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Autistic Empath
Insights from life on the spectrum
  • Myths and Misconceptions
  • Coping
  • Living in the NT World
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Category: Myths and Misconceptions

A child wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt, a Darth Vader helmet, and a black towel wrapped around their neck as a cape, with their left hand outstretched.
Autistic Adulthood, Coping, Myths and Misconceptions

Do Autistic Children Play Pretend?

October 1, 2020

There’s a troublesome stereotype that says autistic children don’t play “correctly”.  It’s even considered a diagnostic item in some circles.  This is usually meant to say that autistic children will line up their toys instead of playing with them “the right way” – like playing […]

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A dark haired woman in a purple tshirt sits looking at her laptop looking overwhelmed. Behind and around her are drawings of family and social interactions, social media, and other things she is thinking about
Advocacy, Autistic Adulthood, Living in the NT World, Myths and Misconceptions

Don’t Call Me “High-Functioning”

August 6, 2020

I don’t use functioning labels.  They only serve to withhold support from those designated “high-functioning” and limit the possibilities available to those deemed “low-functioning”.  They’re crap, so I don’t use them here.  I prefer using support needs if the distinction is necessary: low support needs […]

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Breakdown of a Meltdown
Autistic Adulthood, Coping, Myths and Misconceptions

Breakdown of a Meltdown

April 30, 2020

I’ve talked before about meltdowns – what they are and how to survive them – but I’ve seen several places in online groups where people ask what a meltdown feels like, how it happens, what it’s like to go through one.  So today I’m going […]

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I am Proud to be autistic 2020
Advocacy, Autistic Adulthood, Executive Function Issues, Life Hacks, Living in the NT World, Myths and Misconceptions

I Am PROUD To Be Autistic

April 2, 2020

Today is Autistic and Neurodivergent Coming Out Day.  So I’m going to give you my story.  I am autistic.  I have always been autistic.  I did not become autistic when I got my diagnosis at 35, nor did I spend my adult life to that […]

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Autism in Media: Pixar's Loop
Advocacy, Myths and Misconceptions

Autism in Media: Pixar’s Loop

January 16, 2020

Pixar’s short film Loop has recently dropped on Disney Plus.  It’s a 9-minute story about two teenagers – one non-verbal autistic, one neurotypical – having to learn to communicate with one another. That’s the dry, plain description.  Now for my actual reaction. Omg, y’all!  I […]

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School Struggles Dyscalculia
Autistic Adulthood, Living in the NT World, Myths and Misconceptions

School Struggles: Dyscalculia

December 19, 2019

One of the common stereotypes of autistic people is the idea of the human calculator.  I blame Rain Man for a lot of this, but characters like Sheldon Cooper haven’t helped.  The truth is, we’re not all incredible at math.  In fact, some of us […]

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My Brain is a Stick Shift Transitions and Autism
Autistic Adulthood, Coping, Living in the NT World, Myths and Misconceptions

My Brain Is a Stick Shift: Transitions and Autism

December 12, 2019

One of the common stereotypes of autistic people is that we don’t cope well with change.  We require routine, we’re incapable of spontaneity, we always need to know everything that’s going to happen and nothing must deviate from our plans lest it cause a meltdown […]

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The Dreaded Meltdown
Autistic Adulthood, Coping, Myths and Misconceptions

The Dreaded Meltdown

December 5, 2019

Meltdown. Parents of autistic kids speak the word in hushed tones, afraid of invoking the beast.  Autistic adults can feel them coming on, but often don’t know how to stop them or ride them out.  We all hate the thought of a meltdown happening in […]

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The Autistic Jerk is Just a Jerk
Myths and Misconceptions

The Autistic Jerk is Just a Jerk

October 17, 2019

Today’s post is inspired by The Myth of the Autistic Jerk by Brandon Weaver. Content warning: mildly strong language There’s a common idea that surrounds autistic people, especially those with above-average intellectual ability.  This idea states that we have no empathy, that we’re robots who […]

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Autism in Media X-Files "Roland"
Myths and Misconceptions

Autism in Media: X-Files “Roland”

August 22, 2019

This month in Autism in Media, we’re jumping ahead from 1988’s Rain Man to the first season of X-Files in 1994.  There are notable portrayals of autism in the intervening years, and I’ll get back to them, but X-Files had extensive cultural reach in the […]

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