struggles are imaginary. It was always “all in my head” as the way my brain works.

I’ve gone into detail about my experience getting diagnosed in past episodes, but some aren’t as lucky as I am. It’s crazy that I’m referring to not being diagnosed until I was 22 as “luck,” but some can’t even find professionals willing to believe their struggles.

Some people are stuck in the stigma and don’t have a chance to get an accurate diagnosis. Before I went to a specialist for my autism diagnosis, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Instead of autism, young boys are diagnosed with ADHD. Struggling students are diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. Women are diagnosed with mood or personality disorders. Some people are even diagnosed with psychosis rather than autism.

An overstimulated, undiagnosed autistic girl having a meltdown is seen as overdramatic, attention-seeking, or misbehaved when, in reality, she just needs accommodations and extra help to learn healthy coping mechanisms. An undiagnosed autistic man blowing up at his coworker when they take his usual seat in the lunchroom is “difficult” or “anal” when he relies on routine to keep his mind together and has never had help working on his reactions to these stressors. These are just some examples. Any gender identity can have Autism, and we all struggle in different ways. No two experiences are the same.

Ad Break~

Condescension

Autistics, especially those undiagnosed, deal with a lot of condescension from others due to the stigma of seeking a diagnosis:

You’re not autistic, honey; don’t be so down on yourself.

This kind of talk implies that an Autism diagnosis is a death sentence. In reality, getting the diagnosis of Autism doesn’t increase one’s struggles. It validates them. An undiagnosed autistic is going to have just as much trouble as a diagnosed autistic. Autism is a fact, a way that some people are made. It is not a cancer, a bad omen, or a lifestyle that people choose. It’s a part of who we are.

You’re just like every other kid your age. You’re just a little behind. You’ll catch up.

Autistic children are like other kids, that is true, but all children are different in their own ways. Some are better at certain skills like science or math while struggling with others. Autism isn’t the only thing that affects children’s growth or education. The best way to handle it, in my humble opinion, is to encourage children to embrace their differences.

Autism is only a bad thing if you make it a bad thing. The world was made for allistics (non-autistic people). That’s society’s problem, but they try to make it ours. Don’t let them. We are amazing just the way we are. We have strengths and weaknesses like anyone else. We just have a way to better understand how our minds work.

If you were really autistic, I’d know it.

Haha, you wouldn’t know what’s going on in my head any better than a stranger on the street corner who has never seen me in their life. 

Masking is a thing. Autistics hide their struggles from the world and cosplay as allistics for acceptance in society. The one psych gen-ed you took in college does not make you an expert. Get off your high horse and leave the diagnosing to the professionals.

Autistics are obvious. You don’t look autistic, so you’re fine.

Oh good, I was worried that I was wearing a big “autistic” sign on my forehead. 

Okay, I may need to tone down my sass, but the reality is that there’s no one way to “look” autistic. Some disorders have a stereotypical look, like those with Down syndrome or dwarfism, but that doesn’t automatically mean that everyone with that disorder looks like that.

The important thing to remember is that We R Who We R, and no one gets to challenge that.

“We R Who We R”

Kesha, Cannibal (2010)

Outro~