Thread by @Merrsiful

New pet theory:

A. What if autism were actually a lot more common than we had previously thought?

There has already been nascent discussion about how ADHD might be just a gendered interpretation of autistic traits. (1/)

Structure of this post
A. Thesis
B. Autistic characteristics (traits, co-morbidities, trauma)
C. How Autism is characterized by society
D. Privilege
E. Recap
F. Why do we define autism like this?
G. What if it's more common?
H. Autistic joy
(1a/)

There have frequently been people who have suggested that we are all on the spectrum. To which we have often given defensive replies: no, we are different, and our needs are valid. That they don't understand. (2/)

Please trust that I *do* think our needs are valid. That from my privileged and limited standpoint, I don't know the differences in what others have experienced. (3/)

I believe it is vital for people's needs to be supported. I want to show my respect for how people identify.

Yet I do see a pattern here, and I want to talk about it as a thought experiment in a genuine way. I am also open to correction. (4/)

B. I have read how autism is a neurology. It's just another way that the brain is formed. It's part of the human experience. And in many aspects, it is very different from the neurotypical experience. (5/)

We experience learning differently, especially regarding emotions. We see patterns of information differently, and are able to synthesize those patterns into new ideas. We experience sensory stimuli differently. Those differences significantly shape our perceptions. (6/)

And some of us have hyperempathy.

I have read that allistic people don't experience things in the same way. Their brains work differently in some respects. Their minds make different connections, and that leads them to prioritize different thoughts and actions. (7/)

Allistic thoughts and actions are the ones that are generally rewarded by social approval in capitalistic societies.

Autistic patterns of thought, needs, and behavior are generally diminished, pathologized, and dismissed. Despite our value, we are stigmatized as humans. (8/)

There are a number of behaviors attributed to the autistic experience.

These included masking, stimming, echolalia, flat affect, dissociation, avoiding eye contact, different social communication, hyperactivity, patterns of overstimulation and burnout, etc. (9/)

I experience all of these. Yet until this year, I never knew it because I'd suppressed these behaviors so thoroughly due to internalized shame. I'm not ashamed now. I'm learning not to mask anymore. (10/)

In my experience, these behaviors are more evident when I am stressed out overstimulated. They also help me process information and stimuli.

I also have severe C-PTSD. For a decade and a half, my meltdowns were labeled as trauma episodes or panic attacks. (11/)

Many "autistic" behaviors overlap with behaviors attributed to trauma. And it has been said that we do not know what a non-traumatized autistic person looks like. So perhaps some these behaviors are not an inherent part of autism at all. (12/)

There are other diagnoses which often are co-morbid with autism. Some are psychological, some are physiological.

E.g.: Ehlers-Danlos symdrome, gastrointestinal disorders, POTS, depression/anxiety, sleep disorders, auditory processing disorder, fibromyalgia, etc. (13/)

How many of these disorders have roots in trauma, which affects both the mind and body? How many might be attributed to elasticity of some kind in the brain? (14/)

C. In my opinion, autism is not something that is negative in any sense.

It is only negative because society has framed it in that way. Certain aspects of autism are non-productive. They have no worth to a capitalistic society. Therefore, they are seen as problems. (15/)

We see autism as a pathology because that is how researchers have framed those aspects.

From my perspective, autism is only disabling because society disables us. It does not provide the emotional or structural support that we need to participate, much less to thrive. (16/)

As autistic individuals, our humanity is judged by our level of so-called functionality.

That is wrong. We all have infinite worth as humans.

And it is incorrect. We contribute to society via our humanity, not through what we do or say. We should be supported. (17/)

Yet we judge ourselves by the values of our context, which is capitalism.

In that context, someone who is nonverbal is somehow seen as "less." So is someone who can't function around stimuli is seen as less, or someone who has trouble processing social situations, etc. (18/)

(As I write this, the drone of a weedwacker outside was so debilitating that I had to retreat to another room.) (19/)

D. In this system, only those who have privilege within it thrive.

Only those who have characteristics that society values (intellectual, social, functional, etc) thrive. Only those who have independent structural support (financial, emotional, social, etc) thrive. (20/)

These things exist on top of other layers of societal privilege: racial, gender, class, etc.

Privilege does not affect or measure one's inherent worth or value. It just makes it easier for some of us to exist. (21/)

E. So far, I have stated that autism is defined in a certain way in our context. Certain behaviors and features are attributed to it. Some of these attributes co-exist with trauma. Finally, autistic people are judged based on societal standards, not our inherent worth. (22/)

So now I want to return to my original point.

What if autism were actually a lot more common than we had previously thought? (23/)

F.I've noticed that it is relatively common for people (who are apparently neurotypical) to claim that they experience some or all of autistic symptoms. That they, too, get overwhelmed by sounds. That they, too, have trouble communicating sometimes. (24/)

(See second thread)

In response, I've gotten defensive. I want to say that autism is unique, and that they don't understand. I say that there are defining characteristics that separate autistics from allistics. That I have it worse, and that autistics have it worse that those people can know. (25/)

Why am I defensive about those things? What is behind that line of thought? (26/)

I'm defensive about these things because I want my struggles to be acknowledged. I want to have the resources in order to be able to survive in this society. Because social resources are scant, and disability is scrutinized, I have to define myself as different. (27/)

I'm on disability and in social programs. To continue to receive those resources, I have to continuously prove that my mental health conditions are debilitating. Otherwise, I will lose access to financial, medical, and structural support. (28/)

To have the resources to survive in society, I have to play the game that autism is a limited commodity. That I deserve help because I am different.

I have to prove that I am somehow separate from someone who merely "benefits" from the support that "real" autistics need. (29/)

I have to prove it to others and I have to prove it to myself. I think that in the long-term, that kind of artificial separation of damaging. (30/)

G. Therefore, what if the autistic neurotype is far more common than we think? What if it were more like 20% or 30% of society? What if it is context (our behaviors and social support) defines whether we are seen as "pathological" or "non-functional" enough to be autism? (31/)

What if we redefined the way we see autism? What if we made it a bigger umbrella and redefined how we see human needs in general? (32/)

We all need structural supports. What if we started insisting that the structural supports that some of us need (for instance: communication assistance, reduction of stimuli, more empathy) is something that we all require as human beings? (33/)

What is we decide that it is society that is disabled, and not ourselves?
(34/)

I'm not sure I'm making my point very well.

Clearly there are still limited financial and structural resources that should first go to the people who have the greatest need. (Which is already not happening.) (35/)

I want to say that the more people we accept as being autistic, the more people might start accepting autistic needs as their own needs. As ordinary human needs.

And the more social power we might have to argue against things like ABA and structural abuse. (36/)

H. Each one is helping one in the #actuallyautistic community already. What if we redefined things to help many?

What if more of us had access to autistic joy and connection? What if we had more more tools to understand and communicate with each other better? (37/)

I've felt alone, broken, and debilitated all my life. Accepting my needs as an autistic person has brought me joy. It is helping me connect better with literally everyone around me.

I'm sure it will still be a process, but in my context, I'm beginning to heal and thrive. (38/)

I want more people to have that. I want to question the social systems that pathologize us and make us ashamed to accept who we are. I want autism to not be defined by trauma and pain anymore.

I want us to thrive. (39/end)

Written in a hyperfocus haze, with thanks to @GummiPie , @roryreckons , @laurenancona , and many others whose thoughts I've been appreciating since joining the bird app.

(*is damaging)