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So since autism and autistic people are kinda trending, I decided do a thread on autism and give a little insight into how my life is as someone who is #ActuallyAustistic. (For people who know me, a lot of my mannerisms are about to make a lot of sense). Woo hoo for education!
Okay so for starters, hi guys 
I’m Joseph (he/him/his) and I’m an autistic young adult from Alabama 
I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when I was younger, and I currently attend Tuskegee and study political science 
I’m Joseph (he/him/his) and I’m an autistic young adult from Alabama I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when I was younger, and I currently attend Tuskegee and study political science
So autism is usually associated with difficulty in social and communication skills, repetitive behaviors, and adherence to routine. It also can be accompanied by sensory sensitivities and challenges with paying attention.
My personal experience is that I have trouble with socializing (reading social cues and volume when talking), info dumping/hyper fixation, and I hate looking people in the eyes, among other things. But let’s get into the education!
Socializing:
For me socializing can be a bit of a challenge. Sometimes I (unintentionally) dominate conversations, my talking volume sounds the same to me personally regardless of how loud/quiet I am, and I have a bad habit of interrupting when something pops in my head.
For me socializing can be a bit of a challenge. Sometimes I (unintentionally) dominate conversations, my talking volume sounds the same to me personally regardless of how loud/quiet I am, and I have a bad habit of interrupting when something pops in my head.
Infodumping:
Infodumping is the practice, common amongst autistic people, of giving detailed summaries of their topic of interest in single heaps, in convo both online and offline. For me, I talk about history (especially of my fraternity) all the time, because I love history.
Infodumping is the practice, common amongst autistic people, of giving detailed summaries of their topic of interest in single heaps, in convo both online and offline. For me, I talk about history (especially of my fraternity) all the time, because I love history.
Special Interest:
Many people with autism have a highly focused level of interest in particular topics. Some special interests begin in childhood, but some are picked up later in life.
For me, its history: I stay up to about 2-3 am every morning researching various topics
Many people with autism have a highly focused level of interest in particular topics. Some special interests begin in childhood, but some are picked up later in life.
For me, its history: I stay up to about 2-3 am every morning researching various topics
Looking people in the eyes:
I can’t explain way, but looking people in the eyes freaks me out. Anyone who has talked to me for any period of time has probably noticed that I don’t look them in the eyes. Its nothing personal. It just feels like the other person is doing this:
I can’t explain way, but looking people in the eyes freaks me out. Anyone who has talked to me for any period of time has probably noticed that I don’t look them in the eyes. Its nothing personal. It just feels like the other person is doing this:
