How long did it take for you to stop feeling 'subhuman'?

It certainly took me a while to come to terms with it, although I had been expecting the diagnosis (and I would have been in pieces if not diagnosed).

But I also thought at last I could be the person who I was without putting on the act to try to be acceptable to others. 

I did wonder how other people would react and it took me a while to 'come out'.  I am not ashamed and never have been of being autistic.  It is what I am, and if I suddenly became 'normal' (I use that word in a sort of ironic sense, as I am normal, to me at least) I would not be the person I am, in short I would cease to exist.

Yes there are those who don't understand, who think I can be neurotypical if I am counselled and if I try harder.  Mostly managers!  But on the whole people are very supportive with only a few being a bit patronising.  Even mistaking the meaning of what people say is accepted as part of me by most of my colleagues at work.

Managers tend to see someone who is deliberately obtuse, and awkward. I don't think it is in their nature to see that someone who appears superficially to be the same as anyone else has a condition which can cause problems that a stern talking to won't correct.  And that does, sometimes, make me feel as if I am being treated as if I am inferior.  But I naturally rebel against such things. 

But I do not feel inferior myself.

It certainly took me a while to come to terms with it, although I had been expecting the diagnosis (and I would have been in pieces if not diagnosed).

But I also thought at last I could be the person who I was without putting on the act to try to be acceptable to others. 

I did wonder how other people would react and it took me a while to 'come out'.  I am not ashamed and never have been of being autistic.  It is what I am, and if I suddenly became 'normal' (I use that word in a sort of ironic sense, as I am normal, to me at least) I would not be the person I am, in short I would cease to exist.

Yes there are those who don't understand, who think I can be neurotypical if I am counselled and if I try harder.  Mostly managers!  But on the whole people are very supportive with only a few being a bit patronising.  Even mistaking the meaning of what people say is accepted as part of me by most of my colleagues at work.

Managers tend to see someone who is deliberately obtuse, and awkward. I don't think it is in their nature to see that someone who appears superficially to be the same as anyone else has a condition which can cause problems that a stern talking to won't correct.  And that does, sometimes, make me feel as if I am being treated as if I am inferior.  But I naturally rebel against such things. 

But I do not feel inferior myself.