misconception

(noun) mis·con·cep·tion | \ ˌmis-kən-ˈsep-shən

a view or opinion that is incorrect because based on faulty thinking or understanding

I’ve listened enough. It’s time for me to speak.

Neal Katz, Autistic self-advocate

As autism has become more prevalent, we’ve seen increased portrayals of autism in the media.  TV shows featuring autistic individuals, such as Atypical, Good Doctor and Big Bang Theory, can contribute to awareness of autism.  However, these portrayals often show a narrow view of autism and don’t accurately reflect the subtleties or variances in the autistic experience.  This can contribute public misconceptions about autism that can eventually negatively impact educational and employment opportunities for autistic individuals.      

MTYH: Autistic individuals can’t understand emotion

Contrary to popular belief, several studies have confirmed that autistic individuals do indeed have the ability to recognize and respond to the emotions of others. However, autistic people may have a variety of difficulties with emotional expression, including a tendency to misinterpret emotional clues. Difficulties with reading facial expressions and discomfort with eye contact can make it challenging to perceive and respond to emotional states. However, it’s important to remember that autistic people simply express empathy in different ways.

TRUTH: A less-than-typical empathetic response does not equate to a lack of empathy 

I am different. Not Less.

Dr. Temple Grandin

MYTH:  Autistic people aren’t interested in being social

At its core, autism has an impact on social understanding.  This means that autistic individuals can have trouble navigating the social world but it doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in social connection.  The truth is, autistic individuals may crave social connection but struggle to negotiate it.  Sometimes, autistic people need alone time to recover from the high social demands of the day or may feel most comfortable on the fringes of social activity.  I’ve worked with autistics who express an intense fear that making a social mistake could subject them to devastating rejection and further isolation. 

TRUTH:  Social reluctance should not be confused with lack of social interest 

I don’t really understand why it’s considered normal to stare at someone’s eyeballs.

John Elder Robison

MYTH:  Males are more autistic than females   

While males are more likely to be diagnosed with autism than females, how much of this is due to diagnostic bias and misinterpretation of clinical presentation is under debate. Autistic females are often more adept at “masking”, hiding their autistic traits in order to avoid standing out. Symptoms are manifested differently in females than in males so girls who are experiencing significant social difficulties may simply be labeled as shy or immature. This can cause autistic females to experience a delay in diagnosis or be misdiagnosed as bipolar, anxious or depressed.

TRUTH:  The impact of autism on females is different, not less     

English is my 2nd language. Autism is my first.

Dani Bowman

MYTH:  Autistic people can’t go to college

According to Shattuck et al. (2012) approximately 50,000 autistic adolescents per year enter adulthood and 34.7% of them attend college.  That number has likely increased, as more colleges step up and provide campus support systems for the growing population of autistic college students.  Of course, finding success in college depends on a lot of things.  Autistic college students need to be good self-advocates, able to identify their strengths as well as their challenges and be willing to utilize the resources that are available to support their success.  It’s important to have good self-care skills as well.  Practicing wellness strategies that can ensure a healthy sleep routine and a manageable level of stress can make the difference between succeeding and floundering in college.

TRUTH:  With the right supports, autistic individuals can attend college and be successful

*Please note, as is preferred by many individuals (e.g., Autism Self-Advocacy Network) identity-first language is used in this post

Shattuck, P. T., Narendorf, S. C., Cooper, B., Sterzing, P. R., Wagner, M., & Taylor, J. L. (2012). Postsecondary education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics, 129(6), 1042-1049.