What You Wish People Knew About Autism

“What you wish people knew about autism”: Many Autistic people don’t find out they are Autistic until they are adults. In this Brain Club, people tell stories of finding out for the first time that they are Autistic.

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Click here for Plain Language Summary (PDF) — also the alt text for the infographic
For transcripts of the video, click here for instructions or click here for video demonstration

Summary

• Autistic people commonly do not learn they are Autistic until later in life. People of all ages can discover that they are Autistic. 
• Autistic adults often receive their autism diagnosis during “Autistic burnout.” Often healthcare professionals do not recognize Autistic people unless they reach a point of severe Autistic burnout. 
• Autistic brains have differences in the way they take in information, process, think, move, and communicate. Autistic brains have many strengths, and have many challenges – particularly when their access needs are not met.
• Learning about how one’s brain works can be an important step for Autistic people to learn about their needs and start to advocate for what they need

For more learning:

• Autism Stigma webinar
• Autistic Burnout
• “The Best Way To Support My Health Is To Believe Me”: New Research Study About Neurodivergent Healthcare Experiences

Key terms:

Access needs	What anyone needs for full and meaningful participation
Autistic burnout	What happens when Autistic people do not have their needs met for a long time. During Autistic Burnout, an Autistic person may: – Feel exhausted  – Feel extra sensitive to sensory input – Lose skills and have a harder time doing tasks