"This person has autism" cards. What do you think?

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I think they're a good idea - although I'd prefer one in t-shirt form, for when someone says "cheer up/smile/it can't be that bad/why are you so sad" every ten seconds...

I don't think I would want those cards because it could send the wrong message. I don't want them thinking I am asking for their pity, when that's far from the truth.

If I had them, I would feel like using them when meeting new teachers or others who might be concerned with my "strange" behavior. Like my art teacher that doesn't understand why I have such a hard time hearing her when she speaks to me, or following verbal instructions. Both are due to sensory processing issues - these things don't register in my brain right away, and I often ask people to repeat themselves.

Just an example.

I've been thinking of getting one, provided I can figure out a way to explain Newson Syndrome (Pathological Demand Avoidance) that doesn't make me sound like a 'piece of work'. (Is this just Canadian slang, or do other countries use this phrase as well? It means someone with negative personality traits, who is best avoided as much as possible because they'll make your life difficult whenever you have to interact with them. It's a stigmatizing label.)

I tend to go mute when overloaded. I also have meltdowns where I'm not mute, but I can't say certain kinds of things because some part of me thinks it's showing weakness. (I can often write what I can't say, though.) And Newson Syndrome means being highly directive towards me will make the situation worse.

Situations I'd use the card if I had one:

* when I'm in trouble with the police (even minor trouble with police makes me absolutely terrified and I freeze up for fear of seeming aggressive)
* when I'm too overloaded to talk and someone tries to talk to me (eg when I curl up and hide and someone asks if I'm OK)
* when I'm too upset to say what I need to say in a polite manner, but the person really needs to know I'm on the spectrum

I'm high functioning, but I can see a use for these for myself. It would be even more important for a lower functioning person, such as someone who is nonverbal or minimally verbal, or uses alternative/assistive communication of some kind. Personally, I think all autistics with serious communication impairment should be encouraged to use autism cards if possible, in case they get lost and can't tell someone where they need to go, or someone is misinterpreting their behavior and lack of communication.

I could see how that could be useful in some situations, though I don't know if I'd want any with that exact wording.

Hmm, I know I don't show enough Autism in my body language, and anyway I don't agree with showing a card to someone every time a situation arises where I might feel anxious. Maybe if I were more severe and dependable, but because so I have high self-awareness, I don't think I will need to go around with a card explaining my own insanity. I try to leave all that at home.

There's no need to show NTs these cards - NTs can just use their supposed ''empathy'' to be able to put themselves in our shoes and see for theirselves how we might be feeling!

I want to get some cards or the like, but not that wording. Somehow I can see "May act unpredictably" easily translating into being "tased for my own protection."

I'd like something that covers muteness under stress, a tendency to misunderstand requests, and to please be literal. Maybe even carry two cards, one for cops/authorities and one for dealing with regular people. The card the OP linked might be okay for normal people, but not cops in my opinion.

I like to consider it laughable that I would ever need such a card but to be honest, I sometimes get scared about how I would react if the police were to suspect me of something. Luckily I've never talked to a on-duty police officer except at a trade show as hard as that is to believe. I did twice go through customs and let's just say I got the secondary inspection going into the USA.
I'm an obsessive rule follower but sometimes worry I might turn a minor traffic stop into something major by having a meltdown. I watched an episode of cops where I saw something similar to what I worry about where one guy was not a criminal but was having difficulty complying and they kept tasering him repeatedly. For some reason, I have a VERY irrational fear of authority.

I have the Dutch version, it's great to have!
Never showed it to anyone, but if a cop or something wants to talk to me I just might pop it out.

I got it especially to take my mind off of it, knowing that I *could* show it is a million times more important than showing it!! !

I wouldn't carry around something like this. I've had moments when I've been too overwhelmed to speak. And sometimes I freeze while I'm walking, which could have bad consequences. But I can't imagine any situations where I would feel compelled to explain my bizarre behavior or eccentricities with such descriptive language. People ask me all the time if I'm alright whenever I do something "unpredictable", and I just nod my head. They don't need a dissertation.

Maybe I'd feel differently if the card was in a different voice. Instead of "this person", why not "I am"? I think that's why I don't like it. It's like it's talking about me instead of for me.

I saw this on the AANE website a long time ago. This is the front of the card, not sure how to get the format right in this post but you can look at the link here ---> http://www.aane.org/docs/resources_aane_wallet_card.pdf