When people ask where the autistic adults are...

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Who else is so annoyed?

"Where are the autistic adults handflapping, toe-walking, and throwing tantrums?"

"RIGHT HERE!" I say to a computer or television, or to people who won't listen anyway. Granted, I don't have meltdowns - I have shutdowns - but the ironic thing is that, when I hear these things or read these things in private, I'm usually handflapping after toe-walking. Do people just forget that adults wear shoes? Why the misconception that autistic people don't grow up to, well, hide their behaviors?

Erasure is so frustrating.

It's like saying "where are all the black people who don't listen to rap?" or "where are all the gay people who aren't flaming queens?" Answer: The stereotype is most often represented in the media. When you think of autistics, you think of kids, because the media focuses overwhelmingly on kids. They're responsible for the stereotypes in the first place.

I handflap and have meltdowns

I've actually never heard that question.

I think a lot of people are given the idea that "autism == no development whatsoever (unless program X is used)." So, they expect all autistic adults (who did not get the benefit of program X) to behave just like their 4 year-old kid. Since the don't see that in their everyday life they conclude that there were and are no ASD adults.

Oh and it just occurred to me that that question may be being used in the context of fund-raising. IOW, "ZOMG, there's an epidemic!!1! You can tell there is because there's no autistic adults!! You have to give us money now or we're all gonna be swimming in autistics tomorrow!! ! And then we'll all die!! !! AHhh!! !!"

the annoyingness of the question aside, i see an unusually high incidence among my coworkers at the bookstore. on some shift-days they're actually in the majority.

I get annoyed too. I'll say to myself, "I'm right here!" while spinning around.

Where are all the autistic adults????

HIDING!! !!

I know of one living way up the back of a hollow somewhere. I imagine he's not the only one who shuns civilization.

I know I, personally, don't go out unless I know I'm going to be able to be on my NT behavior.

I further know I'm not the only one.

So... Being able to make the NTs comfortable around you means you're "fixed"????

Wow. We can "fix" autism...

...but there's still no cure for STUPID.

The autistic adults have usually learnt that much of society doesn't like people who are different, and are trying to blend in for safety's sake!