Autism and Misconceptions

This blog will discuss some of the most common misconceptions around autism, and how these affect people on the spectrum. For those who do not know, autism is an abnormal developmental condition; it is sometimes referred to as an autistic spectrum disorder, which can be shortened to ASD. Autism affects different people in different ways, but there is one area where nearly all autistic people, including myself, have difficulty – this is communication with others.

In my experience, it is not so much autism itself, but the misconceptions surrounding autism, that make life difficult. How it this the case? An article on the National Autistic Society (2013) website points out that: ‘Misconceptions can lead to some people who have autism feeling isolated and alone. In extreme cases, it can also lead to abuse and bullying.’ The first point certainly rings true for me; I feel misunderstood a lot, especially when someone fails to recognise my talents, enthusiasm, or intellectual capabilities. This situation is very emotionally upsetting for me, and feels like total discrimination. The result of this is loneliness.

This next section will discuss the actual beliefs that surround autism. The NAS article stated above includes a Twitter campaign to dispel such myths; this involves listing the different beliefs, and separates them into facts and myths. Some of those ‘myths’ that NAS has listed are quoted here:    

• ‘People with autism don’t feel emotions’
• ‘All people with autism require constant care.'
• ‘A person with autism cannot be educated.’

While I have encountered people with such beliefs, NONE of them ring true in for me; and I can contradict each of them with true facts about myself. I experience emotions, both positive and negative, far greater than the average person; I have managed to travel thousands of miles from anyone I know; and I have succeeded in gaining a university degree, against all odds. 

However, there is one misconception around autism that is especially profound in its impact on my life. This misconception is that ‘non-verbal people with autism are severely mentally impaired.’ What this affects is my ability to land a job – not because of my actual abilities, but due to being misunderstood by the interviewer. In past interview situations I have been in – for courses and work placements – I did not manage to say much to the interviewer, or make eye contact. Apparently, this lead to the assumption that I did not have the ability to study or work – this certainly wasn’t true. And guess what the outcome was? That’s right, rejection!

This typical association between poor communication and mental impairment enrages me a very great deal. Who in their right mind would make such an assumption? All my life experiences contradict this belief, as I will discuss here. I am very talented both visually and mathematically. I can memorise huge amounts of information. I have stupendous knowledge of natural history and geography, and can name every African capital city (quiz me if you dare!). I enjoy reading books, and watching movies, and can memorise countless quotes. I have gained plenty of skills with travel, and managing my own responsibilities. This would make me a good candidate for many jobs. Indeed, I have succeeded in many aspects of life where I did not require the approval of an interviewer. So where does this ‘myth’ come from? Through the Twitter campaign mentioned previously, the NAS has provided facts to contradict this belief, which I whole-heartedly agree with:

• 'Some people with autism may have an associated learning difficulty while others can have average/above average intelligence.'
• 'Non-verbal people with autism can often understand what other people say to them.'
• 'Non-verbal people with autism prefer other means of communication - e.g. sign language or visual symbols.'

Based on this, it seems there is no actual evidence to support the ‘non-verbal/mental impairment connection.’ The most likely explanation is that it is a belief that culture has spread, coming from an illogical mindset. You can liken this assumption to another myth – Simone (2012, p.76) states that ‘the myth of the superior male driver/bad female driver kept a lot of women in the passenger seat when it is a fact that most accidents are caused by young men.’ Such a myth can sure bring drastic consequences! To any employers who read this blog, you can use your newfound knowledge for an interview situation. If a candidate has trouble communicating, don’t assume that they have no skills to offer – you might just be making a BIG mistake! 

To round off this article, it is my sincere belief that the world needs to be more educated about autism. Although I am primarily non-verbal, I have no trouble with written forms of communication. My knowledge and experiences demonstrate that autism is not a straightforward ‘disability’ – it can come with many gifts. Indeed, I wouldn’t have been able to write this blog if I was mentally impaired! So what stops us from progressing into adult life – in particular, getting through a job interview? It is discrimination that comes as a result of misconceptions around non-verbal people. By dispelling these myths, we can all have hopes for the future.

References

·      National Autistic Society, 2013. Myths and Facts – | autism | Asperger syndrome |. [online] Available at: http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm [Accessed 28 March 2015]

·      Simone, R., 2012. 22 Things a Women with Asperger’s Syndrome Wants her Partner to Know. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

•