Click above to view Welcome to the Autistic Community video .
the fact that I can ’ t seem to color without snapping crayons in half have anything to do with my tendency to absorb and parrot “ catchphrases ” from people around me ? Without the framework of autism , I felt isolated . I couldn ’ t figure out why school and social situations were so much harder for me . It took me 20 years to find my way ; Welcome to the Autistic Community is an expedited entry point . It helps reveal the invisible lines that connect the dots of all these different experiences .
Joining the autistic community is about more than just meeting other autistic people . You ’ re suddenly privy to a new , vast landscape of
“ Resources for the autistic community should be
written in language that all of us can understand , including those of us with intellectual and other disabilities .”
information . I suddenly had words for things
I ’ d experienced but had never known how to convey , like “ neurodivergent ” and “ stimming .” You find out that lots of things that you always thought were specific to only you are actually traits that you share with a lot of people , people who have made resource lists and FAQs . You start reading resources shared by the community that link to other resources or use these new words and ideas . Suddenly , everything starts making sense .
I can ’ t reach back to my younger self to say , “ Hey , you ’ re not just making it up . I can explain everything .” What I can do is share Welcome to the Autistic Community with anyone and every-
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ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses