Published on 12, July, 2020
How did people react to you telling them you have autism?
For me personally my family were mostly accepting and happy for me. My dad wasn't very supportive, he's never liked me much, always thought I was fussy and didn't try hard enough in things I do. At school I used to have meltdowns because of how stressful it was and I struggled with processing but my dad said I was overreacting and attention seeking. He's never understood.
My grandparents weren't very supportive either, though my Gramps was unbelievably supportive and happy for me which did surprise me. Gramps is now my best friend, my rock, I know I can turn to him no matter what about absolutely anything. We are so close. He's more of a dad to me than my own dad is, sad but true.
When I was attempting work I decided to tell one of my colleagues that I have autism. Her reply "you don't look autistic..." After that day I found my mind constantly trying to figure out what autism actually looks like. Me, apparently.
Overall telling people of my diagnosis was well received but there have been a few people who didn't unfortunately understand, or didn't try to understand. Most people though were supportive and happy for me.
Astridlora said:. Her reply "you don't look autistic..."
I would love to know what an autistic person looks like, I look in the mirror everyday and still haven’t seen one. Maybe someone should sketch one so we will know when we meet another autistic person. Luckily we normally know when we are with our own, it’s just the Muggles who struggle.
I’ve actually had that comment before too… I think it’s because there is very little education about autism - I myself was absolutely clueless before I was diagnosed (though I would not make such a comment if I am clueless…).
I had it said to me, it was joined with, “ we’re all a little bit autistic.” I found the worst reply was, “No, autistic people don’t talk and stare at walls all day.” I must admit my knowledge of autism was very limited. All any of my generation had seen of autism was the Dustin Hoffman film and that didn’t really help, it just reinforced the stereotypical view of autistic people.
My wife remembers her training to become a nurse, out of three years of training, autism was covered in twenty minutes on one morning.