Shattering, Smashing, and Sabotaging Stereotypes

Stereotypes. They’ve existed since the dawn of human civilization. For as long as humans have been capable of complex thought, we’ve put labels on groups of people. In most cases, these stereotypes have not only been incorrect, but hurtful in nature.

People with autism are no exception. Despite the complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorder, a number of negative stereotypes surround the condition. The vast majority of these stereotypes spring from the behaviors exhibited by autistic people.

One of the most prevalent is that those on the spectrum don’t have emotions. That they are incapable of feeling happy, sad, angry, or anything else of the like. As such, some tend to treat autistic people like they’re unfeeling robots. This is untrue. Those on the spectrum have their brains work differently than others. As such, they simply perceive the world different than those that are not neurodivergent. This isn’t helped by the fact that those on the spectrum have a tendency to avoid eye contact in conversation.

“High functioning autistics are way more common than people think, and it’s hard for us to feel valid. They make eye contact with us and try to hold a normal conversation. They refuse to believe that we’re a part of that community.” Autistic adult Sam Pinnell said.

They also perceive and express emotions differently than others. But that doesn't mean they don’t feel them. They are just as capable of feeling and expressing emotions. They simply do so in a manner that is different than most others. And they’re just as capable of being hurt by being treated as emotionless robots.

Another stereotype is that autism only effects white males. Where this falsehood comes from remains a mystery. Like virtually all diseases and conditions, autism can affect anyone from all walks of life. It does not discriminate against gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or anything else. Granted, statistics do state that more males than females are diagnosed with autism, but statistics tell only a part of the story. They cannot be taken as gospel. The gospel comes from all the facts, not just a part of it.

Perhaps the most prevalent and damaging stereotype about autism is that it only affects children. While it is true that most people with autism are diagnosed as children, it is not something that stays in the realm of childhood. It is something that they must endure to their dying day. It is also not unheard of for people to be diagnosed with autism as adults. Either way, autism is a lifelong battle. For some, that battle is easier than others. But still, it is a battle nonetheless.

“In my experience as a teacher and a teacher educator, I feel that with a child with autism, parents are trying to find signs, if their children, or teachers, if their students have autism, because the focus is always about early intervention. And with adults with autism, my personal philosophy is that the community, or the people without disabilities or without autism, need actually to learn the culture of autism. So it’s not always about pulling people with autistic traits or with autism about the culture of neurotypical people, if that makes any sense.” Dr. Vidya Munandar, an associate professor who specializes in autistic individuals, said.

But society doesn’t put much emphasis on this culture. Especially adults who are a part of this culture.

“To be frank, I don’t think society puts much emphasis on autistic individuals to begin with. Autistic children’s needs are constantly downplayed and ignored; this is justified by virtue of them being a child. Moreover, as children, it’s acceptable to adults to invade autistic children’s space, ignore their boundaries, and punish them for having meltdowns outside of their control.  With adults, there’s more of an emphasis on productivity and being a “functional” worker. Both of these views stem from a larger system of ableism and the idea of the protestant work ethic. Society’s emphasis on productivity doesn’t really allow for accommodations for disabled people. People expect autistic people to be “non-disruptive,” but I think this is just a way for neurotypical people to cope with their own discomfort regarding disability.” Autistic adult Janelle Quilici said.

As with all stereotypes, the best way to combat them is through knowledge. One should properly educate themselves on autistic behaviors and how to interact with those on the spectrum. The only way to defeat stereotypes is to know better than them.