08/25/2026
“At least they’re high functioning.”
“At least they have the easy kind of autism”
What is this “easy” that you speak of?
Because I do not know of an easy autism.
I know of having invisible struggles and people just expecting you to be better.
I know of awkwardness and anxiety…missing social cues and fear of not saying or doing the appropriate thing in front of a peer.
I know of masking ones unique self to fit in and avoid being made fun of.
I know of being overly social and lacking the awareness of personal space and boundaries.
I know of watching your peers pass you in age related interests and getting made fun of for not enjoying the same things.
I know the pressure of feeling like you have to grow up faster than you are ready for.
I know of hiding needed self stimulatory behaviors all day long so that your disability isn’t obvious to others.
I know of meltdowns and exhaustion from holding it all in everyday.
I know of being ostracized and bullied for being different.
I know of being bullied by people who are supposed to be your friend and you think they are because you can’t see the subtle ways they do and say mean things in front of you.
I know of the awareness once you begin to notice you’re different from your peers and the isolation when they start to notice too.
I know of invisible executive functioning deficits that make you feel lazy, stupid and like you’ll never be good enough.
I know of school struggles that you’re embarrassed to ask help for and the accommodations you have to fight for.
I know of social anxiety where it’s difficult to leave the house, order a meal or even talk to a friend.
I know of not knowing how to identify your own emotions and being able to express or communicate how you’re feeling.
I know not having the “street smarts” and awareness to keep yourself safe and the higher probability that you will be taken advantage of, abused or assaulted.
I know of overstimulation and what it’s like to sleep for days, avoid everyone because your social battery is drained.
I know of mutism, disassociation and burnout when you’ve done too much people pleasing.
I know of apologizing over and over for the tone of your voice that you don’t seem to hear yourself, or for being brutally honest and direct with people and being accused of being rude or mean.
I know being able to do grade level academics but having test anxiety and not being able to do well.
I know of reverting conversations back to a familiar topic because it’s the only way you feel comfortable in knowing what to say.
I know of not being able to talk about anything but your special interest and struggling to have a back and forth conversation.
I know of not getting invited to birthday parties or not having one because there is no one to invite.
I know of being asked a question and not being able to answer because your brain processes information slower.
I know of not being able to join mainstream activities and sports but you don’t feel like you fit in with the ones for special needs either because you don’t feel disabled enough to belong.
I know of trying to show that you relate to someone else’s story by sharing your own similar one and getting accused of being selfish and self-centered.
I know struggles with transitions and change and people assuming you are overreacting when you get upset.
I know not being able to see other point of views and having rigid thinking.
I know talking too long and not recognizing the social cues of knowing when it’s time to stop, let someone else have a turn or it’s time to leave.
I know losing friends over being brutally honest and having no filter.
I know not understanding jokes, sarcasm and taking everything literally.
I know struggling with self care and hygiene due to sensory differences.
I know not being able to retain new information and having horrible working memory.
I know of falling through the cracks in school because the level of autism you were diagnosed with doesn’t match the level of support you need in that environment.
I know of avoiding any social interaction because you never know what to say and everyone makes you feel like you did it wrong when you try.
I know of the struggle to get employed once you mention the word autism or accommodations.
I know of everyone thinking you’re a savant, have a special skill or that you’re like “Rainman”.
I know of wondering if you’ll ever have a friend, be in a relationship or find love.
I know of the fight for diagnosis, for help, for anyone to believe you.
I know of the people who go undiagnosed their entire lives without help and don’t know why they struggle.
I know of the professionals, schools and parents that miss it entirely.
I know of “well they talk, want to socialize and give eye contact so they can’t be autistic.”
I know of late diagnosis and the emotions that come with not knowing your entire life why you felt that way and wishing you had known.
I know of the alarming rate of su***de thoughts, attempts and deaths by an autistic individual and an undiagnosed one.
I know of individuals who needed to go to hospitals and needed residential care.
I know of individuals who still need guardianship and who have to live with their parents.
I know of living like you don’t fit in anywhere and everyone wanting to put you in a box you don’t belong in.
I know of struggles mixed with splinter skills.
I know of feeling discriminated against and being isolated.
I know of a vast, misunderstood spectrum with each individual being unique and no two people that can fall on any place on any line.
I know of the phrase “you’re not autistic enough” for any of it to matter to anyone.
Sounds easy doesn’t it?
🐦🐦🐦
I also know the isolation parents like me feel because our kids don’t fit in even within our own community because you’re always kinda living somewhere in between two worlds.
Your kids are never severe enough or “normal” enough.
