What was the straw that broke the camels back?

For me, it happened in steps. It was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together - one that I had no idea what the picture was.

First, the TV documentary I watched on autism with the autistic woman who I felt I was like in some ways gave me the outer pieces to act as a frame.

Then, doing the AQ50 test online and scoring 42 gave me part of the picture (and a big shock)

Finding this community forum and hearing from autistic adults gave me more pieces of the picture.

Then reading a book called "A field guide to Earthlings" which explains how neurotypical brains and autistic brains function differently was a real eureka moment, when I really saw what the picture was.

I’ve read some great books on autism and I got to say I’m gob smacked, I figured if i was autistic I’d know about it? The are some people who barely register on the spectrum but still get a diagnoses, it seems it depends on the professionals personal opinion though. That idea makes no sense, I know some condition have symptoms that cross over and can appear like autism but I’d expect someone to be able to tell the difference, is it just autistic people who can see autism when presented to them?

I’ve read some great books on autism and I got to say I’m gob smacked, I figured if i was autistic I’d know about it? The are some people who barely register on the spectrum but still get a diagnoses, it seems it depends on the professionals personal opinion though. That idea makes no sense, I know some condition have symptoms that cross over and can appear like autism but I’d expect someone to be able to tell the difference, is it just autistic people who can see autism when presented to them?

I couldn't see if someone else was autistic either-sometimes I think I see it in my mum, but I can't be sure, but I do see some autism in her some times.

If everyone were autistic, autism wouldn't exist. 

Our society expects people to conform to social norms and to think and feel in a  similar way - that's because that behaviour strengthens social bonds in NTs.

Because NTs are the majority, society has been structured by and for them. They can cope with the noise and stresses of modern life and multi task because their brains filter out non important things. Autistic brains don't filter very well, which is why we get overloaded and have sensory issues.

If the majority of the population had autistic brains, autism would be seen as neurotypical and those who we now call neurotypical would have a "disorder".

Everyone is taught social norms as a child. NTs learn them without much difficulty, but autistic people might learn to copy that behaviour but much of it will seem uncomfortable or not quite "them". They will often feel a bit different to other people, but not realise why until they learn exactly how they are different.

I hope that makes sense?

Perhaps not really no I’m just assuming others think the same as me? It seems without comparison to NT autism wouldn’t exist at least on the higher functioning level it wouldn’t.  

We can see our own autism once we learn what autism is, because we can see inside our own minds, if you get my meaning. But can we determine if others are autistic? 

I'm not sure I could reliably predict that someone else was autistic if they were high masking.