I stim. I’m sure you, the reader of this post, probably stim as well, or know someone who stims. Because of this, we know how important and necessary stimming is to the health of autistics and other groups who become overstimulated in similar ways. And I’m sure we at least have an idea of how stimming is viewed by the general public: it is seen as cringey, unacceptable, distracting, alarming, and even dangerous, among other things.
Because of this, people who stim in public are often met with a largely negative response to their coping mechanism. This can range from strange looks or casual comments, to abuse and ostracism. Outside of communities like ours, most people do not know what stimming is, and because they are human, are upset and confused by it.
I’ve been asked about my stimming multiple times at school and I always give about the same response: ‘what I’m doing is called stimming, short for self stimulatory behavior, and it’s common in autistic people like me. it is a way for me to release extra energy and manage my sensory intake.’ This usually gets a neutral to positive response, and I know that people are not asking to be rude or judgmental: they are merely curious. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
However, I had one particularly jarring response to my stimming about a month ago. I had just found out that my partner’s class schedule had changed and that I would have 2 classes with them every day for the rest of the quarter at least. Naturally, I was overjoyed, and began physically and verbally happy-stimming. Then, I was approached by one of my closest friends, and what he said was almost enough to knock me down from my happiness:
“What are you doing? Are you high or something?”
I had heard about discrimination to autistics for stimming in public. I had even heard about autistics being arrested for stimming in public for the exact thing that my friend was accusing me of: police officers mistake stimming or similar coping mechanisms for the person being high, and arrest them. This had never happened to me before, and because of that, it struck deep.
Later, I talked to my friend about how hurtful his words had been, and explained what I was doing. He felt terrible and apologized immediately. But that doesn’t change the way that he and others perceive autistic behavior: cringey, unacceptable, distracting, alarming, and even dangerous.
This is why we need autism awareness outside of just our community! Things like this happen to countless people every day, and they feel the same pain that I do. That’s ridiculous! So, I educate. I tell people about my diagnosis and how it effects me. I am unashamed and unafraid because I know that no matter what people say, my autism is amazing and wonderful. And this is the message I give to you: I hope that if you aren’t already, that one day you can be in a place where you are safe enough to be confident in yourself along with your diagnosis, and use your experience to help educate people, and in turn, help minimize the pain of future generations of autistics.
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If you wouldn’t do something to an able-bodied child, do not do it to your disabled children. Another one that comes to mind, “I’m inclusive, but I have to be honest. If they’re being really distracting, it isn’t fair to the other kids to share their classroom”. <—- ABLEIST AF! . . . . . #actuallyautistic #actuallyunmasking #ableism #ableismistrash #ableismawareness #unlearningneurotypical #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilityrights (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC_DLBShMhk/?igshid=1i8kc61ufd82v
This speaks for itself. There are so many of us begging our own community to stop gendering autism. This is just ANOTHER box we’re put into, yet this box is commonly forced on us within our own community on top of outside of it, yet it does a disservice to the vast spectrum that is autism. Embracing our varying experiences, traits, and presentations is how we keep people from being missed, dividing us further and creating even more boxes that do not always work is NOT how we strengthen our community. . . . . . . #actuallyautistic #actuallyunmasking #nonbinary #onthespectrum #spectrum #agender #transgender #autistic #autisticadults #autismacceptance #autismawareness #aspie #aspiegirl #aspiewoman #autisticgirl #autisticgirls #autismboy #autisticboy #aspergers #girlsonthespectrum (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8t329hmCo/?igshid=1dlcof8giarls
Posted @withrepost • @laurazdan #actuallyunmasking <——— I started a new hashtag because we TOTALLY need an unmasking hashtag! . . Let’s be real about how hard it is to take off the mask because it’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done... but also the most rewarding. . . If you’re looking to unmask but don’t even know where to start PM me for more info about a new group for women. Don’t unmask alone 💜 . . . . . . . . . . . . #actuallyautistic #notneurotypical #autism #autisticadult #aspergers #aspie #aspergerssyndrome #aspiewoman #aspiegirl #autismacceptance #aspien #aspienwoman #autisticmasking https://www.instagram.com/p/B6uJzMSj5jyA7TKwevFB1Dt6Kzv7tQ8jyEbQuY0/?igshid=tw32wtza8grl
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Posted @withrepost • @laurazdan Don’t forget. We didn’t have a choice to mask. Most of us started masking before we could remember or if we took the mask off later we had to put it back on to feel safe again. . . If they can’t see us, they will never accept us. #actuallyunmasking . . . . . . . . . . . . . #actuallyautistic #autism #autismacceptance #latediagnosis #autisticmasking #unmasking #maskingautism #aspergers #aspergerssyndrome #as #asd #aspie #aspien #aspiegirl #aspiewoman #meme #socialanxiety #anxiety #notneurotypical #neurodiversity #neurodivergent #asexual #nonbinary #lgbtq🌈 #autistic #autisticpride #ableism #ableismistrash #disabilityrights https://www.instagram.com/p/B6uJezUjfAGUyF7SlwhZoNpW7xZSd2RpyoQ-rQ0/?igshid=1p7td1wn5qzxl
