this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2026
32 points (97.1% liked)

Autism

10093 readers
395 users here now

A community for respectful discussion and memes related to autism acceptance. All neurotypes are welcome.

Community:

Values

  • Acceptance
  • Openness
  • Understanding
  • Equality
  • Reciprocity
  • Mutuality
  • Love

Rules

  1. No abusive, derogatory, or offensive post/comments e.g: racism, sexism, religious hatred, homophobia, gatekeeping, trolling.
  2. Posts do not need be related to autism, off-topic discussions are allowed. This is a safe space where people with autism can feel comfortable discussing whatever they feel like discussing, as long as it does not violate the standing rules.
  3. Your posts must include a text body. It doesn't have to be long, it just needs to be descriptive.
  4. Do not request donations.
  5. Be respectful in discussions.
  6. Do not post misinformation.
  7. Mark NSFW content accordingly.
  8. Do not promote Autism Speaks.
  9. General Lemmy World rules.
  10. No bots. Humans only.

Encouraged

  1. Open acceptance of all autism levels as a respectable neurotype.
  2. Funny memes.
  3. Respectful venting.
  4. Describe posts of pictures/memes using text in the body for our visually impaired users.
  5. Welcoming and accepting attitudes.
  6. Questions regarding autism.
  7. Questions on confusing situations.
  8. Seeking and sharing support.
  9. Engagement in our community's values.
  10. Expressing a difference of opinion without directly insulting another user.
  11. Please report questionable posts and let the mods deal with it.

.

Helpful Resources

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
Lexam@lemmy.world
32
Subclinical autists, let's talk (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 4 days ago by schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works to c/autism@lemmy.world
48 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I've been internet-diagnosed with autism plenty of times, but the one time I went to get evaluated, they said I didn't have "it."

But if it's a spectrum with different combinations of different traits at different levels of intensity, maybe a diagnosis is irrelevant and what matters is what your constellation of traits actually is, regardless of an official diagnosis (which, let's face it, is probably highly subjective outside of some constellations--that is to say, with a long enough list of psychologits, I could probably get a dx).

Personally, for me, what this means is I can look to autistic literature to see what resonates with me without worrying about the fact that I don't share many of the hard markers for autism. For instance, my investment in the truth often conflicts with social niceties even though I can read people's emotions. I can see myself as an unofficially atypical person in a lot of ways.

I'll leave my resonsances in the comments below. Feel free to share yours.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You can get rid of the spoiler tag, brother, we're all in this together. I'm happy to discuss this topic with everyone, including people who feel like maybe I shouldn't be having this discussion here.

Yes, I think you touched on exactly my problem. We have neurodivergence, but you can't say you're OFFICIALLY neurodivergent unless it's DEBILITATING. But being divergent isn't about a disability, it's about difference.

Politically, it's a bit of a mess. People with autism want to overcome the stigma of it being a disability by recasting it as a style of interacting with the world, but if they leave the disability model, they lose legal protection.

[–] Arcanepotato@crazypeople.online 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Thank you but I'm going to leave it because I think edits get confusing with federation. Yes I did edit to add other stuff. No I can't make it make sense lol.

I think it's possible to talk about autism both as a neurotype and a disability but it's hard for neurotypicals because they love implied meaning and hate when things are super specific and detailed lol.

Yes, I think you touched on exactly my problem. We have neurodivergence, but you can't say you're OFFICIALLY neurodivergent unless it's DEBILITATING.

I want to further clarify that it only looks at how debilitating it is right then (or up till then) and that's a problem. Wouldn't it be great to support people before they suffer?

Anyways consider yourself peer reviewed fellow autist. Your sonic the hedgehog plushie will arrive in the mail in 3-5 business days. (Reference.)

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

"we could do this for literally everyone, huh?"

Fucken A, yes!!

Imagine a society where you could say, "You know what, this makes me uncomfortable and I'd like to achieve the same exact result this way instead" without having to get the entire psychiatric establishment and congress and judicial system involved in it every fucking time.

Thank you for the sonic plushie. I shall display him proudly next to my Certificate of Sanity.

ETA: I also sometimes want to say, "I'm autistic" because I have these traits, but I don't like to say that because people will think I mean I can't read emotions or detect sarcasm.