Published on 12, July, 2020
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
I don't wear a badge, but I do have a very distinct "look / style."
I find that this is useful to alert people to the fact that I am probably a little bit "other."
I don't especially want people to know that I am specifically autistic (not ashamed, just can't bear inane questions about it) but I do think it is helpful to "them" and me if there is something evidently different about me.