Autism is widely misunderstood. Many people still think of it as a disorder, a flaw, or something that needs fixing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Autistic people experience the world in ways that are just as valid, meaningful, and important as the ways non-autistic people do. The more we challenge outdated ideas and autism myths, the closer we get to real understanding and acceptance.

The autism community is thriving, with autistic people actively creating their own safe spaces to connect and support one another. If you’re not part of this community, you might be surprised by how much you don’t know! Drawing from the firsthand experiences of our autistic staff and members, here are 10 essential facts to expand your understanding.

Information about autistic adulthood can be hard to find, especially for people without a connection to the community. If you want to learn more about what autism looks like in adults and how you can be more supportive of the autistic people in your life, you’re in the right place. Our blog includes an abundance of resources for you. To start, consider these 10 things you might not know already about autistic adults.

If you don’t know any autistic kids, or a child in your life was just diagnosed, it can be easy to get lost in decades worth of (often contradictory) information and opinions. This blog is a great place to start for anyone interested in learning more about autism in children and how to support autistic kids and their families. Let’s go over 10 things you might not know about autistic kids, beyond harmful stereotypes and myths.

There are so many stereotypes and assumptions about autistic people with high support needs. In honour of Autism Acceptance Month, here are 10 facts about this highly misunderstood group of people.

Acceptance starts in a place of understanding. Many people from our community just want to be accepted and appreciated for who we are. We hope public understanding of autism will shift to better reflect reality. We hope to accept ourselves, to unmask, and to be loved exactly as we are.

“I hope I can be loved and accepted for who I am.”

Inclusion is more than an invitation. When we hope for inclusion as autistic people, we are hoping for sensory-friendly options at events, stigma-free spaces, and other accommodations. We hope for our voices to be heard in school, at work, and in our community. We hope to be allowed to contribute.

“I hope autistic kids have their voices heard.”

“I hope autistic people are empowered to advocate for themselves and to shape their own lives.” Many autistic people hope to live without artificial limitations, whether that means access to meaningful employment, the ability to choose how they spend their time, or just to be allowed space to achieve great things. Everyone deserves to search for happiness, connection, and peace.

“I hope we have agency in our day-to-day lives.”

Everyone deserves to see themselves represented in the world, whether that is in government, in media, or just out in the community. We all need someone with shared experience to connect with. We hope autistic kids can have visible older autistic people to look up to. We hope younger people can find mentors.

“I hope that more autistic adults will share their stories.”

Neurodiversity is a strength to be celebrated and embraced. Autism does not have to be seen as a deficit. It can and should be celebrated as a strength and as a beautiful piece of humanity. We hope that autistic people can feel valued and appreciated for who we are.

“I hope that neurodiversity is celebrated as a strength.”

We hope that every autistic person has access to the support and resources they need. We hope that every autistic person has access to education, healthcare, and social connections. We hope that autistic children, youth, adults, and seniors can access supports across their lifespan. 

“I hope my child is supported & cared for when I pass on.”