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Autism: Understanding the Complexity Behind Simple Descriptions

Autism is diverse and complex, requiring nuanced understanding. Simple descriptions lead to stereotypes, misunderstandings, and harm. Recognizing individuality fosters better support and inclusion.

@Tistje
5 min readJul 3, 2024
Photo by Mourad Saadi on Unsplash

As an autistic adult with some experience in living, working and being in a relationships with a lot of different autistic people, I want to explain the complexity of autism and why we need a more detailed approach.

Often, autism is described too simply and inaccurately, which leads to misunderstandings and stereotypes.

In this article, I share my perspectives and experiences, highlighting the importance of deeper understanding and recognizing the mistakes we, both autistics, neurodivergent and neurodiverse, non-autistics, often make.

Simple Descriptions: Missing the Reality

When talking about autism, sensory sensitivity is a common topic. While it’s true that many autistic people have heightened sensory sensitivity, it’s too simple to say that soft textures are always calming and pleasant. For example, I find the texture of wool very irritating, while others might find it comforting. Similarly, the sound of a…

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@Tistje
@Tistje

Written by @Tistje

Ervaringswerker autisme / Autistic Advocate / Autism Ambassador

Responses (1)

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I’m autistic and I do enjoy socialising but only issue is that it drains me so much. I wish I could do more but I don’t have the energy spare.

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