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 only really use a badge at airports, I’m most probably older and can mask enough to not be normally noticeable. I use this badge, it’s only a glass convex button badge. I understand that the puzzle symbol isn’t favoured by some, it was the best I could find and it’s recognised in most places and doesn’t make me stand out.
I've been known to wear a "Weaponised Autism" tee shirt...
I'm tempted to get one of those badges with the jigsaw pattern on the front at some point for use at airports etc.
That is very difficult, for me personally, I would feel even more vulnerable wearing it.
I think that the problem is that society have to make themselves more friendlier and nicer to everyone all NT's and us AT's too. So that we will no longer need as many special adjustments.
It used to be a better world with more friendly people.
Where I live, If I wore one , shop staff might be nicer to me, but the public would see it as a chance to bully.
It depends how you feel, you could wear it in the shops only if you prefer. and then take it off after you shop.