I’m The Autistic Person Neurotypicals Say You Don’t Look Like Shirt

As an autistic person, I often feel like I don’t fit into the world in the way most people expect me to. There are so many assumptions and misconceptions that neurotypical people have about autism, which can be disheartening and overwhelming. Whenever I try to share my story and experiences as an autistic person, I’m usually met with the same response: “you don’t look like an autistic person!” This statement is a reminder of the lack of understanding and education around autism. It reinforces the outdated idea that autistic people must appear and behave in certain ways in order to be “legitimately” autistic - an idea I reject. I’m the autistic person neurotypicals say you don’t look like, and this is my story.