The Specific Ways Autistic People Are Misunderstood Pt. 2
More things neurotypical people get wrong about autistic people, and why
In my first installation of this series, I discussed five ways autistic people are misunderstood by neurotypical people based on the experiences of myself and others in the neurodivergent community. Based on the popularity of that initial article, it’s safe to say the topic resonated with many neurodivergent and neurotypical readers alike.
Why is discussing the discrepancies between neurodivergent processing and neurotypical perception so important? Because the ways we are misunderstood affect our ability to get jobs, make friends, and access services we need. If I can fight against the preconceived notions non-autistic people have about us by sharing stories from my life, I will.
“Childish”
I’ve spoken multiple times about how autistic people are mistaken for being younger than their age because of their appearance and behavior. Autistic individuals have high comorbidity rates of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective-tissue disorder that affects collagen production, resulting in delicate, elastic skin. Although there have been no specific studies on the link between autism and slower cosmetic aging, this is one possible theory regarding…
