wearing autism related symbols in public - your experience?

Post Reply New Topic

I have a pair of rainbow infinity earrings that I got from Etsy recently, but so far nobody outside my family has asked about them...which may be a good thing because I don't really want to get wrapped up in a whole discussion about it, but I often silently hope people will recognize what they mean and then understand why I seem to struggle with conversation so much

same here, unfortunately. my friend (who is also autistic) has a puzzle piece lanyard for school (because we have ids at our school) and the other day I asked him wether he preferred the puzzle piece or the infinity symbol, and he said infinity symbol. I highly doubt anyone around here would know what it meant unless they were also autistic/ND. I want a pin of the infinity symbol for my ita bag but I'm on the fence about it because if someone asks what it means, I'm gonna have to explain and I don't want to tell just any random person who asks about my diagnosis (I've only told my friends who thankfully have all been very accepting and it even bought me closer to the afformentioned friend who I had a discussion about the symbols with). mainly because I'm worried about a. getting rude remarks, b. having them infantalize me (I've been infantalized enough just because I don't swear [I wish I was joking] and that's about all I can put up with), or c. be accused of faking because I was only VERY recently diagnosed (I'm talking like 2-ish weeks ago).

I am a person, not a puzzle.

I've been making little pins and keychains for my bag recently, maybe I'll make an infinity symbol one.

If someone asks about it, I can just tell them it's an infinity symbol (which is true). If someone recognizes it, they're likely familiar enough with autism that I don't mind them knowing (or are autistic themselves and maybe we can have a conversation about it)

I don't usually like wearing things that tell people about my identity and interests, but lately I'm lonely and I think it would be good to try it out

I have a colorful "Embrace Neurodiversity" t-shirt I often wear in the summer. More than a few strangers have told me they liked the shirt. Recently I was in the hospital preparing for surgery and was wearing the shirt; the nurse said to me "Great shirt". I think it reaches people; those who know, know.

No one has ever insulted me. Could be people think I wear the shirt to support my autistic child (of which I have none).

People often wear "message" clothing to connect with other people, but as an introverted autistic person, I don't.

If I did, people would probably ask if I have an autistic family member, as I don't appear very unusual at first glance.

I have these T-shirts




And one that says "Don't Touch Me - I'm Autistic" but couldn't find picture.

I have worn them each in public. People already look at me funny. I don't walk quite
normally, and I generally move clumsily, so I'm used to getting stared at. So I am
not concerned about standing out. I always stand out. No one
has reacted negatively to the shirts. People in church blatantly ignored the
Don't Touch Me shirt. They still wanted handshakes and/or hugs

Well I finally got something to wear. I have never wear anything relating to my autism out in public but I have been masking for over 15 years and I have been working on removing that mask and overriding the automatic nature of Masking. The tag on the shirt will be coming off.



https://www.walmart.com/ip/Captain-Auti ... /355275563

Just read my signature at the bottom, it was inspired by the ending of the prisoner when he rails against the system in the messed up village by stating that he is a free man not a number.

Must admit, I wouldn't recognise an autism-related symbol if I fell over it! I'm only aware of the puzzle piece because there was a bit of a controversy about it at the local university - "be the missing piece!" was used as a slogan for Student Union elections, and people took issue with what looked like the Autism Speaks logo appearing next to the candidates for Disability Representative.