Autistics are students of culture by default. We have to be in order to survive. Those of us who manage to function with relative success in our lives have by necessity studied and analyzed the ways people act and interact. We are told we “overanalyze”, “take things too literally/seriously” or are “too intense” about things. We allegedly “dwell in the past” or are “stubborn about having things our way”. There are good reasons for all of these perceptions, but they also indicate a very superficial and “packaged” way of looking at things. The funny thing is, most neurotypicals generally seem arbitrary and inconsistent to autistics.
Often neurotypical writers will portray autistics as mysterious, oddly entertaining, dangerous or pathetic in a side-show sort of atmosphere. One gets the impression of people with their faces up against a window watching a performance and then leaving without any useful information for the future. Even christians will look at us as “ministries” or “projects” to work on and abandon, either because they have lost interest or because they feel we have no potential for improvement.
I read a lot of books and articles, most of which have forewords written by neurotypical experts” about the subjects addressed in the story. Even among those genuinely impressed with the life and achievements of various autistic individuals will inevitably demonstrate a very insulting bias in what they say about him/her.
It’s a matter of ignorance.
Though we are required to study and understand neurotypicals and attempt to become more like them (at least externally, since I’m convinced it is impossible to think and act as a neurotypical unless one is born as one), neurotypicals have no compelling reason to put forth the effort required to study and understand us. Those who study us do so more to find out what is “wrong” with us and how to fix what is broken. Family members who care want us to “fit in” or at least to bring them less embarassment or excitement.
I’m overgeneralizing, of course. But it’s such a majority reaction it’s difficult to dismiss.
I don’t expect that the characteristics of autistic cognition will ever become a welcome addition to those currently lauded in our society. But perhaps there will be an increase in genuine communication such that understanding can begin to go both directions. For the sake of future generations, I hope so.
Filed under: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Thanks for your insight.. I found you, as I googled ‘inside out’ to find information about autism.. from people who have ‘ASD’. After being in a class with 5 children with ASD, I saw the massive lack of trying to understand and work with them… indeed I did see the ‘behaviour management’ strategies in force. I can’t see how it works at all! I am trying to seek to understand so I may be of more help to giving the child what they need in the classroom. I may be lucky enough to be able to empathise a little, because I have had auditory processing issues and can feel more ‘stimulated’ by environments than most people I know…( I am certain not to the degrees of one with ASD of course) and I am faced with massive misunderstanding just for having those things… Most people can’t ‘get’ what’s outside of their own experience. While I can’t say what it’s like to experience autism, these experiences do give me some empathy to what overwhelm feels like, and to understand that people with autism can experience that feeling to the nth degree. So, again, I really can’t see how trying to ‘modify behaviour’ can help the kids at all
I think it’s vital that your experiences and views are shared to go towards understanding. I am grateful for it, for one. 
…and to all who share their stories and points of view. Things are changing, slowy slowy, but definitely changing 