Hey everyone! I just thought I would do a fun little list of a few things I actually hate hearing as an autistic person. Yes these are all things I have heard multiple times in response to me telling someone I am autistic.

1. You can’t be autistic as you are a female.

you can’t look stupid but here we are. (this was my reply to this person!) Yes believe it or not, I am actually autistic and also I am a girl. You can be both.

2. You don’t look autistic.

Okay Sia. (also my reply and name that reference in the comments!) I have had this comment so many times to me saying I am autistic, and also usually comes with the comment with being female. There is no specific ‘look’ to being autistic, you just are autistic, and if you don’t see me wearing my headphones or stimming loudly its because I am masking.

3. You aren’t obsessed with trains?

No this is a bad stereotype, not all autistic people like trains, but ask me about my special interests and I will easily tell you about musical theatre, animal facts or disney or about books.

4. that means you are super clever and good at maths right?

actually no, we are not all rain man or Sheldon cooper. I am actually really bad at maths, it’s actually shocking I passed my GCSE maths for the first time in high school.

5. why are you flapping your hands or jumping like that? (this is usually followed with bad stares from people)

This is one I get so angry with (well angry with all on this list but this one mostly!) This is myself stimming and feeling literal joy and is affecting you at all? Is myself feeling joy and expressing it with flapping my hands or jumping actually hurting you? No…. then mind your business. Let me stim. Also something else in relation that gets me angry in relation to this is how people find it ‘cute’ when an autistic child stims like this and flaps hands and jumps and spins. I am an autistic female adult, and I get looks and comments to say that it is not appropriate behaviour? Let me stim, it’s not hurting you, and news flash- autistic children who stim, grow into autistic adults who stim.

Have you had any of these comments when telling someone you are autistic? If so which ones and what was your replies-tell me in the comment section. Also tell me if you had any other comments I didn’t mention