Debunk: Autism is incredibly diverse, spanning across economic standing, race, gender and age
Myth: Support is consistently offered to people with autism throughout their life, regardless of age
Debunk: Support is sadly often dependent on accessibility through financial means and can often become more difficult to acquire as an individual with autism gets older
Myth: All genders are treated equally, in diagnosis and treatment
Debunk: Diagnosis of ASD is still based on a criteria that was only tested on white adolescent males, ignoring the fact that Autism can show up differently in other genders. This can often lead to other genders with autism just not getting diagnosed at all.
Myth: People with autism lack empathy
Debunk: People with Autism have immense empathy for the world, it just may not be shown the way neurotypicals expect/are used to.
Myth: You should talk to a person with Autism like a child, regardless of their actual age
Debunk: Every person with autism is different, some individuals may need support with auditory communication, some may not. Get to know the person!
Myth: "Low or High functioning" should be used as terms to describe a person with autism
Debunk: It is more accurate to discuss levels of care, making judgements of what is low and high, erases the individual and can be hurtful.
