Kade Elphinstone is an autistic writer and PhD researcher from Scotland. Kade is the author of How to Raise Happy Neurofabulous Children and publishes regularly on their site and on Mastodon. I really like how they present autism not as a problem (that needs solving) but as something that exists in its own right.
One of these threads really hit me. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the autism discours and my own struggles to fit in (or not fit in.) Said thread: 10 reasons why I like being autistic. I got in touch and Kade and I made a little book from it. You can read it below, or download to read and keep on your phone. Take a break and feel proud about being you!
I even had some printed, will let you all know what I will do with those. (Please reach out if you’d like one.)
♾️Ten reasons why I like being autistic♾️
By Kade Elphinstone
Maybe surprisingly to some, being autistic isn’t all bad. Here are some things that may get missed when autism is defined *only* through our difficulties & struggles.
Reason no. 1 My way of processing information. 🔢
Autistic different ways of processing information can lead to unusual perception: seeing patterns, details, connections, and possibilities that may not be obvious from the mainstream view.
#AutisticCognition
Reason no. 2 My unusual empathy. 💟
Autistic empathy can be intense! It tends to also be pretty democratic: for people, animals, plants, and even objects. Our empathy often isn’t interested in hierarchies – and doesn’t exclude those who don’t appear useful or successful in society.
#AutisticEmpathy
Reason no. 3 My selective hyper-memory and hyper-focus.
This can mean persevering past the point where others would give up – so developing knowledge, skill, or creativity to unusual depths. ⚓️ That said, I may sometimes forget how to use a kettle.
#Hyperfocus
Reason no. 4 My hyper-sensory experiences. 🤪
These can be totally overwhelming. But, on the positive side, I might notice ambient nuances, beauty and subtlety – smells, textures, sounds. They can also be handy, e.g. for noticing in time if the house is on fire!!
Reason no. 5 Getting right into the details of things. 🎼
Autistic attention to detail can be difficult, for example when trying to shift focus – but it can also mean unusual observational powers, precision, and noticing things other people don’t.
Reason no. 6 Unusual imagination 🍃
Autistic imagination can be wonderfully various, rich, strange, vivid, or deeply felt. Some autistic people have whole inner worlds! While for some, there are no inner visuals. For some, memory – if present – comes by sensations.
Reason no. 7 Asking, “Why?” ❓️
There’s often a strong autistic tendency to look for the “why” of things: to question systems, notice patterns and wonder about them. And then to creatively imagine how things could be changed.
Reason no. 8 My non-conformist mind. 🎋
To many autistic people, “because everyone else is doing it” is NOT a good reason for doing something. I see this non-conformist thinking style as an important safeguard against herd mentality.
Reason no. 9 Resistance to manipulation. 🫏
Autistic people can be hard to praise or punish into compliance. Often due to inability more than any active rebellion. Though we may feel a lot of shame around this. My take: it’s not always a positive thing to fit in.
Reason no. 10 My potential for authentic friendships, given the right environment.
We have a strong and growing community. There’s still often this vast loneliness. But now we can find each other, at least. And perhaps, ourselves. 🌈 💟