Are we really the minority we're told we are?

Since I understood what autism was I find I believe there are a lot more undiagnosed people, especially older people who have diagnosed children and grandchildren and it helps me understand their differences. 

However in the general public I think there are only a small number of people who really understand the hidden experiences, unless they have some experience themselves or with those close to them.

In society there is an overall understanding of accepting everyone's differences whatever they might be. However in society in general, including education it seems that the aim is to help people fit into the 'norm' rather adjusting to support people's needs. If we are not so much of a minority why are the ways we think not becoming the norm. I often fall to understand why people don't understand my black and white thinking. So if there is a fact, why do people understand it in a more complicated way.

I don't think black and white thinking is an ASC thing only nor do all people with ASC think like that, I know I don't, I know plenty of people who aren't ASC who are black and white straight line thinkers.

I think it's a power thing, NT's have believed themseles to be right and normal for so long and have spent so long forcing square pegs into round holes, that they feel threatened now they realise that a substantial minority of the population are square pegs and want to remain square, resist having their corners knocked off and now have some legal rights to prevent that happening. Very few people will give up power willingly or easily.

It's not surprising that "they" don't understand "us", do "we" understand "them" and their experiences? To me an NT world is a frightening place, I don't think it's only us who worry about fitting in, I think NT's do too, I think they must live in a world of fear in case they're cast out for some infraction with no community to go too, like we do.

Here's another thought, what happens when a person with ASC breaks the "rules" that other Autistic people find acceptable, where do they go? 

What rules are you referring to? I can find other autistic people difficult, because if they want to do something a particular way and it doesn't fit with me it is like hitting a brick wall, but it feels like the other autistic person is trying to control me. In the case of one particular person, the person I went to was NT, but knows me well.

I guess it depends on the person, I am more likely to flee from a situation if it is difficult. As no two autistic people are the same I guess there are parts of each other that we might understand better than a NT, but not everything.

For me, the main difference that very few NTs tend to understand is the amount of energy expended in doing everyday things. For example someone working, by the end of the week may spend the following day getting over the week, whereas many NTs would not understand why a day out or a party might be difficult. In the same way I don't think a lot of NTs from my experience understand how much energy is used up going into an office, especially in open plan hot desk situations. When my office changed to that this was the start of my difficulties because I had used a lot of energy getting to and selecting somewhere to sit and setting it up before the working day even started.

I understand that there are some things we have to do that are difficult, but for me I want others to understand that when I am struggling it is not me being difficult, but heading towards a state where something becomes physically impossible. We do have to try to manage this to a certain extent ourselves and I think I am finally realising that I only need to do that which is possible, as my drive to achieve tasks can be my own worst enemy.

What rules are you referring to? I can find other autistic people difficult, because if they want to do something a particular way and it doesn't fit with me it is like hitting a brick wall, but it feels like the other autistic person is trying to control me. In the case of one particular person, the person I went to was NT, but knows me well.

I guess it depends on the person, I am more likely to flee from a situation if it is difficult. As no two autistic people are the same I guess there are parts of each other that we might understand better than a NT, but not everything.

For me, the main difference that very few NTs tend to understand is the amount of energy expended in doing everyday things. For example someone working, by the end of the week may spend the following day getting over the week, whereas many NTs would not understand why a day out or a party might be difficult. In the same way I don't think a lot of NTs from my experience understand how much energy is used up going into an office, especially in open plan hot desk situations. When my office changed to that this was the start of my difficulties because I had used a lot of energy getting to and selecting somewhere to sit and setting it up before the working day even started.

I understand that there are some things we have to do that are difficult, but for me I want others to understand that when I am struggling it is not me being difficult, but heading towards a state where something becomes physically impossible. We do have to try to manage this to a certain extent ourselves and I think I am finally realising that I only need to do that which is possible, as my drive to achieve tasks can be my own worst enemy.

I meant social rules, I think all groups have them and groups of autists are no different to NT's in that.

I do agree that few people understand just how much energy is taken up by doing everyday things and how overwhelming they are. I think the need to achieve so much might be because of a need to show other's that we're OK really, not a fraud, or weak or something. Achievement isn't something I really understand as it's something I rarely feel.