Myths and facts about autism/autistics.

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Following on from the thread I posted a while back. I've been kind of busy and no quite got round to do much with it yet.

For those who haven't seen it, I'd like to put together post with myths and facts and that sort of thing that are written by autistics, that can then be shared elsewhere.

I have quite a few myths and facts for it already but am wondering if anyone else has anymore ideas?

I'd post the ones I have already but they're on my computer and I'm not on computer.

Myth: Aspies lack empathy
Fact: some Aspies may have difficulties expressing empathy, but mostly have difficulties reading non-verbal language


That's all I can think of. Mind you, facts are hard, because not every Aspie has every symptom. But myths are so easy to list.

What you wrote is more what I was getting at, like the myth then the correcting of the myth.

The empathy one is a very good example. I feel a strong sense of empathy and it ticks me off when people act like I don't have any empathy. I know not to hurt people the way I've been hurt, because I do have empathy and I also have a Sweet Pea for a role model.

We're not affectionate

Myth: No aspies understand sarcasm or dry humor.

Fact: Many of us understand and use both.

Personally, I am an avid user of both, but I do have difficulty catching it when people I don't know very well use it.

Thanks for the good suggestions.
Anyone got any others?

I don't know how pervasive a misconception it might be, but I recently had to explain to a well-intentioned co-worker that autism doesn't manifest episodically (like an epileptic seizure), but it's a pervasive condition that affects people in a myriad of ways on a continual basis. It can't be turned off and on at will, though it may be more apparent in certain situations than others. I can pass for NT most of the time if I'm well-rested, the workday follows a predictable routine, and I don't have many things coming at me at once...

I think some NTs have a vague idea that autism is something that just flares up now and then, rather than being a neurological disorder that impacts ALL aspects of a person's life. So when you do disclose to them that you're on the spectrum, they think they can file the information away for occasional use.