10 Things an adult with autism wants you to know

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Access Press, Volume 17, Number 4, April 10, 2006

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10 Things an Autistic Adult Wishes You Knew

From Aspies for Freedom

by Amy

1. I am autistic, not just an adult with autism. It is part of who I am.

Autism is a part of who I am. I was born this way. I would not choose to

change that. Acknowledging my autism as a part of me is entirely compatible with

respecting me as a person with thoughts, feelings, and talents. I am a human

being like everyone else and deserve the same dignity and respect that any one

else deserves. Please consider whatever term I prefer and do not use language

that suggests I suffer from an unfortunate disease.

2. Autism is a neurological variation, not a disease, or mental illness.

Autism often includes differences in social behavior and practical skills.

My behaviors and learning styles might vary. My perceptions may differ.

I may learn and understand things in way that's different and process the world

in a different way. Please do not judge me or other autistics for our

differences.

3. Who I am and what I am capable of is not defined by medical

diagnosing criteria. I am born with my own set of abilities and difficulties,

autism included.

Those who use it to tell me who I am and what I can do are using it as a

stereotype. Please do not make generalizations and assumptions about me or other

autistics.

4. I am not going to be cured.

Nothing will change me, and if it could, it would destroy who I am

completely and would leave me worse off. I have the right to refuse questionable

or risky treatments. My life is my own, I do not want to be cured and I think

the idea of curing me and other autistics is wrong. Please respect my

individuality and do not try to fix me, because I am not broken.

5. I may be your adult child, but my life is own.

Parents do not have the right to choose questionable or risky treatments

without my consent. I have my own mind. I can think for myself. I know what I

want and don't want.

6. Focus on the positives of my, and others autism, I am living my life

as best as I can, I want to make the most of it every day.

Talking negatively about autistics and focusing on our weaknesses all

the time causes me and other autistics emotional distress. Please do not use

language that suggests that being autistic is bad.

7. I am a logical thinker, that is one of my strengths.

It can make me take words literally, or misunderstand jokes. Also I may

be misunderstood equally by others, if you do not understand my own logical

style. I do have my own sense of humor that is unique to me, it's a stereotype

that autistics have no humor.

8. Socializing is not always easy, if I don't want to join in, that is

my choice, and I will avoid a situation if I am uncomfortable with it.

I am not trying to be 'rude' or impolite. It is simply better for me to

participate socially when I choose, rather than feeling forced.

9. I do have emotions, au-tistics are not emotionless like some

stereotypes suggest. However, I may express them in a different way.

What may make someone else cry, can be different for me, it doesn't mean

that I don't care, or am an uncaring person. My facial expressions might not

always reflect my emotions.

10. If you have an autistic adult in your family, try to find out

information about autism.

Many articles in the media only concern children; try and find out the

differences in an autistic adult. Some autistics do get married, have jobs,

leave home, some don't; we are all unique. Please do not use language that

suggests that being autistic makes a person violent.

This list was written by adults on the autistic spectrum in order to

educate people on the views and opinions of autistics. Reprinted from

http://aspiesforfreedom.com/wiki/

Autism Resources

Autism: Getting the Truth Out -- Created by Kim, an autistic woman, this

site " was designed to to show how images and descriptions of autistic people

serve the needs of the people who are providing them. "

www.gettingthetruthout.org/

Autism Society of MN; Chapter of the Autism Society of America, " The

Voice of Autism " -- ASM " exists to enhance the lives of individuals with autism

spectrum disorders. ASM seeks to realize its mission through education support,

collaboration, and advocacy. " www.ausm.org/

Autism Speaks -- " Dedicated to funding global biomedical research into

the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public

awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society;

and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.

www.autismspeaks.org/

Autism Spectrum Disorders, National Institutes of Mental Health -- NIMH

is one of 27 components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal

government's principal biomedical and behavioral research agency. NIH is part of

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm

Autistics.org; The Real Voice of Autism --The Real Voice of Autism. The

purpose of the autistics.org project is to connect autistic people with the

services we need to live whole and happy lives. The immediate goal of

autistics.org is to build a global database of information and resources by and

for persons on the autistic spectrum. http://autistics.org/

Minnesota Autism Project -- A statewide training and technical

assistance project for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), funded by the Minnesota

Department of Education, Division of Special Education. The Minnesota Autism

Project provides support and expertise to help meet the unique and special needs

of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

www.ecsu.k12.mn.us/mnautismproject.html

The National Autism Association -- Mission is to " educate society that

autism is not a lifelong incurable genetic disorder but one that is biomedically

definable and treatable. We will raise public and professional awareness of

environmental toxins as causative factors in neurological damage that often

results in an autism or related diagnosis. "

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/

Neurodiversity.com -- A site or ganized by a Web developer and librarian

who seeks " to help reduce the suffering of autistic children and adults, who

often face extra or dinary challenges in many domains of life, challenges made

more difficult by others' unrealistic expectations and demands, negative

judgments, harassment and economic marginalization. "

http://neurodiversity.com

A Way of Life; 's Web site about Autism and Advocacy --

's Web site about Autism and Advocacy

www.geocities.com/growingjoel/index.html

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