Worlds of Difference

Individuals with an autism diagnosis are often described as “living in their own world,” which is a strange way to differentiate those with and without a diagnosis, as we all, in fact, are living in our own worlds.

“They” don’t co-exist.

“They” exist.

The connections those of us who don’t meet the criteria of an autism diagnosis make with “them” are limited by what we think “they” are able to bring to Our world.

We measure and validate “them” using a ruler marked with degrees in which we think we are similar and different in relation to “them.”

Our world, which is not equitably leveled to meet “their” needs is bound by these perceived “similarities.”

BUT.

THE TRUTH IS.

THOSE of us with a diagnosis are not necessarily all that similar to another individual with a diagnosis.

THOSE of us without a diagnosis are not necessarily all that similar to another without a diagnosis.

We are all living in our own worlds.

We are also all living in each others’ worlds.

Therefore, in order to truly co-exist with individuals with an autism diagnosis, we MUST ask ourselves not the ways in which we feel we have to tolerate “them,” but the ways in which “they” feel they have to tolerate “us.”

That is, whoever the F “us” thinks they is.