How do you define the term, “Openly Autistic”?

* Is it an autistic person who rarely masks?
* 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?

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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. ^_^

Thank you for your interesting insights!

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* Autism symbol by: MissLunaRose12
* License: CC By-SA 4.0 International
* Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Autism_Symbol_Proposed_2.png

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Tags: #OpenlyAutistic #OpenlyAutistics #ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutistics #AskingAutistics #Autistic #Autistics #Autism #AutismSpectrum #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance

Groups: @autistics @actuallyautistic

Today, April 2nd, is also “World Autism Day”. But here in the #Philippines, the entire month of April is “World Autism Acceptance Month”.

#OpenlyAutistic #Autism #AutismSpectrum #Autistc #ActuallyAutistic #Autistics #ActuallyAutistics #Neurodivergent @autistics @actuallyautistic

Two stereotypes about us #Autistics is we like #PrimeNumbers and #EvenNumbers. I'm a “yes” and a “no”.

I do like Prime numbers and Odd numbers:
* 17
* 13
* 7

17 is very special.
* 17 is the 7th Prime
* 1 is an odd number
* 7 is an odd number
* 17 is an odd number
* 1 + 7 = 8, although an even number, it symbolises infinity and eternity, and us #ActuallyAutistics

13 is also special.
* A Prime
* An Odd
* A Fibonacci number

And depending on whom you ask:
* The 8th Fibonacci number
* The 7th Fibonacci number

Ironically:
* The anniversary of my first romantic relationship was on: 1997-07-17. It was my first love who picked that, and she had no idea what my favourite numbers are.
* My height is 175 cm or 5'7.5" to 5'8.5" (depending on whom you ask).
* Favourite time of the day: 07:00 and 19:00 (7pm). 19 is the 8th Prime. (There's 8 again.)

And I'm #OpenlyAutistic. ^_^

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How about you? What two #Autism stereotypes is you and not you?

@autistics @actuallyautistic @actuallyadhd @autism

“Dungeons & Dragons introduces its first canonically autistic character”

‘Designer Makenzie De Armas discusses putting a little bit of herself into the game’

https://www.polygon.com/23850698/dnd-dungeons-dragons-autistic-character-asteria

#Asteria is “a princess turned paladine”.

‘De Armas herself is autistic, and was able to incorporate a lot of her own experiences into the character.’

#TheBookOfManyThings #MakenzieDeArmas

#DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #Autistic #OpenlyAutistic #ActuallyAutistic #Autism #AutismSpectrum #Gaming #Games #TTRPG #TableTop #RPG #THAC0

@autism @actuallyautistic @autistics @actuallyautistics @neurodivergence

“Autistic Masking Is A Survival Mechanism Until It’s A Threat To Survival”

“It’s the environments we move in that need to change urgently”

A good read.

https://justinel999.medium.com/people-dont-know-i-m-autistic-but-i-m-not-masking-aa84a6c7c07a

@youronlyone@firefish.social

#Autistic #Autistics #ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutistics #OpenlyAutistic #OpenlyAutistics #Autism #AutismSpectrum #Masking #Survival #Threat

@actuallyautistic @actuallyautistics @autistics

So, this is what's happening to me: #AutisticBurnout

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.

Read the rest here: https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/05/12/creating-autistic-suffering-what-is-atypical-burnout/

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Hat tip to: @emergentdivergence.bsky.social from the #ATprotocol network.

What do you think? Anyone else?

@youronlyone@firefish.social

#ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutistics #Autistic #Autistics #OpenlyAutistic #Autism #AutismSpectrum

@actuallyautistic @actuallyautistics @autistics

Hello, I'm Yuki. I am #OpenlyAutistic #ActuallyAutistic #Autistic

I am currently struggling with my emotions that, for some reason, I no longer have control over, and it is so intense, I sometimes cry while walking just thinking about how my mom is struggling with her daily life, while waiting for her eye operation.

My entire life, I was #Spock. But for the past month or so, I've been Spock the human.

I never thought I will need a support group one day, since I've learned to live masking and find ways. But, right now, I definitely need a support group. And I am trying to find one locally that I can join physically. And just cry, and just share, to just be me, someone who will listen.

None of my usual calming methods and tics are working anymore. The emotions are just too intense, I have no idea how to put the lid back on it.

So, yeah, I'm Yuki.

@actuallyautistic @autistics

#Support #Philippines

@youronlyone@firefish.social

#FollowFriday because I simply love reading them
#ClimateChange #OpenlyAutistic #SocialJustice #Art #OneHealth #CovidIsNotOver

@JoBlakely
@flavia_feijo_epi
@falcoskywolf
@StillIRise1963
@breadandcircuses
@crowgirl
@jornbettin
@AnarchoNinaWrites
@roryreckons

Sorry for my friends who receive this toot on Saturday only, like in New Zealand

10 things you should know about #Autistic people and #Autism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZXjJVrm1Jw

(note: I am now #OpenlyAutistic thanks to the #Kdrama #ExtraordinaryAttorneyWoo )

#Autistics #ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutistics #AutismSpectrum

@autistics @actuallyautistic @actuallyautistics @autism

Living in #Argentina my ADHD meds are usually so expensive (modafinil, probably not patented anymore for years) that I take it one or two times every month.
So I have to deal without it.
#OpenlyAutistic

An old note I have found:
Unautism
For me, autism has more to do with tasks being assisted more consciously than unconsciously. This leads to great awareness and at the same time an uncompensated sensory load.

It's pretty in line with holotropism, isn't it?
https://autcollab.org/2023/06/26/life-is-at-bottom-diversity/#holotropism
and
https://www.hmirra.net/openaut
#ActuallyAutistic
#OpenlyAutistic

This is a very good read for everyone, autistics and non-autistics, alike: “Why does masking autism contribute to burnout?” By Eloise Stark, an Autistic Ph.D. candidate from the University of Oxford, who was diagnosed at age 27.

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“I am who I am, I’m autistic and proud, I’m different, and for the first time in my life, I’m okay with that.”

…

“Following the attack, I developed a recurrence of mental-health problems from my youth. I grew more and more unwell. I was anxious, obsessive, depressed, and began to have suicidal feelings. I was overwhelmed by the world, by just being, and didn’t know how to cope with it.”

…

“Masking autism wasn’t a sustainable or safe option. I was admitted to the hospital, yet every clinician disagreed on my diagnosis. Most remarked that they felt they were ‘missing something’.”

…

“‘All your life you have been masking autism.’”

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(me: Yep, that's me.)

Read her journey: https://www.urevolution.com/en-eu/blogs/magazine/masking-autism-nearly-killed-her

[Tags: #Autism | #AutismSpectrum | #ActuallyAutistic | #OpenlyAutistic | #Autistics | #ActuallyAutistics | #OpenlyAutistics | #Autistic | #Masking | #Burnout | #Neurodifferent | #Neurodivergent | #Autist | #Autists ]

[Groups: @autistics | @actuallyautistic | @neurodivergence ]

Recommended: “Why everything you know about #autism is wrong” by #OpenlyAutistic Dr. Jac den Houting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1AUdaH-EPM

For me, I think this is a very good video to pass as an introduction of sorts to family, friends, colleagues, who are not (yet) knowledgeable about us. Most especially to those who only (blindly) listen to doctors/professionals or to reputable (public) figures.

#TED #TEDx #TEDtalks #TEDxTalks #AutismSspectrum #Autistic #Autistics #ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutistics #Neurodivergent #DoubleEmpathy #SocialDisability #Disability

@actuallyautistic

@neurodivergence