Why Fit In When You Can Stand Out?

“I have spent my life trying to fit in without much success – but I am not going to try so hard to fit in anymore, like everyone else with autism, I was born to stand out.”

: Suzanne Burke, Police Constable and Member of the Metropolitan Police Service Autism Support Network

What is Autism?

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a type of neurodiversity that is defined as a complex developmental condition with social interaction and communication difficulties. Autism is not an illness or disease that must be cured. Autism is that one’s brain functioning differently than others. People with ASD show a range of signs including delays of speech, difficulty to communicate and interact with other people, difficulty to understand what other people think, repetitive behaviors, imaginative play, etc. The behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorder begin early in childhood; 12 months to 18 months or earlier and lasts throughout one’s lifespan. The actual cause of ASD is yet obscure but research reveals autism appears from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Changes in certain genes or exposure to certain environmental influences increase the risk of developing autism. But not everyone associated with these gene mutations or environmental factors develop the disorder. No treatment has been found to treat the condition but certain therapeutic remedies are done to reduce symptoms such as behavioral and communication therapies, skills training, and medication. When it comes to the prevalence, it is estimated that about one in 270 individuals has autism worldwide. Also, ASD is more frequent in males than in females.

Why it is called Autism “Spectrum” Disorder?

“If you have met one person with autism, you have only met one person with autism.”

Autism is known as Autism “Spectrum” Disorder as it ranges in a diverse way of types and symptoms differing from person to person with autism. People with ASD are characterized by behaviors regarding social communication, interaction behaviors, restrictive or repetitive behaviors. With respect to social communication and interaction behaviors, people with autism tend not to look at or listen to people when communicating with others. In some cases, it is hard for them to maintain consistent eye contact and make a little eye contact. They have struggled with verbality and fail or become slow to respond. Some have trouble understanding what others say or act and lack continuing a back and forth conversation. They often keep things to themselves and rarely share objects or activities they are interested in with others. They might also possess an unusual tone of voice that may sound droning; making continuous low humming sound or robot-like. They also have difficulties expressing themselves such as having facial expressions, gestures that do not match what is being said.

Restrictive or repetitive behaviors they show include repeating certain behaviors when they experience a strong emotion with actions or words. People with ASD most of the time have routines and they get easily irritated by any slight change in them. Some keen on intense heeds in certain objects such as moving objects or topics regarding various subjects. Also, they are more or less sensitive than other people to senses; light, sound, etc. Some people with ASD known to be highly gifted; they are the savants. Some may possess the ability to sense visual, auditory, olfactory senses than others. Some possess abilities excelling in various fields.

Why fake being “normal” to fit in?

“The society labels you as ‘stranger’ if you are different from them.”

People with ASD should not be labeled as ‘Fragile, handle with care.’ Almost all in our society believe autism is a disease or handicap. Some with autism show disruptive antisocial behaviors such as hitting, screaming, or hurting themselves due to stressful environments. With that, society embraces this view that autism is an annoyance, stigma, or worse. Therefore, most of the time people with ASD feel different or isolated and try to fit into the “norm”. Autism never prevents one from being whole and complete as a human. It should be accepted as a part of oneself. Researchers have found that constant camouflaging the behavior paves the way to costs like exhaustion, increased stress, social overload, anxiety, depression, and negative impacts on the development of identity.

One does not have to camouflage to socialize or square with by stepping outside of herself or himself to appear par for the course. Instead, they can be themselves and it is others who need to tear down the walls of stereotypical stigma and accept them as they are. Being atypical does not mean damaged or flawed, because they are not.

Be yourself as you are, as a whole, unparalleled being of nature.

To know more on the spectrum, the ongoing project “SPECTRA” organized by the Rotaract Club of the Faculty of Science, welcomes everyone to “EMBRACE THE AU-SOMENESS“. Stay tuned with us for more updates.