u/Next_Departure4805

There are a lot of things people say to autistic people that they probably mean as compliments or encouragement, but they can still come across as dismissive or hurtful.
Everyone’s experience is different, so I’m curious to hear what stands out to others.
What’s one thing people should stop saying to autistic people? Why does it bother you, and what would you rather people say instead? I’m interested in hearing different perspectives.

For a long time, I assumed certain things I experienced were just normal and that everyone felt the same way. It wasn’t until I learned more about autism that I realized some of those experiences were actually related to being autistic.
It made me wonder how many other people had the same realization.
What’s something you thought everyone experienced until you realized it was related to autism? It could be sensory issues, social situations, routines, masking, or anything else. I’d love to hear your experiences.

I’ve been thinking about this recently.
Autism is often misunderstood, and many people seem to have a very narrow idea of what it looks like. I feel like a lot of people don’t realize that it can affect communication, sensory experiences, routines, emotions, and daily life in very different ways depending on the person.
I’m interested in hearing different perspectives from the community.
What’s one thing you wish non-autistic people understood about autism, and why do you think it’s so commonly misunderstood?