cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/12320962

Neurotypicals, what do autistic people look like to you?

Trying to get an idea of how NTs see us. I know that when I see autistic people, I see someone that’s like me. Obviously, that’s not how NTs perceive us, so what do we look like to yall??

  • ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    17
    ·
    8 months ago

    There’s obviously degrees of autism. People with mild autism who can function can often seem normal, if a bit awkward. I’m neurotypical but work in software development so I might have more experience than most. I tend to think of my more autistic colleagues as very good at things like database management and solving speed issues where the task requires obsession and wanting things to be just so. But I generally would build (or assign) the GUI to a person who was more neurotypical since that involves a lot of communication. Different people have different strengths and we’d live in a much worse world if that weren’t true.

    Obviously, some people are severely autistic and can’t really have a typical career. I generally find people with more severe autism to be awkward to talk to but always very nice. I’ve been told by lots of people that I’m “always smiling” and I suspect that helps. Some people send the wrong signals but my default, resting “face” is apparently friendly. In high school, I was sometimes able to chat with severely autistic kids and not frustrate them.

    When I was growing up, they categorized the autistic folks as severe, profound, mild, or moderate. I apologize if those terms are antiquated. I’m old and the euphemism treadmill continues apace.

    • JackGreenEarth@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      8 months ago

      I think they’re generally considered high to low functioning autism, but it’s the same idea as your terms, and I wouldn’t get offended by them.

      • Ms. ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        20
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        8 months ago

        High/low functioning is also considered dated now too. The latest is level 1-3 based on amount of support needed:

          • Ms. ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.ml
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            14
            ·
            8 months ago

            I’m not positive but I believe it’s only been in the last couple of years. Personally I feel like it isn’t a particularly useful term update though because it is linked to perceived functionality anyway.

            • TheGalacticVoid@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              8 months ago

              I imagine that “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” are super easy to tie to one’s usefulness in society, whereas support is more tied to an investment that has to be made into a person. The former says how valuable someone is and the latter doesn’t.