Thread by @AutSciPerson

Non-autistic parents:

You will never be able to prevent every single bad thing (teasing, bullying) from happening to your autistic child.

Something you can do?

Don't tell them to change who they are because you think there's slightly less of a chance they'll be bullied. 1/5

There is such a strange notion out there:
That if you tell autistic children to change their behavior, their interests, or their way of speaking to "fit in,"

the autistic child will be forever protected from bullying and ableism. 2/5

Please don't pre-emptively tell your child that who they are or what they like is wrong or should be "hidden" - You're just telling them those things before bullies do it.

That's it. You're just giving them that shame and anxiety earlier so they're "ready" for the bullies. 3/5

Something to remember:
You can't ever be ready for being bullied.

And autistic kids who masked or tried to hide as much of themselves as possible at school, diagnosed or otherwise -

You guessed it, still bullied! 4/5

So please, don't try to "mold" your kid into "acceptable" at school or in public so they have a slightly less chance of getting hurt.

They will get hurt. This world isn't made for us.

But if you support who they are, they'll know they can go to you to be safe & feel better. 5/5