Hey there, I’m Tai! I’m a 17 year old dog trainer, artist, and autist! I didn’t discover I was autistic until later in life. Because my autism doesn’t look like what most people think it is, I slipped through the cracks when I was a kid and struggled way more than I should have had to. I’ve always been autistic, it’s not something you can “develop”, and I always will be autistic, because there is no “cure.” Even if there was, I wouldn’t want it! Autism is a disability, but it has shaped my entire personality and the way I am, and I couldn’t imagine experiencing the world in a different way. I decided to create this account to spread awareness, help other people like me learn about themselves, and make the world a tiny bit better for all my fellow autists! I hope you enjoy your stay!
Some other things I didn’t mention: -Just because you have some things in common with autistic people doesn’t mean you’re autistic! Anyone can stim or have certain sensory sensitivities, it just happens to us much more frequently and intensely. -Not all autistic people experience all autistic traits! Not all of us experience dramatic meltdowns, not all of us are bad at conversation, and not all of us stim frequently! Every autistic person is unique just like every neurotypical person, so please don’t assume all autistic people act the way I or a TV character do. -We cannot regulate our emotions the same way neurotypical people can. We aren’t able to simply “get over it” or stop ourselves from getting overwhelmed/having a meltdown. (for very long) Respect us and our disability, and don’t try to force us to do something we can’t. -Autism cannot be cured and does not go away. It is a lifelong disability. Some people can learn to manage/hide their autistic traits in public but an autistic person is born that way and will die that way. It is not caused by vaccines or environment, and all autistic people are autistic from birth. Sometimes we don’t show our traits until later in life when more stress is put on us from friendships, school, or a job. -Functioning labels are outdated! There is no such thing as “mild” or “severe” autism, it’s all the same disorder. Every autistic person just shows it differently. I will make a project explaining more about this, but I can even appear “high-functioning” or “low-functioning” depending on the day! Please don’t use these labels, just refer to us as “autistic.” Some autistic lingo: -Autist/Autistic — Someone with autism -Neurodivergent — Someone with ADHD, OCD, BPD, dissociative disorders, or autism. -Neurotypical — Someone who is not neurodivergent -Allistic — Someone who is not autistic. They may still be neurodivergent! -Special Interest — A topic an autistic person is extremely interested in long-term. Different from a normal hobby, special interests often consume an autistic person’s life. Math, psychology, and animals are common special interests. -Meltdown — A state of extreme overstimulation in which the person melting down often cannot communicate. Can be quiet (crying, refusing to speak, freezing) or loud. (Harmful stimming, rocking, screaming) Most, but not all, autistics go nonverbal or semiverbal during/after a meltdown.
