I just received Ellen Notbohm’s April Newsletter (you can go to her website EllenNotbohm.com to subscribe to it). I enjoyed reading her article, Autism: One Word, Many Truths. What’s Yours?.
She writes about how autism appears differently in people. Some can have many friends, few friends, or no friends – she wrote in her article. She even says that some can have talents for art, music, outdoor sports, and other things.
I really like when she lists her three truths about autism in that article.
Here are three of my truths about autism:
Your truth is the truth you inhabit.
Your truth does not negate the truths of others, or vice versa.
Your truth can change over time. This does not make either truth less genuine.
Keep up the great work, Ellen!
Outside In View of Uncommon Bostonian 
Well, here’s my truth based on the unintentionally(?) offensive language Ms. Notbohm chooses to use:
Things I Do Not Do.
I do not suffer from Autism; my suffering is caused by a lack of acceptance and the malice of others.
I do not experience Autism; it’s not Alton Towers or anything.
I do not live with Autism; it is my neurology, not my longterm partner.
I do not have Autism; it is not a removable component with its own specially shaped slot.
Now do you get why the vast majority of Autistic people prefer identity-first language?
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