So are any of you closeted about your autism?

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Well?

Nope. The first thing I do when I meet someone new is list all of my disabilities because I've learnt from experience that if you don't they assume you're rude, impolite and very weird.

If I tell them about my disability it means they can have an understanding about the way I act and why I do certain things.

It's not the first thing I tell people about myself, but it usually comes out fairly soon, as I run a local AS meetup and often have to schedule my work around it, or people see me taking pills throughout the day and ask what they're for, etc. I really do like to get to know people a bit before disclosing just so that it doesn't color their impression of me too much, I'd rather they think I'm a bit odd but a good guy than making wild assumptions because of a poor grasp of what Autism is.

Sort of am, sort of not. When I meet new people nowadays, I'll often tell them if we're going to be discussing things on a personal level, but if it's just someone I encounter on the street or whatever, I don't bother.

neither closed nor open.
if the topic comes up, i explain my condition, on a need-to-know level, without troubles; however, i dont just tell anyone i meet instantly, but neither do i keep it a secret deliberately

I'm not closeted at all. I like when people know I have an autistic disorder. I feel as if my autism an important part of my life that people need to know I'm not lime them in any way. It also helps me justify my real friends over the fake friends as well.

I have this fantasy that maybe if I try hard enough I can live a normal life and trick everyone into believing that I'm a human being.

Like the military, I disclose on a need to know basis. My current pastor doesn't even know, nor does any one else in the congregation.

I'm awaiting assessment although a clinical psychologist has already informally told me it's strongly likely I'm on the spectrum; until I have that confirmed I don't talk about it to MOST people in my real life, with the exception of two people.

One is an acquaintance who laughed in my face and denies it (even though he doesn't even know enough, by a long, long way, about neither me nor the disorder well enough to pass that judgement).

The other is someone who is studying/ training to become a counselor/therapist, is interested in autism and has no trouble whatsoever believing my suspicions, knowing me (and the spectrum) a bit better as she does.

For everyone else and for all other purposes, I would say I'm "closeted" about my traits and issues. I've spent my whole life ashamed of my traits and my difficulties, ashamed mostly because I grew up in the 1960s and was never diagnosed early enough for everyone around me to go "AHHHHHHA......so THAT'S what it is! Okay, now we can start addressing things from a more helpful position of enlightenment."

Instead I was made to feel I'm just freaking nuts and I'd better hide that and "act normal" at all costs if I'm at all capable of any degree of "normal." But it's made me suffer even more, and continues to do so.

I do think my quality of life MIGHT improve if I can finally "do some 'splainin" to people when necessary.....

On the other hand, there is still so much ignorance and misinformation out there in the general public at large, regarding the autism spectrum, that often it may be better NOT to expose oneself to even more misconception and assumption, but that's just my own personal thoughts for myself and what to do. I like the "need to know" basis and will probably operate that once I'm fully diagnosed.

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Closet? No.

But I don't wear a placard advertising the fact. Aparently other autistic people can tell, and NT people think I am eccentric but not what they think of as autistic. I don't see a need to change this, unless there is a need.

There are particular things I will tell people right away: I am not at all good at remembering faces and often have trouble remembering names, please don't take it personally, etc.

But my family and friends: had to tell.

in periods of my life i have told everyone
in periods of my life I have told no one
the same result happens every time
nobody cares
nobody interacts with me
nobody engages with me
I am alone
there is a stone wall between me and whatever

Yeah, I pretty much am.

I think this is an interesting thread. I got diagnosed a couple of days ago and I haven't really decided who to tell about my diagnosis. I've told my boyfriend, parents, siblings and closest friend. My boyfriend has told his parents and siblings. That feels like a lot of people but yeah I feel like they have the "right" to know. I'll probably have to tell certain people at university as well, in order to keep getting the support I need there. Not sure if I'll tell anyone else unless it's necessary (or if they ask me about it).

So, no, I'm not closeted but I still haven't figured out how open I want to be about it.

After having some very bad confrontations with what some refer to as "militant aspies" I was put off the whole sub culture for years. I looked at getting diagnosed at one point and the guy was congratulating me for it like I was part of a exclusive club. I was like wtf. No. It is not why I am smart and gifted at certain things etc. This is just me. That was a few years ago and more recently I had thorough cognitive testing done (for other reasons) and sensory overload was confirmed amongst other things. She wasn't congratulating me or condescending she was like "yeah you're on the spectrum". She wasn't imposing any idealisms and was professional and offered help in ways I could address ASD symptoms that cause problems.

While I don't care who knows about my AS, I don't share information about it unless it seems necessary to me. Most of my political and professional life is well documented and I don't need to add any more ornaments to that Christmas tree. Besides, I believe strongly in personal privacy; something I lost for many years.

its not really something i can hide. because of the way i present if people know about autism they think i have autism and if they dont they assume i have a intellectual disability. if im going to interact with people more than a minimal amount i explain a few of the things that i have because otherwise people dont know how to talk to me at all. what they end up doing is either talking to mne very slowly and with small words and the tone of small dogs and children or they dont talk to me. i do need people to alter some of their speech patterns but i dont know anyone who needs to be talked down to at all so i dont knwo why they think that approach is okayfor anyoene.