Published on 12, July, 2020
I wrote this in another thread but thought it important to discuss more widely.
I was diagnosed at 40 (few years ago). Afterwards, I receeded and didn't like the label so I've mostly kept it to myself. I've found that instead of telling people 'im autistic so I need...', instead I just note that 'i have sensory differences so I need...' for example.
For me the label and stigma are the disabling part, not my brain. This has helped me a lot.
People seem to accommodate your needs fine, but if they are told 'i am autistic so I need...' they become affected and prejudiced by the stigma of what they think autism is (stereotypes) and what they expect an autistic person to be so usually then change their behaviour towards me which always makes me so uncomfortable.
Note: this is just my observation and I fully acknowledge that autism is definitely a disability in many ways for many people. And me too in some ways.
Let me know your thoughts on this please
I'm not bothered by people's negative associations about autism, I do get stupid comments at times, but I'd rather be out with it as if people are going to get all snotty about it then I'd rather know sooner rather than latter. I was self employed for a long time too, so I never had any bosses that I had to tiptoe round or accomodations that had to be made. At uni they were practically falling over themselves to make accomodations, so many that I had to refuse some of them.
Since I divulged my statuus as disabled due to IBD (not ASC) I was discriminated against by clients who stopped booking me (literally from that day onwards), so I defo dont feel secuure enough to tell emplyers/clients about ASC