What are some of your least favourite myths about autism?

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There is a common misconception that Aspergers is always a less severe disorder than classic autism. I will admit that the average person with "classical" autism is usually more severe than the average aspie. But that's only because "classic" autism" covers the entire spectrum while people with Aspergers are moderate-functioning at worst. However, it annoys me when people say things like "People with classic autism are unable to function in society, live independently, etc, while those with Aspergers are". Language development is the only real diagnostic difference between Aspergers and autism without mental retardation. The spectrum is so incredibly diverse that you can't simply split autistic people into groups of those who can function in society and those who cannot, it's entirely individual.

A person with "classic" autism might be less affected by their disorder than somebody with Aspergers, and they might even be more successful as an adult. I have also heard of children who have been diagnosed with Aspergers despite an initial language delay, so some people who are currently diagnosed with Aspergers are actually "classically autistic" instead.

There are so many but I say that we are mass shooters.

Runner-up is that a is we are horrific doppelganger mutation caused by a vaccine and we need to be "recovered" by any means necessary.

Second runner-up would be that Autism is a fake disease and we autistics just use the label as an excuse to be bad people.

One of my least favorite myths about autism is that we're all super talented in some way. IMO, for every autistic person with some extraordinary talent, there's at least 10 who don't have a special talent.

Autism is caused by vaccines. What a crock of BS that is.

People with autism can't graduate high school with regular diplomas.

People with autism can't do anything for themselves.

All people with autism have handflapping as a stim.

My least favorite is that we lack empathy. It makes things worse when some mass shooter or creep is supposedly diagnosed with autism. It makes it seem like any autistic person could do something horrible.

MYTH: You can't be autistic if you can socialize (I can, but I need a lot of "down time" afterward to recover).

MYTH: You can't be autistic if you can hold down a job (I can, but I need my own space to work from).

MYTH: You can't be autistic if you can earn a university degree (I did it, but it was rough going).

MYTH: You can't be autistic if you can handle being in a relationship (We can, but the other person must be VERY patient, VERY supportive, and VERY understanding).

MYTH: You can't be autistic if you can dress yourself (A Harvard tie over an Hawai'ian shirt, with plaid socks and blue jeans may not be the epitome of sartorial elegance, but at least I'm dressed!).

MYTH: You can't be autistic if you can dress yourself (A Harvard tie over an Hawai'ian shirt, with plaid socks and blue jeans may not be the epitome of sartorial elegance, but at least I'm dressed!).[/quote]

amazing

MYTH: You can't be autistic

no need for anything else

Where to even begin.....

First I got to mention the bloke that went on claiming that: Vaccines cause Autism.
In reality that same person wasn't a medical professional.

Second is either people think we're Super Smart or Super Daft.
We're just as intelligent as everyone else.

Third is people who purposely mispronounce Asperger's for a quick laugh.
If I had a dollar for every time someone came up with that same joke, I may be a millionaire.

Sorry for the rant but those are my least favorite things regarding Autism.

The myth of
savant skills & super abilities
is rough,
because as far as I can tell,
I didn't get any
of the good bits.

The misconception
that ASD is just an excuse
to be an ASS
has been hurtful as well.

(Not necessarily in order)

1. Vaccines cause autism (the fool who came up with this got his medical license revoked in the UK and apparently still wants to spread this belief in the US)
2. Autistic people are incapable of having a job, having a long-term, meaningful relationship, living independently, etc.
3. All autistic people are inherently violent and will become school shooters (any that do must have mental health issues comorbid to autism)
4. Autistic people are always cold, uncaring, and not empathetic (we actually tend to feel emotions more strongly than typical NTs)
5. Autistic people are diseased and need to be cured (essentially stripped of both positive and negative traits associated with autism)