If you have 500 Facebook friends, then on average, 10 of those friends have been diagnosed with autism.
Do you know who your 10 are?
Autistics only seem rare because some get sent to separate schools, some hide it due to fear of discrimination, and some never realize they’re autistic at all.
But we are everywhere.
So what should you do with that knowledge? How should you act around new people, who may or may not be on the autism spectrum?
The same way you might act in a new country, with different customs and ways of communicating. Approach us with respect and curiosity, trusting that our actions have reasons, no matter how mysterious they seem at first glance.
It also helps to learn about autism from #ActuallyAutistic creators. But none of us are identical, so the best person to learn from is the one in front of you!
You might be surprised to discover that autistic culture suits you better than neurotypical culture. You might even discover that you’re one of us.