Advertising Aspie-ness

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So I was in the mall today, observing the many people there as I walk past them - as I usually do - and a thought occurred to me:

What if I were to wear a t-shirt, in a plain colour, with the words "neuro-diverse" or "aspie" (something like that) printed in large letters across the front of the shirt?

I wonder, would this attract positive attention? Would other people, who happen to be on the spectrum - who would otherwise have simply walked past - stop and say "oh hey, me too! Can we be friends?" Perhaps such a clear advertisement would cut out a lot of the difficulty and awkwardness - get straight to the point and let similar people know you're just like them.

Would this attract negative attention? I don't want to get my ass beat in a public space by people who would see me as an easy target for advertising such a thing. Hence I'd have to choose the words carefully, something that someone on the spectrum would probably understand but a neurotypical may not. I wouldn't use "autistic" for that reason. But "on the spectrum" seems too wordy. "neuro-diverse" seems good, but I'm not sure how many people would be familiar with that term, even if they are on the spectrum? If it's too unfamiliar then obviously it defeats the purpose of the shirt.

Comments? Good idea? Bad idea? Does something like this already exist? (I don't even know how or where to get custom shirts made, though .. that's my first obstacle)

I'm pretty sure that t-shirts already exist. I personally would not do that. How many autistic people are going to be walking past you in the mall? The percentage of people with autism is low. And the percentage of higher-functioning people is even lower. And a lot of us seem to be reclusive anyway.

Plus many people don't want to advertise their autism for various reasons, so they wouldn't want to make it obvious by associating with someone with a t-shirt announcing it. And many wouldn't even know they are autistic.

And NT people usually either don't know much about autism, or think of it in negative terms.

So if people noticed you at all, they'd probably stare at you, talk about you, be confused by you, or laugh at you. Or they'd try to be polite and pretend not to notice.

Probably easier to just meet up with other autistic people by joining a social group.

I wouldn't wear a shirt like that, I don't want people to have pre-concieved notions of how my personality must be based on that I'm on the spectrum. Also I realize it does influence me in a lot of ways not all of which are disabling...but i don't see it as my identity nor do I view it as the first thing I want people to know about me.

I prefer clothes that express my interests, which my being autistic isn't one of my major interests. I guess I would say it would make more sense to wear a shirt that advertises one of your interests...like I wear a lot of t-shirts of bands, mostly metal that I enjoy. I suppose if autism is one of your major interests it might make sense to me.

I sometimes wear a shirt that reads "You read my shirt - that's enough social interaction for today". That's my way of saying that I don't want to be bothered in public without having to go anymore out of my way to do so.

I have considered wearing a shirt or something because I flap in public. I rarely go to shopping centres without a friend anyway and they are very use to saying 'Jamie's autistic' if they feel the situation warrants it ( for example, "excuse me, our friend is autistic and the lights are flickering which is very upsetting, is there any chance you could turn that light off" and they did..)

For the most part it seems fine. I'm writing this sat in the cafe in a mothercare, the staff know I can't speak and are nice to me no one else seems to pay any attention to me

I have considered telling the staff here why I can't speak, but they seem respectful, helpful and kind anyway so I assume they have guessed or just decided 'learning disabilities' anyway.

I probably wouldn't wear a shirt, but I would wear a wrist band or some other more subtle ID scheme

I like the way you think. Though if it's too small then text on something subtle may be missed .. perhaps a symbol or image of some sort? (compare: wearing a wrist band with the Nike tick logo - easily noticeable and recognised by most). I'm not aware of any international Aspie symbol however. Perhaps one ought to be invented.

Please don't . People that truly have autism do not want that kind of attention. It is not a social club.