8 Things You Were Probably Taught About Autism That Are Completely Wrong

March 26, 2016 / Christine Deneweth

What have you learned about autism?

There’s lots of “information” floating around that’s just plain inaccurate – and also really harmful. So it’s really important to make sure you aren’t falling for the misconceptions.

This concept debunks several common myths to help you get on the right track. Do you know of any other misconceptions that need to be debunked?

With Love,
The Editors at Everyday Feminism

AS 1 AS 2 AS 3 AS 4 AS 7 AS 8 AS 9

Click for the Transcript

Panel 1

8 Misconceptions About Autism Debunked – Christine Deneweth and Creigh Farinas

Panel 2

Image of paper dolls.

Text: All autistic people are the same.

Panel 3

Image of magnifying glass.

Text: It is harmful to view a diverse group of people through one lens. This way of thinking erases all of the individuals with autism.

Panel 4

People smiling under a rainbow.

Text: Autism is a spectrum. And people on it vary so much that until a couple years ago we were giving them different diagnoses.

Panel 5

Image of fist

Text: Autistic people are violent.

Panel 6

Woman frowning.

Text: People may think this because of false media narrative. But is isn’t fair to assume a whole group of people are violent because of the way media portrays autism.

Panel 7

Image of man with his hands up, afraid of a fist.

Text: Actually, people on the spectrum are more likely to be victims.

Panel 8

Image of pills

Text: Autistic people want to be cured.

Panel 9

man looking confused.

Text: There is no cure for autism. Autism organizations talk about a cure for autism as though it’s something all autistic people want.

Panel 10

Woman talking to a therapist.

Text: Yes some people want a cure. But many people on the spectrum like being autistic, and find pushing for a cure offensive.

Panel 11

Heart ripping in half.

Text: My child can’t be autistic, they love me.

Panel 12

Child crying.

Text: This is an offensive stereotype that needs to end. This is extremely harmful for children who are autistic because it can isolate and marginalize them.

Panel 13

Man holding up a picture of a heart.

Text: That is an offensive stereotype that needs to end. People on the spectrum are some of the most loving and compassionate people out there, Don’t misunderstand how they show it!

Panel 14

Image of scale.

Text: High functioning and low functioning is a valid measurement.

Panel 15

Woman shouting.

Text: No! This suggests there’s only 2 sides to autism instead of a spectrum. And this dehumanizes autistic people.

Woman: No!

Panel 16

Image of a stop sign.

Text: Autism is a spectrum, everyone on it is an individual. Using high functioning and low functioning just marginalizes people.

Panel 17

Image of ruler.

Text: By working on making autistic people act neurotypical, we’re helping them.

Panel 18

Woman staring at the word “normal”.

Text: This view benefits neurotypicals but harms people on the spectrum. The idea that everyone should act “normal” is ridiculous and harmful.

Panel 19

Woman waving

Text: A lot of therapy focuses on eliminating hand flapping, forcing eye contact, and training an autistic person to be compliant. But this causes discomfort and censors a person’s identity.

Woman: Let me move!

Panel 20

Image of holding hands.

Text: All allies are good.

Panel 21

Image of megaphone.

Text: Educated allies are good! Do your research! Make sure you are making voices be heard, and not just your own.

Panel 22

Image of a check mark.

Text: Make sure to check with the autism community or person you’re supporting to make sure you’re helping not harming!

Panel 23

Image of woman frowning

Text: An autistic person’s life is a lessor life.

Panel 24

Woman frowning.

Text: The view point is dehumanizing and holds neurotypical privilege.

Panel 25

Image of woman smiling

Text: Absolutely not. While people on the spectrum might not be as privileged, it doesn’t mean their lives are any less than anyone else’s.

Panel 26

Group of people smiling

Text: Get to know us and ask questions before you assume!

To learn more about this topic, check out:

[do_widget id=’text-101′]

Christine Deneweth is a Contributing Comic Artist for Everyday Feminism. A queer cartoonist and artist, Christine lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She is a cartoonist for Eastern Michigan University’s newspaper the Eastern Echo. She writes children’s books about mental disability and has a comic strip that has been published for five years. Comics can be found on her Facebook page, and art can be found on her Instagram @crassaster. Check out her work here!

Creigh Farinas is a Contributing Writer for Everyday Feminism. She’s a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and who already has a B.A. in Psychology and a post-baccalaureate in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Creigh is still learning more every day, and her sister Caley reads, edits, and approves everything that Creigh writes about disabilities. You can see more of Creigh and Caley’s writing at Autism Spectrum Explained.