chronicallyaunline
Just Normal Autistic Things
Elle/ 20s/ autistic Former special ed. student, current grad student
90 posts
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
Last Seen Blogs
Text
What do people mean by “self diagnosed autism”? (Clarification below)
If the question isnt clear I’m wondering whether people consider self diagnosis to be on the same level as regular diagnosis or whether it’s a shorthand term meaning they just think they might have it. Like, if you’re self diagnosed does that mean you identify as autistic, or does it mean you think you could be autistic but don’t identify as autistic.
I’m not trying to start #discourse I’m just not sure how to interpret the concept of self diagnosed autism.
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
MASKING MYTHS BUSTED: “Masking = Acting NT.”
FALSE.
Autistic masking does not necessarily mean “pretending to be allistic/neurotypical," although you’d definitely be forgiven for thinking it does.
Non-autistic researchers have been referring to it as “camouflaging” for years, framing it as an intentional choice to suppress autistic traits and replace them with allistic ones in order to “blend in.” Doing an internet search on the term will return several similar results.
But now, Autistic researchers are in the game, and their take is much more nuanced and comprehensive than that. (Funny how that happens, isn’t it?)
They’ve found that:
- It CAN be intentional but is often subconscious and involuntary
- It is a protective response to trauma and feeling unsafe
- It is often about suppressing more than just autistic traits
- It is about identity management and being able to predict how people will treat you, not just “blending in”
Some people will lean into being “the bad kid” because they know that’s what people expect of them. Some people will even act “more autistic” because they know that’s what people expect of them. Others still will do things to attract attention in controllable, more “acceptable” ways to avoid attracting attention in unsafe, more stigmatizing ways. Not because they WANT to be that way, but because it lets them predict people’s responses better, which feels safer.
Also, there are Autistic people who can’t “pass” for non-autistic no matter how hard they try. That doesn’t mean they’re not masking. They may actually be working hard to suppress A LOT, they just can’t do everything to neuronormative standards.
None of these people will be accused of “blending in,” yet they are still masking their hearts out. When we assume they are not, we miss all the harm that masking is causing them. But they are suppressing themselves and suffering the consequences of that just as much as any Autistic person whose mask successfully says, “Hey, I’m just like you!”
(For more on this, please see the work of Dr. Amy Pearson and Kieran Rose.)
17K notes
·
View notes
Text
everyone’s like ohh spock is autistic data is autistic and they’re RIGHT but when will we talk about WORF my friend WORF and how he has autism as well
17K notes
·
View notes
Text
i love being autistic actually. i take a sip of sprite and feel it in my ears
720 notes
·
View notes
Text
I have low support needs but I don’t get this either. It seems like internalized ableism with extra steps. I think some autistic people recognize their own value and humanity, but because they don’t value other disabled people they create a narrative that autism is a difference, not a disability. If this kind of advocacy succeeds it runs the real risk of our high support needs friends losing the few supports they have.
“Disabled” is not a bad word. Autism is a disability because it makes it harder for us to survive and thrive in the world. None of that negates the fact that we are interesting, talented, lovable, capable people.
i have more in common with a disabled allistic than another autistic person who doesn't consider themselves disabled. generally i'm amazed at this push to reframe autism as something other than an impairment or disability. like what is supposed to happen with the rest of us
688 notes
·
View notes
Text
Sometimes I forget there’s anything wrong with me until I’m in the wild
I went to a drag show with some friends today (I consider having a large group of friends to be a modern miracle for my autistic ass) and obviously it was loud and over stimulating.
Also shout out to my one friend who said she’d take me into the lobby if I got overwhelmed. Love her
Anyway during the show one of the performers is walking through the audience and I look away when she gets close because she’s now in eye contact range. She sees me look away. She gets in my face and yells “look at me” at me.
I’m sure she just thought I was shy and was trying to get me to engage with the performance so I have no ill will there, but holy fuck I went from 70% masking power to 5% in a single second.
I’m pretty sure I made a facial expression that looked like a melted claymation character. One friend said I was grimacing and looked absolutely panicked.
After the show when my friends were getting a picture with her I told her “I’m sorry I can’t make eye contact when the music is that loud.”
It’s such a minor complaint but I’m always frustrated when my disability, you know, disables me. I’m low support needs so I know I have it comparatively easy, but sometimes I want to be able to make eye contact when it’s loud just to save myself the embarrassment of being visibly “wrong” in public.
Tl;dr: wear ear defenders to a drag show if you have autism or else a former Drag Race contestant will yell at you
#rupaul's drag race#The mortifying ordeal of being acknowledged#autism#actually autistic#autistic experiences#Who would have thought having a disability actually disabled you
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
“oh I’m too old for stuffed animals” skill issue. sorry you can’t appreciate little creatures made to hang out with you, I on the other hand am full of joyous whimsy and therefore vastly superior.
110K notes
·
View notes
Text
Joke’s on you that’s pretty much how popcorn sounds to me. Just an absolute salvo of corn gunshots.
imagine you make microwave popcorn and by wild chance every single kernel has the same exact popping point and after like a minute in the microwave the bag instantly fills up with a single earsplitting gunshot noise would that be fucked up or what
73K notes
·
View notes
Text
This interest has started looking suspiciously special recently
76 notes
·
View notes
Text
Writer: Look at this "emotionless" (but secretly emotion having) non-human character I made!
Autistics: just like me fr
Writer:
169 notes
·
View notes
