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Increasing Autism Awareness?

AutisticBeaut2025

What would you say would be the best way to increase Autism Awareness? 
It seems to me that unless you have been diagnosed yourself or know someone with the condition then that is how you become educated about ASD otherwise you aren’t going to be aware or know much about it, so how could it be increased? Any ideas? 
I personally think that if a famous person who is very highly well known comes out as autistic then it may get the ball rolling and people might ask themselves if they are too on the spectrum? 
What do you all think?xx

Parents

  • I had a discussion today with my sister, who studies psychology,  about issues related to autism. I had to be careful to not mention this word itself. She agrees,  that I've always been weird and different. And she said, that just being weird and different I'd not an issue and shouldn't be taken as a reason for diagnosis.  Ok, well if it's just little weirdness,  that does not cause problems,  then it's OK. But in many cases it's not just little weirdness. Individuals who are the "weird" and different ones ate often more vulnerable to all sort of Mobbing abuse, have less chance to find a good job despite good qualifications, or have friends/relationship. So the so called "little weirdness" may affect the quality of someone's life significantly. But many psychologists say, it's not a problem. And when I mentioned bullying and harassment she just said "ignore it". Maybe I can just ignore a stranger in a street if they don't follow me or pose no danger for me, but just ignoring bullying at a place, like work or school it's a sign for the perpetrator that it's allowed and ok. 

    So I think, that the awareness about autism (and other conditions) should be spread amongst professionals first. My sister is an example of someone who wouldn't consider a problem unless it's banging head off of a wall. Which I used to do during my meltdowns years ago, but she doesn't know that, because I mastered self control and learned to avoid the worst.

  • in reply to Alien0n3arth
    Alien0n3arth said:
    just ignoring bullying at a place, like work or school it's a sign for the perpetrator that it's allowed and ok. 

    Very true. It's hard but you have to face them down.

  • in reply to Marianne72

    Yes and it amazes me that I received this advice from someone studying a psychology. She says "being different is not a problem". Then I gave her examples of how much problematic it can be. I told her I don't suffer because of myself being different,  but because how I get treated by others. She used to bully me herself with her friends at school when we were teens. The 'weirdo' has it harder, harder toget a good job, to find friends etc. And higher risk of depression,  anxiety,  su*cide. It's amazing, how a future professional can't see it. Once I already heard from a psychiatrist,  that my problems are not problems. So I decided to quit these sessions and not waste mine and her time. She made me question myself a lot and feeling like a total idiot. It was few years ago 

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  • in reply to Marianne72

    Yes and it amazes me that I received this advice from someone studying a psychology. She says "being different is not a problem". Then I gave her examples of how much problematic it can be. I told her I don't suffer because of myself being different,  but because how I get treated by others. She used to bully me herself with her friends at school when we were teens. The 'weirdo' has it harder, harder toget a good job, to find friends etc. And higher risk of depression,  anxiety,  su*cide. It's amazing, how a future professional can't see it. Once I already heard from a psychiatrist,  that my problems are not problems. So I decided to quit these sessions and not waste mine and her time. She made me question myself a lot and feeling like a total idiot. It was few years ago 

Children
  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    You're observation "I don't suffer because of myself being different, but because how I get treated by others." is brilliant and it may have to go on the whiteboard in the kitchen!

    Whilst the general population should be better educated, perhaps it is better they are not until the experts are and act accordingly. These are not people with lack of education or so old that it was ok to treat someone disabled badly because that's the way it was.

    I'm pretty sure my current Doctor actively tries to antagonise. Not that all medical professionals are bad, I think my last two opticians in particular have been brilliant.