Have you ever joined a group, got comfortable enough to start unmasking, only to get rejected? #AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD image credit: unknown

Ever heard of the “social model” of disability? It suggests that people are disabled not by their impairments, but by societal barriers, negative attitudes, and exclusion. www.ted.com/talks/stella...

In a fantastic episode on podcast "Let's Talk Neurosense", Katy Elphinstone responds to Uta Frith and why we need to reframe Autism. neurosense.substack.com/p/why-we-nee...

Autistic people can struggle with food textures and smells. Feeling nauseated around certain foods is not uncommon. Being forced to eat certain foods because “they are good for you” but make you feel physically ill creates a bad relationship to food and eating in general.

I knew it was being developed and now it is finally here, Autistic Barbie. It is being launched in the UK and will be part of Barbie's Fashionistas line. I have read some of the pro and con reactions online and both sides have some solid points. www.msn.com/en-gb/lifest...

CW: Personal story & commentary on ASL accessibility in the White House During high school I had a chance to work with the deaf community. There was a deaf ASL choir that would perform songs. It was always a treat when they would perform for us. 1/9

So now people have a problem with ear defenders at school? Richard Tice was outlining Reform's Doge unit's progress: "I'll just raise one more point, the sight of children in classes wearing ear defenders, I'm sorry, this is just insane. It's got to stop." www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

I see that the “hiki” app is in the news again. TLDR: it is a meetup/dating app for neurodivergents. The feedback I've heard from others that tried it: * Too expensive * Limited users * Basic features are paywalled Do your own research. YMMV www.cbsnews.com/video/couple...

Do you ever find yourself oversharing with complete strangers in social settings? #AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD image: unknown

Really sad news today. We lost disability rights activist Alice Wong. If you don’t know about Alice’s journey take some time to read about her. RIP Alice 💛 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Let’s talk tags on clothing. I hate them and they annoy me to no end. And even if I cut them off, the tiny bit remaining always manages to touch me and I hate it. Do tags bother you? #AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic image: unknown

Do you ever have your need for more information mistaken for "being intentionally difficult"?

Jordyn Zimmerman is a non-speaking autistic advocate. In her article, "Beyond Access" Jordyn calls for a more user-centered design approach across the board, where AAC users are not merely participants, but leaders in the design and development process. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Proud papa moment: my son J published a letter in the @nytimes.com today (in print tomorrow) on the need to think our definitions of autism.

How did we get to where we are today, where anyone who is deemed "different" is often deemed bad? Adolphe Quetelet proposed the idea of an average person using statistical analysis. In his view, people who are nearer to the average are closer to "ideal" than those who are not.

Deeply grateful to the Nimoy Night Foundation for honoring my autism advocacy work with the Live Long and Prosper Tribute award. Spock has always been a hero in the #ActuallyAutistic community. Thank you! LLAP 🖖 #LLAPTribute #RememberingLeonardNimoy #Autism

I just finished rewatching the old 1970’s Planet of the Apes series. I fast-forwarded through most of it because it is really bad. 😅 I’m looking at my 2 cats now…and I think I would be fine if cats took over the world. At least we would all get daily cat naps. 😸

For many in the autistic community, having anxiety is as constant as the north star. It is there when you wake up and it is there when you go to sleep. It only varies in its intensity. 1/4

Autistic Adults Services Autistic people are often infantilized and treated like children. Autistic adults have a hard time accessing services, healthcare, and accommodations because much of society sees autism as a childhood disorder. image: @SensoryStories

Autism and Social Relationships I used to think certain people were my friends, even though the only time they ever communicated with me was when they wanted me to do something for them. It took me a really long time to understand that I wasn't really a friend to them...just a means to an end.

I frequently have to re-read the same paragraph over and over again before it sinks in. It is really frustrating, and makes reading a book take forever. It even happens when I’m listening to an audio book. Do you struggle with this? img: @NoNonsenseND

Yep...about sums it up for me. img credit - @NoNonsenseND

AuDHD for me: Sometimes it feels like my brain has all the CPU it needs and no RAM.

Hot take….autistic adults actually exist. Autistic children actually grow up to become autistic adults. RFK Junior: "I have never in my life seen a man my age with full‑blown autism." The first autistic person diagnosed, Donald Triplett, died at age 89 and worked as a banker.

This t-shirt sums up how some autistics might feel about a social interaction. 😅

If you live in the U.S. please consider contacting your representative and asking them to vote no on the legislation that drastically cuts Medicaid. www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/05/15/h...

A piece I wrote yesterday now live on @thinkingautism.com. #HandsOffMedicaid #Autistic #Autism #NY-11

In a surprise to no one: “Experts call Kennedy’s plan to find autism’s cause unrealistic”. I can’t wait for September when RFK Jr. will let me know why I’m autistic. /s apnews.com/article/auti...

Seriously good news this time. HHS is now saying they will not be creating an autism registry. I’m not opposed to research, but this was not well thought out. And the NIH Council of Councils meeting on 4/21 showed that in spades. autisticadvocacy.org/2025/04/hhs-...

And in other news…”a new disease registry is being launched to track Americans with autism, which will be integrated into the data.” www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...

Poetry helps me to get connected with my feelings. "When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everthing in me that is bewildered and confused." --Rainer Maria Rilke

To avoid burnout as an autistic person prioritize self-care, set realistic goals & boundaries, take breaks when needed, and connect with supportive people. Taking care of yourself is NOT selfish!

For older autistics, how have things like sensory issues and anxiety trended for you over the years?

“Autistic people should always be involved in research in a meaningful way and should be listened to at every stage of a project. By doing that, researchers can avoid inadvertently doing research that is either harmful to autistic people, or which misinterprets the findings." 🫠

Sometimes for me Autism can feel like being in an abusive relationship with humanity.

Did you know? Some autistic people can get overwhelmed by ambiguity! Give us clear, step-by-step instructions & make life easier. #AccommodationsMatter

Monty Python has a famous sketch called, "How Not to Be Seen". Some autistics that attend school will learn that to avoid teasing from classmates it is wise to hide and avoid being seen. We learn early on that we are different, just by the way others treat us.

Small talk, something many autistics can't stand. Before I knew I was autistic I wanted to fit in at work, so I forced myself to watch sports I found completely boring, because that's all the guys at work wanted to talk about. Now I'd rather be around people who like the things I'm interested in.

Autistic love languages can look different than NT ones. We like to share experiences, may unmask around people we are comfortable with, do penguin pebbling, share a special interest, stim, or infodump. image credit: @littlepuddins.ie

What are some tasks that take a lot of effort for you to do that seem easy for others? image: ADHD__THINGS

Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes, has passed away. Steve’s book was the first thing I read after my diagnosis. We interacted some online. He was a kind and thoughtful person. He will be missed. 💛

Some autistic people find making phone calls extremely stressful and unpleasant and will avoid them at all costs. Please don’t try and force your communication preferences on others. image: anon #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD

After a diagnosis of autism, some autistic people can doubt their diagnosis. Years of internalized ableism, unconscious masking, and doubts from others can contribute to a feeling of being an imposter. Have you ever dealt with it? image: Very Helpful Chats #AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic

An example of how businesses can be supportive to the autistic community is this sign out in front of the toy store “My Small World” located in Bath, England. 💛 Different does not mean less. #ActuallyAutistic image: @DanielUHarrisUK

Are you accident prone? I seem to always have at least one toe that is currently injured from me banging it into a piece of furniture. #AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic photo: @tahreemkhann

Do you form deep connections with animals or do you find them unpredictable and anxiety producing? image: @autism_sketches ko-fi.com/autismsketches #AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD

If you want to find autistic characters in Film or TV, check out autisminthemedia.com #ActuallyAutistic

I’m sorry if I assumed you were autistic, it’s probably because we were getting along okay and I assume anyone I relate to is autistic

I just watched an episode from an old TV show that reminded me of the bullying so many of us go through for being different. And sadly, often from grown adults who should know better. #ActuallyAutistic

I just finished reading this wonderful book with practical day-to-day tips for neurodiverse families called, “How to Raise Happy Neurofabulous Children” by @neurofabulous.bsky.social! So many relatable situations and great practical advice. 💛 #ActuallyAutistic www.neurofabulous.org.uk