‘Neural noise’ could be a hidden advantage of the autistic mind
But some research, including our own study, has explored specific advantages in autism. Studies have shown that in some cognitive tasks, autistic people perform better than allistic people.
Autistic people face ignorance, prejudice and discrimination that can harm wellbeing. Poor mental and physical health, reduced social connections and increased “camouflaging” of autistic traits are some of the negative impacts that autistic people face.
So, research underlining and investigating the strengths inherent in autism can help reduce stigma, allow autistic people to be themselves and acknowledge autistic people do not require “fixing”.
The autistic brain is different. It comes with limitations, but it also has its strengths.
Or, an autistic who isn't afraid and/or shy to share that they are actually autistic?
Or, an autistic person who is active in the autism acceptance “movement” (if we can call it that)?
Or, perhaps, an autistic who were interviewed and disclosed they're autistic?
Maybe you have other considerations or criteria that defines “openly autistic” for you?
NOTE: Being openly autistic is a choice and is not for everyone. I think it is safe to say that we all face discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice for being actually autistics, thus, most choose not to be open about it.
However, recently, there has been a slow growth in numbers of openly autistics, and like with most things in life, we have different criteria, definitions, and cultural considerations.
Thus, I am curious what you think, personally or maybe your immediate environment or organisation, is an openly autistic person. Or, when do you consider one as openly autistic.
Again, this is not about if an autistic person should be openly autistic or not. ^_^
As an autistic myself, there are some things I should have tried but did not have the courage to do so.
Thus, my personal advice, is to encourage your autistic (and NT) children to give it a try. Don't shield them because you “love them a lot”. Once they grow up, like in my experience, they will secretly always think, “I should've done this and that and see what happened, and maybe my life would be better”.
Here are some in my case:
Voice acting. Our teachers, my classmates, and later work colleagues, have always said I can do well in reading. They feel the emotions and get immersed in the story.
That's how far I did it. Today, I'm thinking, I should've taken a voice acting lesson, and maybe work as a voice actor.
Physical labour. I'm not choosy when it comes to job, especially at my current age, a job is a job. (As long as it isn't a crime and immoral, of course.) Sadly, I was shielded from it because they “love me so much and don't want me to go through what they went through in life”.
The result of that wasn't good at all. I got stuck in office and BPO for a long time, and now it is so hard to move careers. My heart is in service and “people watching”, and to this day, it is so hard to get into a hotel-type of work. They either want you to have graduated in Business Administration or Hotel & Restaurant Management courses; or can carry a 30 kg baggage. Both of which I don't have.
I had to take B.S. Mathematics and Computer Science because, well, that's what they told me… office work.
You see, your “love” and not wanting your children to go through what you went through, can be detrimental for your children. It's fine to shield them, but it is also very easy for that shielding to limit your children's future.
This is especially important for us autistics who are already experiencing discrimination at work, and prejudice against hiring an autistic.
Instead of overprotecting your children, work with them. Identify what they want and see what can be done with it. If what they want would lead to “disaster” then nudge them gently to better options. Options, plural, not “what you want”.
There are autistics who can join the workforce, and in various capacities. Encourage us and guide us, but don't be overprotective and showing only one path. It might look good at that point in time, but how about the future?
It's about a #deaf artist (art) and teacher guy and a woman who is struggling to become an actor. They met by accident and started to find an unlikely and unexpected friendship.
The woman started to communicate through Korean #SignLanguage unexpectedly.
Man monologue: I always thought I was the one who should make an effort to live in harmony with others. Because in this world, there are a lot more people who can hear than those who cannot.
But out of all those people, someone came to me and said "he" first. She said she was glad to see me again. And after saying what she prepared to say, she smiled. As if she was saying, "I'm just saying hi. Stop thinking too much."
And she was smiling.
-end-of-snippet-
As an #Autistic person, that struck hard. We always make the effort "to live in harmony with others". Why? "Because in this world, there are a lot more people who" are neurotypical "than those who" are neuroatypical.
Like the deaf character in this show, we also rarely see non-Autistic who will say hi to us before we do.
I voted earlier today. We have two, one for Barangay (Town) and one for Sanguniang Kabataan (SK or Youth Council).
The election rep handling the ballots asked for my ID because he had to confirm my age.
SK (Youth Council) is open for 15 to 30 years old voters.
I look like I'm in my late 20s.
While he did not ask me for my age, better to confirm it with an ID to avoid election fraud, when people ask me, I used to say, "I stopped counting at 30" (now it's 28). It's half-joke, the other half is the truth, people do mistake me to be in my late 20s.
Many #ActuallyAutistics, for some reason, look half their actual age once we enter adulthood. I'm not aware of any scientific explanation regarding this, but it has been observed.
For me, this was not the first time. I was always mistaken to be underage (under 18) until I hit 25-27. It was always funny whenever I was with friends or colleagues because they all reacted. 🤣
It was a 5–10-year gap. Now it's a 20+ year gap. Maybe one day, there will be a 30-year gap with my actual age.
It describes it as:
“Autistic burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic life stress and a mismatch of expectations and abilities without adequate supports. It is characterized by pervasive, long-term (typically 3+ months) exhaustion, loss of function, and reduced tolerance to stimulus.” ~Raymaker et al, 2020
Typically the Autistic person in question will still have multiple demands in their life that require cognitive resources, despite having little to no resources left to give. Life goes on, as they say.