The Best Way To Learn About Autistics

My argument for seeking out actual Autistics for information about Autism.

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[davef]

I wear a medic alert band identifying my Autism and co-morbid issues. I also have various t-shirts I wear now and then that relate to Aspergers/Autism. Just the other day I was stopped by a parent and asked a few questions. She said she had never seen or met an adult with Autism/Aspergers and she wanted her son to meet and adult that is like him. She then brought over her family and introduced her son who has Aspergers. She asked me to speak with the family. There I stood at the Zoo, talking to Parents, Grandparents, and two kids. It all went very well. I ensured that they understood I can only relate from my own experiences. (I am participating as a "subject" in an Adult Autism Research Project at the University of California ). I had to fight my messed up executive functions tendencies (full data dump lecturing). I let the family ask me questions. More importantly, I made sure I engaged the boy in much of the conversations. Nothing worse than standing there and being talked ABOUT! The discussion went for almost 3 hours and covered a multitude of areas of Autism. My final comment to the boy (who was just entering 7th grade): "Be proud of your autism! You will face many challenges, but you also have many skills and abilities others do not, and that makes you special!" I left the Zoo that day feeling really great!

[nakyer]

Well meaning person: Tell me what it's like to be autistic.
Me: Tell me what it's like to be neuro-typical.
Well meaning person: uh...

[christopheuhlin]

Thank you for a great video. You are absolutely right that the best people to speak about and advocate are those on the spectrum. And since we are all different (If you have met one person with Autism, you have met one person with Autism) we all have something to bring to the table to help each other and help non Autistics people to understand us.I quite like a piece of puzzle to symbolize Autism as I feel each of us is a unique piece existing in order to complete the whole picture. I admire all of those who work in the Autism professions and are non Autistic, sure they haven't got first hand experience but most have a pretty good insight into it. Personally I regard Tony Atwood as being the most insightful non Autist on the subject..

[AspieAnswers]

Hi Nathan, I agree with you 100 percent. Yes, we need to learn more from the autistics. I do autism and mental health videos on my channel and that I try to document as much as I can about my life advocating and educating others.

[wandah]

For me, there's a fine line between informing neurotypicals and becoming a circus act.

[tlrlml]

Among other things I do autism videos... Restarting my Defining Autism Series (as time and brain permit).


Link is my name.

[satki_]

hey Nathan, thanks for this video. My Youtube is mainly autism stuff so far, and im planning to start doing a lot more of it (advocacy plus going into some of the neuroscience and psychology) and more regularly soon! :)

[thatmartian]

Another great video! Thanks for posting! While I don't always specifically talk about my experiences with autism, I'm noticing that my fiance and I are becoming the most prominent couple under the #autisticcouple tag on instagram. I started posting about us as a way to try reaching out to other autistics and grow our own personal autism community. There are a handful of other couples, but they don't post as often as I do. As always, I am willing to talk about my experiences and our experiences as being an autistic couple. Also, it hasn't aired yet, but my fiance and I did an interview with a podcast called Committed by the How Stuff Works network and talked about what it's like being a couple with autism. I will definitely be posting an update for when it airs, and anyone who wants to find it can visit me on Instagram at little_sages_paws.