Black and White Thinking and the Autistic Mind
Autistic people often thinking in black-and-white, all-or-nothing ways. This can cause misunderstandings between autistic people and neurotypical people.
Category: Common Misconceptions
How the Purpose of Non-Autistic Small Talk Can Backfire Terribly for People on the Spectrum
Neurotypical small talk can backfire terribly for people on the spectrum and actually CAUSE HARM. Here’s why.
Things Don’t Exist to Me Unless I Need Them (An Autistic Perspective)
Things don’t exist to me unless I need them. This is my autistic perspective on why many of us can’t “see” what’s right in front of us.
Autistic People Don’t “Get Used to” Sensory Triggers We Are Forced to Endure, We Disassociate From Them
Does “training” an autistic person to endure sensory triggers make them easier to endure? No. It forces the autistic person to do the only thing they can to survive: Disassociate their entire lives.
Touch and the Autistic Person
Do autistic people dislike touch? Yes and no. It depends on the autistic person! Here’s how touch affects some autistic people and how to communicate more effectively about it.
“Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me!?” – The Autistic Side of Awkward Social Encounters
Does the autistic person in your life behave in ways you believe are socially awkward and uncomfortable? Tell us using this formula.
Don’t Punish Autistic People With Our Own Behaviors and Expect That Will “Teach Us a Lesson”
If you mimic an autistic person’s behavior toward you, we won’t understand you’re trying to hint at something, we’ll just become fearful and distrustful. Here’s what to do instead.
“Stop Yelling at Me!” – Why You May Hear This From Your Autistic Loved One When You Haven’t Raised Your Voice
“Stop yelling at me!” You don’t have to raise your voice even slightly to yell at an autistic person, here’s why. (Hint: It’s not sound sensitivity.)
Teasing: Bonding for Non-Autistic People, Torture for Most Autistics
“Teasing”, a bonding experience for neurotypicals that can be confusing and traumatizing for their autistic counterparts.
“You’re Not Even Trying!” – Please Don’t Say This to Autistic People
“You’re not even trying!” If you say this to your autistic loved one, you couldn’t be more wrong, and it’s damaging to their mental health. Trying is all we do.
