Why Misinformation Can Be Harmful and Unhelpful

Misinformation on Autism or Neurodivergence in general can be very harmful and unhelpful for a number of reasons.

Firstly, Autism is a natural variation in human neurology. It is not a problem to be solved and is most certainly not caused by lack of vitamins or paracetamol.

More people are accessing diagnoses now. This does not mean there are more Autistic people than in the past.

As someone who has lived every day of my life with Autism, misinformation can cause;

• Increased Stigma

• Increased Misunderstanding

• Delayed Support

• Silencing Lived Experience

• Delayed Access to Support

• Unrealistic Expectations

• Barriers to Identity Development and Self-Acceptance

And so much more!

So many people are not correctly educated on Autism and still choose to speak about “the causes" and “how to treat it” and so many more unrealistic ideas.

My advice to those people who are not fully educated on Autism is:

• Pause and Think Before You Speak

• Acknowledge What You Don’t Know

• Listen to Autistic Voices First

• Check Your Sources

• Remember the Spectrum is Diverse

• Avoid Medicalising or Dehumanising Language

• Be Aware of Harmful Stereotypes

• Ask, Don’t Assume

“Nothing about us, without us”.

Don’t speak for Autistic people without including our voices.

If you’re discussing Autism, make sure Autistic perspectives are part of the conversation.