Improving the lives of autistic people may not seem relevant to your life, but recent data suggests that at least 1 in 36 people are autistic, and many people are undiagnosed. Autistic people also suffer disproportionately from anxiety and depression due to how they are treated by non-autistic people. Therefore, it’s essential to make some meaningful tweaks to make their lives better.
Here are some tips to help you make the lives of autistic people better in your day-to-day life:
Firstly, believe them when they open up about being autistic. Autistic people often face dismissive and invalidating responses that can fuel serious self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
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Secondly, be clear in your communication. Autistic people often struggle with inference and take utterances at face value. Being transparent and avoiding vague implications and ambiguous purposes can make them feel more comfortable.
Thirdly, show compassion towards their sensory sensitivity, which can be quite debilitating. Autistic people genuinely struggle with loud noises and bright lights, and it’s essential to understand that it’s not an attempt to be difficult.
Fourthly, be patient with autistic people who struggle with organization, planning, prioritization, and decision-making. It’s not a character flaw, but a key element of neurodivergent experience that can exhaust them.
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Lastly, be open-minded and avoid old stereotypes about autism. Autistic adults and elders, women, Black people, and intersectional minority groups are often overlooked or entirely ignored, which exacerbates their struggles. By being more aware of these issues, you can make a meaningful difference in their lives.
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