Myths, Stereotypes, & Facts About Autism (+ 5 Things You Can Do to Change the Stigma)
Navigating stereotypes has shaped me into who I am today. It began when I was a child when my little brother, Mikey, was born with Down Syndrome. I saw first-hand how easy it was for people to dismiss my brother or make assumptions about him. Whenever I told a new teacher or friend that Mikey had Down Syndrome, I could practically see an image forming in their head. Certain physical characteristics, a specific speech pattern, lack of independence…. so many preconceived notions. So little focus on the individual; on the amazing brother I knew, who was full of personality, had a way of communicating that was all his own, and who was (and still is!) a singular light unlike anyone else on earth.
Sure, my love for my sibling makes me biased. But also, especially when I look back now, I can see clearly how easily most people accepted the stereotypes as true. How few people really understood the myths and facts of neurodiversity. And how falling prey to these ideas leaves us all with less. Less connection, less learning, less acceptance.
Nowadays, I have new perspectives on this lesson. Both as a certified behavior analyst and the parent of a child with autism, I have an up-close-and-personal view into the myths and facts of autism. Yet, the hard truth is that even I fell victim to stereotypes at first.
When my son, Sean, was born, I was years into my professional experience as a neurodiversity expert. Despite that, during the first two years of his life I refused to believe an autism diagnosis was a possibility simply because he didn’t have many of the “typical characteristics”. Sure, there was increased fixation and repetition of movement, atypical play, delayed social imitation… but I had chalked each of those behaviors up to other things. More importantly, he had so many of the skills that I thought would rule out autism.
I will never forget a conversation I had with a therapist just a few days before his 3-year developmental assessment. She told me, “Be open to anything. Even autism.” I smiled and nodded, but thought to myself, “No way.” His overall behavior made this diagnosis seem impossible. But it was diagnosis that we would get weeks later, and that would leave me reeling.
Despite everything I knew professionally, and everything I’d experienced personally, it took me longer than I’d like to admit to accept the reality of Sean’s autism. Denial can be a powerful form of self-protection… and can be the result of a misguided set of assumptions. We also sometimes simply think we know better because we are focused on our own personal experiences that reinforce our beliefs.
My initial shock is a testament to how our love and personal experiences can cloud our ability to see the truth. Looking back, I recognize that it’s also the stigma and stereotypes of autism that had me blinded. And no wonder. The fact is, we all make assumptions based on conventional “wisdom;” and the more we draw those conclusions, the more our brain accepts this mental practice as the truth.
Meanwhile, stereotypes divide us. They create fear and discomfort, which perpetuates and further ingrains the stereotype. It’s a vicious cycle that keeps us from the truth.
Even though we have learned a lot about neurodiversity, many people still confuse autism myths and facts. My story shows that there is always something to learn. Even as an “expert” in this field, I was limited by my own assumptions at first.
The fix: acknowledge that we can’t possibly know everything. That there is always something to learn. That each individual is their own unique person worthy of being fully seen and accepted just as they are.
This level of acceptance and empathy doesn’t come automatically. It requires an intentional shift to facing the myths and facts of autism straight-on, and allowing truth to be our guide.
7 Myths, Stigmas & Stereotypes of Autism
1. People with autism can't make eye contact.
Making “direct eye contact” is something that is highly prized in our culture. It’s often a measure of confidence and self-esteem. Traditionally, it’s a high priority when it comes to evaluating children’s compliance and ability to follow directions.
People with autism may avoid eye contact, and this behavior has become one of the “hallmark signs of autism.”
However, the value placed on making eye contact in a direct, sustained way, can interfere with our ability to recognize how the individual is actually connecting with others.
With my clients, I like to teach referencing as an alternative. Instead of sustained eye contact, we focus on how and when they can signal the people they are trying to communicate with. Sometimes it’s a brief eye gaze or even just a look in a person’s direction. Encouraging these simple social cues can help people with autism acclimate, and can help others understand that these individuals have their own way of establishing contact and connection with others.
2. People with autism should "just act their neurotypical peers."
There is an overriding message that individuals with autism should make an effort to be like their neurotypical peers. This emphasis on conformity and assimilation is as troubling in this arena as it is in so many other places because it is holding neurotypical mannerisms up as a norm that everyone should mirror.
The fact is, denying who you are, or attempting to copy the “norm” is a sure-fire way to reinforce stereotypes, which is what gets us into trouble in the first place
This is where we could take a page from Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy, which focuses on affirming and support neruodivergent differences. Instead of viewing individual characteristics as deficits that need to be “cured,” this approach looks for ways to support neurodiverse people with challenges while acknowledging that they may have unique strengths and perspectives.
3. People with autism can't live independent, meaningful lives without relying on social services.
This couldn’t be further from the truth! Of course, each individual’s level of independence will depend on their own unique traits and challenges. Which is exactly why we need to work with each person to assess their needs and set individual goals and plans based on their interests and skills.
Whether a person with autism chooses to live alone or with others as they become an adult, there is one thing we know for sure: they need community just like we all do.
If you’ve seen the recent Netflix documentary about Blue Zones, you know all about how important community is to our longevity, health, and happiness. Finding connection and belonging is among our most basic human needs, and this will look different for every person.
Individuals with autism will need access to community resources early and often so they can build their social networks as they mature and grow.
4. People with autism always have "disruptive" behavior.
This is the time for me to remind you of my favorite fact: “Behavior is communication.” While certain behaviors are certainly disruptive to other people, the individual is usually not doing the behavior just for the sake of being disruptive. They are trying to communicate something that they don’t YET have another way to communicate.
Often, it’s assumed that people with autism will present certain challenging behaviors (yelling, self-injury, invading other people’s space, etc.). The fact is, these individuals are not born with these behaviors. They are learned via modeling, association and observation, as are all behaviors.
So many families come to me to try to “solve” their child’s disruptive behavior, and I always start at the same place: with a mindset shift away from the behavior itself being “bad” towards an understanding of what the behavior is trying to communicate. Once we have this understanding, we can work with the child to develop other communication skills, coping strategies, and behaviors. The end is a win-win: parents have less frustration and kids have more understanding and skills.
5. Autism is a spectrum.
This is one of those myths that was perpetuated by a long-held belief that autism is linear. To be fair, we were still learning about autism (and still are!), and with each new bit of research we expand our understanding.
What we know now is that autism is not a spectrum of “less autistic” to “more autistic.” Autism is actually more of a pie, where each piece is a different trait. Individuals may show more or less of each trait (and these traits may change over time). So it ends up looking more like this:
Placing individuals on a spectrum naturally led to labeling them as “high functioning” or “low functioning.” We know now that these terms are outdated and reductive. Each person will have different challenges, traits, and strengths. Just like their neurotypical peers, they cannot be judged on a straight line.
6. People with autism aren't "able" to {fill in the blank}.
The fact is, most neurotypical people have a bias against autistic people. Not because they want to be judgemental. But because our society typically has an ableist approach to any mental/physical/behavior difference. Even when we have the best of intentions, we often think about autistic people about what they “are not able to do.”
A neuro-affirming approach asks us to first consider what the individual is ACTUALLY doing. What behaviors are present? What are those behaviors trying to communicate? What additional skills are needed to communicate or expand behaviors?
When we begin with these questions, as opposed to starting by naming what an individual is able and not able to do, we are treating the individual as a person who does not need to be “fixed,” but rather needs to grow skills just like their neurotypical peers.
This is just one part of an anti-ableist approach, and an important reminder to think critically about the stereotypes you hear and confront your own, natural bias.
7. People with autism have special skills or are a "savant."
Once again, we have allowed an assumption to be made based on the exception to the rule. Only about 10% of people with autism have a savant (or exceptional) skill, but depictions of autistic people in the media often represent this small percentage.
While there are some correlations between autistic individuals and those with a savant skill, one is hardly a prerequisite for the other. We are still learning about how and why the brain develops these extraordinary skills, but we do know that autism does not cause them. Ultimately, 10% of non-autistic people have savant skills just like their neurodiverse counterparts.
The Misconception of High-Functioning Autism
We can’t talk about autism myths and facts without addressing one of the biggest misconceptions of all: “high-functioning autism.” This term is a throwback that relies on autism existing on a spectrum (which is no longer the way we think about it…see image above), It is not accurate and no longer used by doctors, clinicians, or people with autism.
Labeling individuals as “high” or “low” functioning perpetuates the idea that autism is something that needs to be “fixed” and runs counter to a neuro-affirming approach. Ultimately, each person is “high” functioning in some areas and “low” functioning in others…whether they are neurodiverse OR neurotypical.
As we attempt to unravel the assumptions around high-functioning autism, it’s helpful to consider how the misconception came about and continues to be perpetuated.
“High-masking” is often perceived as “high-functioning.” Masking is when people with autism develop skills to fit in seamlessly with their surroundings. “High masking” refers to individuals with an exceptional ability to do this and can be seen as “high-functioning” when, in fact, it is less about innate functioning and more about a person’s coping mechanisms. The truth is, masking is exhausting and can take a toll. It is not an aspiration to encourage.
The use of Asperger’s Syndrome as a diagnosis, and the subsequent removal of it, has also led to confusion and a propensity to refer to individuals as “high-functioning.” While it was once used to refer to people with autism who did not have a learning disability diagnosis, it was removed from use in 2013 and folded into the diagnosis of “autism spectrum disorder.” .
As a behavior analyst, I see the term “high-functioning” as damaging because it assumes that the individual's social behavior is part of their innate make-up. But we know that behavior is, in fact, a set of skills that are developed over time. These terms undermine the idea that behavior is communication, and something that can be learned, adjusted, and refined over time.
3 Interesting Facts About Autism
Once we look beyond the stereotypes, myths, and stigmas we can see explore some of the interesting facts about autism. Here are five facts that may surprise you:
Many famous people have autism, such as Dan Aykroyd, Susan Boyle, Tony BeBlous, Courtney Love, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Greta Thunberg. If there is any doubt that people with autism have the ability to lead full, successful lives, these people should put that to rest.
Autism diagnoses are on the rise…but that may not mean what you think. The latest research confirms that 1 in 36, 8-year-old children are diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). This is significantly higher than the 1 in 44 statistic that was published in 2018. However, there is push-back against calling autism an “epidemic” based on these new reports. More likely, we are getting better at diagnosing autism AND are diagnosing children of color with more accuracy than we have in the past.
While many people with autism have good mental health, as a group they do experience higher levels of mental health disorders. One study found that childhood anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were common comorbidities. In that study 70% of the participants had one comorbidity and 41% had two comorbidities. What’s important to note here is the WHY. Is the prevalence of depression and low mood due to feeling different than their peers and missing the sense of belonging that we all need? There may not be enough research to determine if this is true, but the anecdotal evidence certainly confirms how autism myths and stereotypes do damage to these individuals.
5 Steps You Can Take to Change the Stigma about People with Autism
The bad news is that stereotypes and misconceptions are created and perpetuated by (often misguided) social norms and lead to marginalization and discrimination. The good news is that we have the power to unravel these stigmas and change the conversation from one of judgment to one of curiosity and equality.
Here are 5 ways to change the stigma about people with autism:
1. Educate Yourself
Educating ourselves is the first step towards change of any kind. Once we have a deeper understanding of what is myth and what is fact we can begin to shift our perspective. Reading this article is a step in the right direction! Continue to explore autism myth-busting information from reliable sources.
2. Be Discerning with Your Media Consumption
The media plays a huge role in how we think about ourselves and each other. Historically, people with autism have been portrayed in the media in a very narrow way, with the “autistic savant” being the primary narrative. More recently, there has been a move toward more realistic representation in the media, like Pixar’s short film, Loop that features a non-verbal autistic girl as the main character. As a consumer, your discernment is the best tool you have to shift the cultural conversation. When you see an autistic person portrayed in the media, ask yourself if the character is built on stereotypes or allows for a more nuanced reality.
3. Challenge Stereotypes & Promote Awareness
“Be the change you want to see in the world” is some of the best advice we can follow. After all, our society is made up of individuals and we all have as much power as the next person to shift the conversations towards equity. As you continue to unlearn and learn about autism, share your discoveries. Use your voice and your influence whether it’s in your community or around your dinner table.
4. Find Allies & Create Coalitions
We are stronger together. Search out organizations and allies that share your goal to change the stigmas. Create coalitions with like-minded people so you can share your learning. As you do this, remember to continually reach for autistic voices as your primary source of information. Follow autistic influencers to get real stories from the source.
5. Continue Self-Reflection
Changing stigmas require us to continually reflect on our own biases. It’s helpful to remember that we all have biases based on our lived experiences and the more clear-eyed we look at these misconceptions, the better we can clear the way for change.
Autism stereotypes and myths exist for a reason. The more we understand these stigmas AND the facts that contradict them, the more we can create a more inclusive and empathetic society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
More than anything, I want you to know that you’re not alone. If you need some one-on-one help to navigate parenting your neurodiverse child, reach out for a free no-pressure Discovery Call to see if coaching might be the answer you’re looking for.
If getting out the door in the morning or sitting down for dinner is a struggle, I get it. Nearly every parent I speak to just wants to make communication with their child easier…and their home more peaceful. One of the first steps is using specific tools to help your child listen. Click here to get my free guide with five tools to help your neurodiverse child listen (psssst…..these tools really work for every child!).
