Reality Over Romance: How I Chart My Path as an Autistic Adult

Navigating a world that is not built for me, I tend to choose reality and practical adjustments above dreams

As an autistic adult, I’ve come to understand that I navigate a world shaped by complex realities rather than my personal wishes. During at least half a century on this planet, I’ve witnessed how autism expresses itself within me, how it affects others, and how society responds — sometimes with genuine effort, other times with indifference or misunderstanding. I’ve learned that idealism can be motivating, but it rarely accounts for the messy, day-to-day dynamics we all live with. Reality, unlike our ideals, does not wait for anyone to catch up; it simply keeps moving forward.

My perspective on autism and neurodiversity has grown more nuanced over time. When you’ve spent this long on the spectrum, patterns become clear. You see the shifts in societal attitudes — some of which bring hope, others that feel more like shallow trends than true progress. While I believe in the value of neurodiversity and the idea that every kind of mind has something to offer, I’m wary of letting slogans and superficial positivity replace meaningful dialogue. There’s a tendency to paint autism as either a burden or a “superpower,” but in truth, it’s neither…