r/autism • u/pocketplayground • 2h ago

Parent of Autistic Child “So being autistic is like being left handed”

Preface:
I am dyslexic, ADHD and dyspraxic. My child is already diagnosed sensory sensitive and dyslexic but as she ages we see more autistic traits. My husband and daughter are currently in the process of getting formal diagnosis. My husband has had 3 separate medical professionals encourage him to go through professional assessment for autism. My daughter and I joke I am a habanero but she’s my little Carolina reaper in terms of neuro-spiciness.

Incident:
She asked me what is autism I was explaining how dyslexia, autism etc are wiring differences in the brain. That it’s not necessarily wrong but different. That it makes you worse at some things but weirdly better at others. That neurodiversity is good for species survival as a whole because of different outlooks and abilities address problems in a way that the average might not. I pointed out examples etc. Like dyslexic pattern recognition and 3D visual perception or autistic special interests and mastery of very specific subject matter. ( this is not an exhaustive list)

Then I said but the world is set up for the average person because it’s easier to make sure 80% of people are catered to than include all the divergent people on the edges (not that we shouldn’t strive for inclusivity) so she pipes up so being autistic is like being left handed, different but not wrong yet very frustrating cause almost all the scissors are made for right handed people. I thought that was the best analogy I had ever heard so I thought I would share it.

8 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

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u/NimbusGate ASD Level 1/2 | Verbal 1h ago

Honestly, fantastic analogy. May steal this for when I’m doing self advocacy. Makes it seem a lot more reasonable if I’m effectively just asking for left-handed equipment.

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u/starynights890 ASD Level 1 | Semiverbal 37m ago

Idk how to feel as an AudHD left hander.

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u/pocketplayground 32m ago

Maybe pepper X ish. Sorry for the joke but it’s how I got my daughter to laugh and normalise talking about stuff cause it was a fun conversation. She’s still young.

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u/pocketplayground 27m ago

Also I am a pepperhead and make my own chilli jams and sauces (ADHD hyperfocus that stuck) grew my own Carolina reapers from seed. She knows how much I love my peppers so it double reinforces that message.

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u/cardbourdbox 2h ago

Your right I might steal it