you're really on to something here. "over saturate the market". one of the many problems with representation is that there needs to be MORE of ALL of it. not to compare communities like they are similar (when maybe they overlap in ways I dont know) but I for one do not think there is enough black representation in films and TV shows. Now, progress has been made sure, but not ENOUGH diversity of EXPERIENCE within black lives is show cased. I'm not black myself but I dont think plopping in one or two black stories is enough. we need all sorts of black stories from many different angles and communities WITHIN that community. its the same with autism. we cant just say "oh i've seen ONE thing with an autistic character." there needs to be MORE so that more people who are autistic have a chance to see something relatable. that was a bigger ramble comment than usual. but thank you again as always Dana. you're pushing positive change and always providing food for thought. :)
Loving this series. Its really helped me decide to start my own channel. I'm going to call it "Openly Autistic" and I'm hoping to upload my first video in early November :D
Initially after my diagnosis, and going on for the first year I was pretty free with openly telling folks to give me some slack because I'm autistic because I was still coming to terms with it, trying to understand what it meant and how my life was different from others. Looking back now I like to say that I was openly disclosing my diagnosis because I was looking for validation, that being diagnosed late in life I needed to hear from the people I cared about that they could see it, too. It took two to three years before I began to really make changes and adjust my life to make things easier for me. Now I don't really care to tell anyone. I've never been super concerned about my public appearance at any rate so if I come off as weird or socially inept I just let it be the case. What I enjoy though is when me being open about being autistic causes others to self reflect and consider whether or not they are neurodivergent. Even my own mother as she was getting to understand what it meant began to question her own childhood and just recently was diagnosed autistic, too. Sharing neurodivergent memes in particular is a hilarious way to spread awareness because if you're on the spectrum you'll understand the memes, whether you know you're on the spectrum or not.
Regardless of whether I tell people I'm autistic, they will see that I'm different and respond accordingly. It's for this reason that I don't mind telling people I'm autistic.
It was also good that you highlighted how once a person comes out as autistic it can end dominating other people's perceptions of them - it becomes a "master status" which affects how others respond to them even when it's not relevant. Sometimes an autistic person wants spaces where they can just pursue a certain interest or activity without others potentially bringing up the subject of autism. In some cases an autistic person may want to discuss how autism relates to some other issue or interest but they'd like to do it on their terms rather than having it thrust upon them.
Very good topic. I think there are many parallels with coming out as LGBTQ. One area of difference which can discourage coming out as autistic is that some people don't know what it means and so that person either doesn't know what to say or do or requires an explanation which can be awkward to deliver. Perhaps the biggest impediment and a definite parallel with LGBTQ is fear that being open will lead to discrimination - either outright negative treatment or supposedly well-meaning cases where an autistic person is then given low expectations and not given tasks they can do because of an assumption they wouldn't be able to cope. Often coming out as autistic - like with LGBTQ - is done with some people / groups and not with others. Essentially coming out is done with those who are seen as likely to be supportive and not done with those who might discriminate. While coming out is more likely to occur with those who already close sometimes it can feel easier to come out to strangers while there can be a fear that some family or even friends may view it negatively.
I'm really surprised your fears were inverted of mine: people treading on eggshells. In Germany, awareness is much much worse and generally what happens is people going "ok cool i dont care" which can be nice because hey at least they don't exclude me specifically for being autistic, but it sometimes results in them not giving a f**k and creating an environment so hostile for autistics that I just retreat by myself because it's exhausting, and not in the fun way.
It’s so interesting to me how people react to autism in different countries and cultures, it definitely leads to lots of differences in what our expectations of other are, and makes me realise I have an incredibly small worldview! It’s great to see all the differences within the community, so thank you for commenting!
I just found you channel on Thursday and I just binged this series. I'm loving these, keep up the good work
you're really on to something here. "over saturate the market". one of the many problems with representation is that there needs to be MORE of ALL of it. not to compare communities like they are similar (when maybe they overlap in ways I dont know) but I for one do not think there is enough black representation in films and TV shows. Now, progress has been made sure, but not ENOUGH diversity of EXPERIENCE within black lives is show cased. I'm not black myself but I dont think plopping in one or two black stories is enough. we need all sorts of black stories from many different angles and communities WITHIN that community. its the same with autism. we cant just say "oh i've seen ONE thing with an autistic character." there needs to be MORE so that more people who are autistic have a chance to see something relatable. that was a bigger ramble comment than usual. but thank you again as always Dana. you're pushing positive change and always providing food for thought. :)
Loving this series. Its really helped me decide to start my own channel. I'm going to call it "Openly Autistic" and I'm hoping to upload my first video in early November :D
Yes! Go you! Definitely let me know when you’ve got something uploaded, I’d love to subscribe and hear what you have to say!
Initially after my diagnosis, and going on for the first year I was pretty free with openly telling folks to give me some slack because I'm autistic because I was still coming to terms with it, trying to understand what it meant and how my life was different from others. Looking back now I like to say that I was openly disclosing my diagnosis because I was looking for validation, that being diagnosed late in life I needed to hear from the people I cared about that they could see it, too. It took two to three years before I began to really make changes and adjust my life to make things easier for me. Now I don't really care to tell anyone. I've never been super concerned about my public appearance at any rate so if I come off as weird or socially inept I just let it be the case. What I enjoy though is when me being open about being autistic causes others to self reflect and consider whether or not they are neurodivergent. Even my own mother as she was getting to understand what it meant began to question her own childhood and just recently was diagnosed autistic, too. Sharing neurodivergent memes in particular is a hilarious way to spread awareness because if you're on the spectrum you'll understand the memes, whether you know you're on the spectrum or not.
This video came at the best moment for me. Thank you :)
Regardless of whether I tell people I'm autistic, they will see that I'm different and respond accordingly. It's for this reason that I don't mind telling people I'm autistic.
Great video as well. Yeah. Yeah online is better than in person cause irl people are not as understanding sometimes.
It was also good that you highlighted how once a person comes out as autistic it can end dominating other people's perceptions of them - it becomes a "master status" which affects how others respond to them even when it's not relevant. Sometimes an autistic person wants spaces where they can just pursue a certain interest or activity without others potentially bringing up the subject of autism. In some cases an autistic person may want to discuss how autism relates to some other issue or interest but they'd like to do it on their terms rather than having it thrust upon them.
Very good topic. I think there are many parallels with coming out as LGBTQ. One area of difference which can discourage coming out as autistic is that some people don't know what it means and so that person either doesn't know what to say or do or requires an explanation which can be awkward to deliver. Perhaps the biggest impediment and a definite parallel with LGBTQ is fear that being open will lead to discrimination - either outright negative treatment or supposedly well-meaning cases where an autistic person is then given low expectations and not given tasks they can do because of an assumption they wouldn't be able to cope. Often coming out as autistic - like with LGBTQ - is done with some people / groups and not with others. Essentially coming out is done with those who are seen as likely to be supportive and not done with those who might discriminate. While coming out is more likely to occur with those who already close sometimes it can feel easier to come out to strangers while there can be a fear that some family or even friends may view it negatively.
I'm really surprised your fears were inverted of mine: people treading on eggshells. In Germany, awareness is much much worse and generally what happens is people going "ok cool i dont care" which can be nice because hey at least they don't exclude me specifically for being autistic, but it sometimes results in them not giving a f**k and creating an environment so hostile for autistics that I just retreat by myself because it's exhausting, and not in the fun way.
It’s so interesting to me how people react to autism in different countries and cultures, it definitely leads to lots of differences in what our expectations of other are, and makes me realise I have an incredibly small worldview! It’s great to see all the differences within the community, so thank you for commenting!
People are so rude , i tell them and they say not to label myself.
Loving your videos though I wish youd not wash/dry clothes while recording (at least I thnk that's the background noise I hear)
I’m getting better with remembering to turn it off! I’ll nail it soon I swear 😂
so british cute you should be hocking Biscuits girl
look awful young, maybe breakfast cereal, ya'll have that there?