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Do any of my fellow autistics wear an autism badge out and about?

Rosina

I was diagnosed autistic not so long ago in my early 40s, the psychiatrist who diagnosed me said I mask phenomenally well that it goes almost undetected.

My family say I should wear a badge that lets others know I am autistic because I can come across rude when shopping or in other social situations where people are new to me. I wore a lapel badge that said I’m autistic to trial it a few weeks and it did make a huge difference when i was shopping, I realised sales assistants willing to help more, more smiley. 

The flip side of it is, do I really want people to know I’m autistic ? It feels like a label and does that mean I am giving people an opportunity on passing judgement without knowing me??

Thoughts please? X 

Parents

  • I have travelled a lot in the last year as my wife and I are currently long-distance, and after some bad experiences, I got a sunflower "hidden disabilities" lanyard for my last trip. I found airport staff and stewardesses were very helpful when they saw it. They didn't know I was autistic, just that I had some kind of issue that might make me struggle a bit. I'm trying to get in the habit of wearing it in other situations where I might come across as flustered and confused by social interaction and making on-the-spot decisions e.g. when I had to get some documents printed at the bank a while back.

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  • I have travelled a lot in the last year as my wife and I are currently long-distance, and after some bad experiences, I got a sunflower "hidden disabilities" lanyard for my last trip. I found airport staff and stewardesses were very helpful when they saw it. They didn't know I was autistic, just that I had some kind of issue that might make me struggle a bit. I'm trying to get in the habit of wearing it in other situations where I might come across as flustered and confused by social interaction and making on-the-spot decisions e.g. when I had to get some documents printed at the bank a while back.

Children