I really wonder when I hear this whether it’s as much about “autistic behaviors*” not being noticed or about the person saying it not thinking a certain kind of person can be autistic. Is it lack of diagnosis and representation of BIPOC autistic people? Otherwise disabled people? Fat people? Queer and trans people?
*I put autistic behaviors in quotes because while I think there are a lot of things I do differently because I’m autistic, being autistic isn’t about behavior to me. It’s about how my mind works. I could have the same action as a non-autistic (allistic) person and still not have the same experience of doing that thing. And I can have the same thought process but a different behavior. So reducing autism to what allistic people observe is a problem for me.
Then we get into the behavior/identity overlap. Is not being seen as autistic because someone doesn’t know autistic people with that a job, skill or hobby? I know a lot of autistic people who enjoy public speaking (like me) but that surprises a lot of allistic people.
Thanks for sharing, Amy. I align with you, I think about mindbodies from the perspective of how we experience the world, rather than how others experience us.
This was relatable. People and human behaviours have been one of my special interests, too. It made me a very good social anthropologist, even if I had to run indoors to my hotel room and stare at a blank wall for a while after every seminar and conference presentation. That ability to perform tips over too into actual performance skills. Being on a stage or at a podium is just a slightly cranked up version of what I have to do every time I leave my room haha. Academia is full of folks like us who've found a hospitable niche there. Glad to e-meet you!
Thank you for digging into this.
I really wonder when I hear this whether it’s as much about “autistic behaviors*” not being noticed or about the person saying it not thinking a certain kind of person can be autistic. Is it lack of diagnosis and representation of BIPOC autistic people? Otherwise disabled people? Fat people? Queer and trans people?
*I put autistic behaviors in quotes because while I think there are a lot of things I do differently because I’m autistic, being autistic isn’t about behavior to me. It’s about how my mind works. I could have the same action as a non-autistic (allistic) person and still not have the same experience of doing that thing. And I can have the same thought process but a different behavior. So reducing autism to what allistic people observe is a problem for me.
Then we get into the behavior/identity overlap. Is not being seen as autistic because someone doesn’t know autistic people with that a job, skill or hobby? I know a lot of autistic people who enjoy public speaking (like me) but that surprises a lot of allistic people.
Thanks for sharing, Amy. I align with you, I think about mindbodies from the perspective of how we experience the world, rather than how others experience us.
This was relatable. People and human behaviours have been one of my special interests, too. It made me a very good social anthropologist, even if I had to run indoors to my hotel room and stare at a blank wall for a while after every seminar and conference presentation. That ability to perform tips over too into actual performance skills. Being on a stage or at a podium is just a slightly cranked up version of what I have to do every time I leave my room haha. Academia is full of folks like us who've found a hospitable niche there. Glad to e-meet you!
Thanks for sharing, Caroline. Glad to e-meet you too!