If an organization is run partially or completely by autistic people, its about page will usually say so. Look at partner organizations, and whether they include or mistreat autistic people. Stay away from stigmatizing groups like Autism Speaks.
The Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library has a book list that can be useful for finding books to read. [1] X Research source
#AskAnAutistic is a hashtag where anyone can ask questions, and autistic people will come answer. You can also try #AskingAutistics. #REDinstead is a hashtag where people take selfies or pictures involving the color red to promote autism acceptance. It was created as an alternative to #LightItUpBlue, a campaign which many autistic people find hurtful. #ToneItDownTaupe and #LightItUpGold are two other alternatives. #ActuallyAutistic is a space for only autistic people to post in, without being drowned out by non-autistic people. If you aren’t autistic, it’s bad manners to post in this tag (but it’s okay to read what you find, and often okay to retweet or reblog). #DoILookAutisticYet is a tag for autistic people to post selfies, created to represent how autistic people are (and look) unique. #YouCantBeAutisticBecause is similar, in that it’s a tag for autistic people to post things regarding assumptions about how they don’t “seem” autistic.
Cynthia Kim Amy Sequenzia Ari Ne’eman Julia Bascom Emma Zurcher Long Jim Sinclair Lydia Brown Judy Endow
Always research an event before participating in it. Some events are run by harmful organizations, and the money they raise may be hurting more than it helps. [2] X Trustworthy Source Austistic Self Advocacy Network Nonprofit organization run by and for individuals on the autism spectrum that empowers autistic people through education and public advocacy Go to source
Stimming: Repetitive motions such as rocking, hand flapping, echolalia, and more. Useful for coping, and self-expression (like a smile)[3] X Research source Neurodivergent: having a neurological disability such as autism, Down Syndrome, dyslexia, or bipolar disorder Neurotypical/NT: having no neurological disabilities Allistic: non-autistic, though not necessarily neurotypical[4] X Research source Neurodiversity: the biological diversity of human brains[5] X Research source Neurodiversity paradigm: the idea that autistic and other neurodivergent people are not broken, just different, and should be accepted and accommodated instead of forced to change against their will Curebie: a person who believes that autism is a horrible disease that should be cured (regardless of what autistic people want)[6] X Research source [7] X Research source
High/Low-Functioning:[8] X Trustworthy Source Austistic Self Advocacy Network Nonprofit organization run by and for individuals on the autism spectrum that empowers autistic people through education and public advocacy Go to source It’s considered rude to put people in boxes, especially since they may be skilled in some areas and significantly impaired in others. [9] X Research source [10] X Research source Person with autism or “Person who has autism:” Disliked by the autistic community in general because it implies that autism is separate from a person, and that it is antithetical to humanity. Autism is part of an autistic person and should be accepted and respected, just as the person is. [11] X Research source Only use this to describe someone if it is their personal preference. Suffering from autism: Many autistic people are not suffering. [12] X Research source They have challenges, but so does everyone, and they consider themselves all right. Autism epidemic: Autism doesn’t kill people, it is not a disease, and it is not communicable.
The puzzle piece[13] X Research source [14] X Research source [15] X Research source and the color blue[16] X Research source have negative connotations. [17] X Research source The neurodiversity symbol (a rainbow infinity sign), rainbows in general, red for #REDinstead, and Autisticat have positive connotations. These symbols are used by the autistic community. [18] X Research source
Read from lots of autistic people to get the best picture. You will want to read from people who can speak and those who can’t, those who can drive and those who can’t, those who have active social lives and those who don’t, et cetera. Understanding autism means understanding the diverse experiences that autistic people can have.
Autism Acceptance Month is every April[19] X Research source Autistic Pride Day is June 18[20] X Research source Autistics Speaking Day is November 1[21] X Research source [22] X Research source
It is okay to share articles or retweet/reblog things you found in the #actuallyautistic tag. (You may wish to mention that you aren’t autistic, though, so people don’t get confused. ) It’s okay to say that an article helped you, or that you agree. It’s okay to ask questions. However, autistic people are not search engines, so they are not obligated to provide an answer. Remember, there are plenty of allies who participate in discussions and write autism-related posts!
Avoid posting in the #ActuallyAutistic tag if you aren’t autistic. It was developed specifically for autistic people to discuss things, without non-autistics interrupting. [23] X Research source Non-autistics can post in the #autism, #AskingAutistics, and #AskAnAutistic tags. Respect all autistic people. All autistics, regardless of ability, deserve dignity and respect. Your average autistic person wants respect for everyone, including people who are more capable than they are, and people who need more help than they do. Don’t assume you understand someone else’s struggles. Never dismiss someone as being “articulate” or “too high-functioning” to understand what “real autism” is like. You don’t know what that person might go through on a daily basis, and they may face serious issues. Furthermore, even if their life is fairly good, that doesn’t mean they aren’t allowed to have opinions, or that they haven’t listened to autistic people who have it worse. Remember not to take venting personally. Sometimes, autistics may talk about bad experiences they’ve had, and possibly make generalizations in the heat of the moment. Just like it’s rude to say “Not all men!” or “Not all white people!” saying “Not all NTs” or “Not all therapists!” only derails the conversation and makes it about your feelings. [24] X Research source If you don’t do the bad thing they’re talking about, then it’s not about you. If you do the thing, then you can use this information to re-evaluate your behavior.
Feel free to check out other autism articles on wikiHow, like How to Relate to an Autistic Person and How to Understand Autism.
Facing abuse: Being abused in therapies like ABA, special education, or other contexts[25] X Research source [26] X Research source Being put down and isolated: enduring years of bullying at school and/or work, having family members say awful things about them, discovering media that claims autistics are burdens Being ignored: being told that they are “too high-functioning” receive accommodations or to talk about autism,[27] X Research source [28] X Research source “Not Really Autistic” from Yes, That Too or on the flip side, being told they are “too low-functioning” to amount to anything. [29] X Research source Gaslighting: being told that they are overreacting to their problems, or that their problems aren’t real problems[30] X Research source [31] X Research source [32] X Research source [33] X Research source
For example, perhaps you said “Not every single ABA therapist is an abusive monster. " A mentally healthy autistic person might agree, understanding that the issue is nuanced. But a severely traumatized autistic person might panic, remembering the unspeakable things their therapist did to them, and start thinking that you’re excusing or minimizing that type of abuse. After severe trauma, some people may react like a wounded animal, panicking at the slightest perceived threat. Just like you wouldn’t blame a dog from a puppy mill for being jumpy, try not to blame the trauma survivor for being reactive. Don’t take it personally, and remember where they’re coming from. Of course, trauma doesn’t justify bad behavior, or mean that you should let someone mistreat you. It’s okay to set limits, like “You’re allowed to be upset, but I need you to stop name-calling. "
For example, if someone is discussing abuse in ABA therapy, instead of saying “That doesn’t happen,” you could say “I didn’t know that could happen” or “That sounds awful. Do you want to talk about it?”
You don’t have to engage in a conversation if you don’t want to. If you are quiet and someone asks about it, you can say “I’m just listening” or “I’m not familiar with this topic, so I am learning by hearing what others have to say. "
Keep an eye out for trigger warnings. These signal that more sensitive topics are being discussed, and that the material may not be suitable for young people or people with mental health difficulties. Look at who seems to be participating. Some communities are created with autistic people specifically in mind, and some are meant for autistic people and loved ones. Notice the amount of unfamiliar language, and whether it’s explained. If you see a lot unfamiliar words that aren’t explained, you can assume the community is probably oriented towards people who have more experience in the Autistic community.
