Autism isn't a disease

Autism isn't a disease. This is something I've been claiming for years, and will continue to express to anyone who thinks otherwise. Technically it's considered a "disorder" however I don't think that's accurate either. Autism is a different way of thinking, a different way of seeing the world.

A person with autism isn't broken. They don't need to be fixed, they need to be accepted. It's no different from having a few specific quirks. We all have 'em, we just aren't all labeled with them.

People with autism are smart, like crazy smart. They see things so differently than most people that they are able to come at a problem with a completely different perspective to find a solution we might not have ever thought of.

I love learning about things from a new perspective. Especially in movies or books, when each chapter or episode is told from a different point of view. It's fascinating to see how the exact same circumstance can come across completely differently to someone who is standing on the other side of the room.

People with autism are considered on a spectrum called ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder. This spectrum contains people who have a few minor symptoms to those who have a very difficult time functioning in a "normal" environment. To be considered on the spectrum, you may have difficulties with social interactions, speech and nonverbal communication, or have repetitive behaviors. Some people experience all of these to a certain level, while others only experience a few. Yet all people with autism are lumped into the same category. In fact the category is so large that there was a separate disorder that was recently added to the lump of ASD. That disorder was formerly known as Asperger's Syndrome.

Asperger's Syndrome is similar to Autism in that it can inhibit someone's ability to act appropriately in a social situation. They may be overly focused on a specific topic of conversation, or not understand when to be sympathetic to someone who is hurting. Sometimes they even become angry or anxious over things most people would just blow over. This makes people with Asperger's Syndrome come across as rude or selfish, when in reality that's just how their brain works.

It may be easy for someone to break a simple rule, for example jaywalking. We all do it. No one really walks all the way to the corner to cross the street then walk back in the same direction just to use a crosswalk. But jaywalking could be something that someone with Asperger's or Autism is triggered by. They could feel very strongly that people need to use crosswalks to cross the street safely. Therefore, seeing someone jaywalk could make them become very anxious for that person's safety, or very angry that they aren't following the rules made to keep people safe.

Their minds are very black and white; there's not a lot of gray area. To them, rules are rules or routines are very important and inflexible.

Many people hear that someone has Autism or Asperger's and think, "oh there's something wrong with that person," or "Wow, that sounds scary." But it shouldn't be scary. The only reason autism feels scary is if you're being forced to pretend you don't think and see differently than others. You're forced to pretend you're "normal." Who really is normal?

People with autism work so hard every day to just make it through the day without seeming too different or quirky. They must put on a fake smile, calm their need to speak about things on their mind, and learn how to do things that come naturally to others, like making eye contact or polite gestures. All they need is a safe space to be themselves.

Their safe space could be alone in a room with a comfy pillow and a book, or a TV and a video game. Most of the time it's somewhere they're alone because social situations make them feel uncomfortable. So if you have a friend with autism, don't be surprised if they seem to cancel plans or are hesitant to make social plans in the first place. It's not because they don't want to be with you; it's probably because they don't want to put on their fake in-public face to make it through the evening.

My point here, is that we shouldn't be forcing people with autism to be more like us. Instead, we should be accepting them for who they are and trying to make them feel comfortable expressing themselves anyway they need. So when charities are out there advertising that they're looking for a "cure" for autism, I get so angry. Autism doesn't need to be cured, it needs to be accepted.

If you ever feel like donating to a charity that supports Autism, be sure that you donate to the charities that are actually supporting people with Autism, not just looking for a cure.

Charities that support people with Autism to be themselves include:

• OAR (Organization for Autism Research)
• Autism Society
• National Autistic Society (based in the UK)
• The Asperger/Autism Network