When We Say We're Different, We Mean It

I'm reading on an online support group about a mother asking what she should do with her son. He is PDD NOS, in college, studying to be an engineer, loves gaming and doesn't socialize much. It sounds like he is AST, Autism Spectrum Typical. In our world, he's normal. But she wants him to be NT normal, so she's asking how to get him out to socialize more.

Many people on the spectrum have a much lower need for social interaction to be satisfied. NTs don't understand this and always ask what they can do to encourage more socialization.

Nothing. We just don't need it.

I work in customer service, I talk on the phone 8 hours a day to people, I also have to deal with social interaction in the break room, walking down the hall, at the grocery store and various other places throughout the day.

People are everywhere! I have to step outside what is normal for me and interact with them every day, all day. I am more than maxed out on social interaction. Being alone at home is RELAXING, it's not a bad thing.

NTs really need to understand that when we say we're different, we really are different. Maybe because it's because NTs are so used to their words not meaning what they say, but when autistics speak, we say exactly what we mean.

We are different. We have different needs. Different things give us pleasure and different things cause us stress.

When we say we are different that isn't code for "we're pathetically waiting around for you to come save us and teach us how to be NT."

We are wired differently. Literally, the way the connections are formed in our brains is different from NT people. It will always be that way. Forcing me to go make small talk to someone doesn't make me NT, it makes me annoyed.

Would you be so eager to change your child if they were born blue eyed instead of brown eyed? Would you be so concerned about 'fixing' their blond hair if you felt they really should have been brunette?

Why the obsession with 'fixing' autistics?

We're not broke; we're different.

Now If You Don't Mind, I'm Leaving

Here's one from the Things People Say But Don't Really Mean file:

I'm watching a video on YouTube and at the end the lady closes by saying, "...now if you don't mind, I'm leaving."

And it made me wonder... if he does mind, is she obligated to stay?

What Is Autism

What Is Autism
Autism is a neurological disorder characterized by problems with social interactions, communication and repetative movements.

An autistic brain is different. The various areas of the brain aren't wired the same way they are in neurotypical people. The different areas don't talk to each other the way they should. Or at least they don't talk to each other in a way that is considered 'normal'.

One famous autistic, Temple Grandin, says autistic brains are similar to prey animals; they are always on the alert for danger and scare easily.

People on the autistic spectrum get overwhelmed easily. Sounds, smells, textures and tastes can be overwhelming. Something that seems like no big deal to a regular person, such as a gentle pat on the back, may be extremely painful to an autistic person.

Is There An Austism Epidemic
As of 2008, CDC estimated 1 out of 1000 children had an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Today we count 1 out of 88 children with an ASD. This had led many question whether there is an autism epidemic.

One cause for the rise in number of diagnoses is due to broadening the defintion of autism. It now includes a spectrum of disorders ranging from severe (Rain Man) to mild (Sheldon Cooper of Big Bang Theory). Most people will realize the Rain Man has a distinct problem with his brain, whereas the Sheldon character they may only view as a quirky, socially inept individual with strange OCD habits. It has not yet been confirmed by the writers, but many of us see ourselves reflected in Sheldon Cooper.

Self Stimulation
When their senses start going into overdrive, many autists use stimming, or self stimulation, to soothe themselves. They may shake their hands, hit their heads, rock band and forth or spin around.

They do this because they are experiencing sensory overload. Sensory overload hurts. It physically hurts. This is the reason so many autists retreat deep inside themselves or seem to be loners; they are trying to block out as much stimuli as possible just to get through the day.

Autism comes from greek word autós, meaning self.

Autism is a neurological disorder; it is not, as originally classified, a psychological one.