The autistic experience of thinking deeply before speaking… only for the moment to pass because everyone else already jumped in Sometimes we just need a little more time to process and sort through our thoughts And when we do speak, it’s with care #AutismAwareness #inclusion

Autistic accommodations aren’t a luxury They’re not “nice extras” or “special treatment” They’re ESSENTIAL adjustments that help autistic people exist safely, access what others already can, and live with less pain and exhaustion #disability #neurodiversity

Autistic ways of saying “I love you” (that you might miss): - “I researched your problem. Here are your options” - “I made a spreadsheet/ list/ plan to help you” - being ourselves around you (infodumping, not masking etc) - “Here’s a meme that I think you’d like” #AutismAwareness

“It didn’t matter if I was in pain or would be in pain the entire day from the added sensory input” What feels small to one person can be huge to another. For autistic people, those moments can become trauma Neurodivergent people need spaces where they can feel seen, safe, and supported

I’m still being told by my parents that having feelings is a weakness But you know what? It’s healthy to have feelings. Feelings are information. They tell you what matters, what hurts, what needs care. They help you understand yourself And crying even releases stress hormones It’s ok to feel ❤️

One of the best things I’ve learned as an autistic person is that I don’t *have* to live by neurotypical rules all the time The pressure can be immense. But it’s possible to slowly change that narrative I’m gradually allowing myself to rest more, socialise my way & find joy in my autistic traits ❤️

Everyone gets tired but it can be a whole new level if you’re autistic: The masking, the anxiety, constantly navigating disability, the overwhelming social interactions, trying to manage unpredictability, feeling sensory input intensely… and so much more Yet it’s an exhaustion that few see

Never underestimate autistic enthusiasm The fuel behind deep dives, expert knowledge, incredible ideas, and uplifting others ❤️ Not to mention, the casual chat that turns into the TED talk you didn’t realise you needed! #AutisticJoy

The autistic experience of needing more time to *recover* from socialising than the time you actually spent socialising… Yes, seriously 😅

PSA: Meltdowns aren’t “bad behaviour” They’re a response to overwhelm - a sign that an autistic person’s needs aren’t being met Every autistic person deserves what they need to feel safe, happy and comfortable ❤️ #AutismAwareness

Many people don’t realise how subtle disability discrimination is. No workplace or organisation would just admit to it outright. Instead, they might: - not take your needs seriously - deny you accommodations - have inaccessible processes - give vague reasons as to why they chose not to hire you

Realising that you’re autistic can bring such clarity. You can now make sense of your life. You finally have answers But it can also be disorienting and trigger feelings of grief. You spent your whole life misunderstood. Trying to be someone else It takes time to unpack all that. And that’s ok ❤️

Exactly! Being autistic is who I am. The lack of understanding and accommodations--that's not inherent to autism; that's inherent to ableism.

Most autistic people I meet *like* being autistic. It’s core to who they are & comes with many strengths What’s hard is surviving in a society that rarely accommodates, respects or tries to understand us There’s a BIG difference between being autistic & being unsupported Let’s not confuse the two

Every time someone talks about “curing” autism, what they’re really saying is: That autism is a disease That we are broken That we shouldn’t exist It’s not just wrong - it’s dehumanising We’re not a problem to be solved. We’re real, valid humans Why is that so hard to see? #AutismAdvocacy

So much of autism can be things that are unseeable… There’s outward behaviours, but also: - how do you make sense of the world? - how do you process sensory input? - what was your childhood like? - how do you experience friendship? - what methods/ routines do you have for navigating the world?

This encounter is a perfect illustration of why I made the post that I did yesterday… Folks, AUTISM IS NOT A MONOLITH It shows up in many different ways. That’s the beauty of the spectrum ❤️ The joy of diversity Instead of questioning autistic people, try questioning your assumptions 😊

I wish I didn’t have to say this but… If someone tells you they’re autistic and you find that hard to believe, it might be because: - They don’t feel safe enough to unmask around you - Your knowledge of autism is limited Arguing won’t help. Kindness, curiosity, and listening to understand, will ❤️

Autistic inertia = difficulty with starting, stopping and switching tasks It can happen even when: - you want to do the task - the task is important or urgent - you have a clear understanding of what needs to be done - it’s something as “simple” as getting out of bed or the shower

Sometimes autism is wanting so badly to be a part of things but then being totally overwhelmed when you are 💔

📢 New research! Autism isn’t *just* about challenges We have strengths too but these are rarely recognised, which can lead to: - low self-esteem - shame - stigma - having less direction in life Lampinen et al explore autistic strengths in a new paper 😊 Do you relate to any of these? 👇

It’s NOT a communication “deficit”… It’s the Double Empathy Problem - and it changes everything 💬 Autistic people aren’t defective, uncaring, or unsociable 🧠 The real issue? Two different neurotypes trying to connect Communication is a two-way street, not a one-sided flaw (1/7)

It’s wild how often autistic people hear: “You’re doing so well. I guess you don’t need those accommodations anymore!” Instead of: 👉 “You’re doing well BECAUSE of that support. Let’s make sure you keep getting it”

neurodiversity is Good Actually. just want to say that

Trump is calling autism “out of control” No… Autism stigma is out of control Ableism is out of control Inaccessibility to basic healthcare and support is out of control

To every autistic person feeling burnt out right now… You don’t have to “earn” rest You don’t need a reason to take care of yourself It’s ok to have boundaries and to stop pushing yourself so hard Your mind and body will thank you for it ❤️ #AutismAdvocacy #DisabilityJustice

Parallel play = one of my favourite autistic joys Just being in the same space, doing our own thing - no pressure to talk, no forced interactions… yet still being around each other ❤️ It’s calming and connecting. A way to spend time with people you love, without the overwhelm #AutismAwareness

One of the things about neurodivergence is that you may be very quiet on the outside, yet have the LOUDEST thoughts on the inside #autism #AuDHD #anxiety #autisticshutdown

Telling someone who’s autistic or ADHD that they’re “not trying hard enough” is one of the most harmful things you can say We’ve heard it all our lives (especially from loved ones) You only see the tip of the iceberg - not everything else beneath Those words only deepen our guilt, shame & burnout

Many autistic people struggle with identifying and understanding their feelings, and I think there can be many layers to that: - alexithymia - delayed emotional processing - a lifetime of being told your feelings aren’t valid so you start to doubt or ignore any feelings you DO have 💔

We shouldn’t be looking at what causes autism We should be looking at: - how society can STOP STIGMATISING AUTISM - support and services that work for everyone - how to improve autistic people’s quality of life - reducing suicide rates (9x higher for autistic people)

I wish more people understood that autism is a dynamic disability: - Just because we can do something one day doesn’t mean we can the next - Our abilities change with context, environment, stress levels and support - Co-occurring conditions also affect our autism and functioning #AutismAwareness

The AuDHD experience of missing really obvious things whilst also picking up on the tiniest details that no one else notices…

*Autism and ageing - new research!* A thread summarising the main findings (sources at end)… 🧵 Autism is often thought of and researched in childhood terms but most autistic people are actually adults So what does autism look like in middle & old age? What are our needs and challenges? (1/10)

Autism and proprioception (something I don’t see talked about enough!) Proprioception differences in autism may be why… - you easily bump into things - fine motor skills are hard e.g. doing buttons - you enjoy pushing, pulling or squeezing things - you love deep pressure like weighted blankets

The fact that we weren't loved by the people who were "supposed" to love us means exactly nothing about who we are, our worth, our potential, or how our life "has" to go.

Too often, autistic needs are treated like mere preferences We keep getting told that they’re: - annoying - weird - inconvenient - unimportant And then we start downplaying them ourselves too because of shame and fear of rejection We shrink ourselves, we mask And we lose ourselves 💔

The more I understand about autism, the more I think about how it’s not *just* about being autistic It’s the exhaustion. The loneliness. The migraines. The bullying. The sleep issues. The struggle to feel safe, to belong… With a nervous system that feels like it’s often on fire #AutismAwareness

Contrary to popular belief, autistic people can enjoy socialising… - in ways that are meaningful to us - in spaces where we can actually be ourselves - in settings that don’t overstimulate - often with other autistic people - whilst having opportunity to recharge when we need it (during/ after)

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but autistic people aren’t “picky eaters”. We’re sensory eaters. What may seem like fussiness is often an intense sensory experience: - Textures that overwhelm - Smells that trigger nausea - Flavours that overload the brain #AutismAwareness #ARFID

Hey autism researchers: Studying "irritability" in autistic people—without asking why from an ND-informed view—is failing. Hard. Especially when noting that "irritability" correlates with communication difficulties. Consider reframing as "frustration" or "lack of appropriate accommodations." #autism

ADHD diagnoses save lives ❤️ New research shows that treating ADHD can: • improve mental health • reduce risk of accidents • lower substance misuse • decrease likelihood of criminal behavior (linked to impulsivity etc) Early diagnosis and support aren't just helpful - they're life-changing #AuDHD

Being disabled can be extremely tiring Not just from managing symptoms, medication, appointments, executive dysfunction, pain, anxiety, mobility issues… But also from constantly fighting for access & being told your struggles aren’t real or valid, even by friends and family #DisabilityAwareness

These can all seem like trivial things if you’re not disabled but they can make a MASSIVE difference if you are I’d also love if supermarkets had a webpage listing their discontinued foods, so we can confirm rather than have the anxiety of not knowing, desperately checking back, and hoping in vain

Been in the Emergency Department for 12+ hours and I genuinely wish a neurotypical person could experience this - even just for a few hours It’s sensory hell: unpredictable machine beeping, bright lighting, noise from all directions… There has to be a better way for autistic people to access care

Unlearning shame when you’re autistic (1/2) ❤️ - Find community (autistic friends and allies) - Understand how your brain works - Celebrate your neurodivergent strengths - Slowly unmask - Honour your autistic needs - Try to be more open about your challenges - Connect with your passions

Disability is not fun. It’s not a vacation. It’s a 24/7 job where you’re lucky to receive a benefit that keeps you in legislated poverty. It’s a constant fight for healthcare, accessibility, accommodation & inclusion. Its one of the only minority groups you can join any time

PSA… Stimming and a preference for routine are NOT problematic behaviours They’re natural, valid ways that many neurodivergent people regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and navigate a world that often feels overwhelming #AutismAwareness

The neurodivergent urge to go “But why?” every time someone gives you an instruction… It’s not about being difficult. It’s not about challenging or defying you We just genuinely want to understand #AutismAwareness