Breaking Barriers to Acceptance: 5 Misconceptions About Autism Debunked

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well.” -Psalm 139:14

At AdventHealth, we believe every individual is infinitely valuable and deserving of unconditional love. We’re all uniquely created with a special purpose and endless potential to fulfill it. To honor World Autism Day, we’re here to celebrate the gifts and highlight the plight of neurodivergent children and adults with a special focus on breaking down barriers to social acceptance commonly experienced by autistic individuals due to pervasive and harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about their personhood.

What Is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition marked by challenges with social interaction and communication, elevated sensitivity to sensory stimuli and repetitive, ritualistic behaviors.

Autism is classified as a spectrum disorder because it differs in severity and presents uniquely in each person. The word spectrum itself indicates a continuum of great variety — just like the amazing people considered to be “on the autism spectrum.”

Misconceptions About Autism

Misconceptions about autism are usually rooted in misunderstanding the condition, which can lead to stigmatization and exclusion of autistic children and adults. Sadly, these myths can be dehumanizing and may even lead to cruelty — including bullying and cyberbullying — often resulting in lifelong struggles with acceptance for people on the autism spectrum.

Learning more about autism, challenging the misconceptions and encouraging an accurate understanding of neurodiversity creates a more accepting, inclusive and supportive environment. And challenging these myths begins with each one of us.

Here are five misconceptions about autism we’re here to debunk. Next time you hear one, know you’re equipped with the facts to help dispel misinformation and support a more inclusive world — where neurodivergent individuals can thrive and live their best lives.

Misconception #1: Autism is a childhood disease.

Truth: Neurodiversity is for life, and that’s something to celebrate. Many people think of autism as a childhood condition with tendencies that kids eventually “outgrow.” But the truth is, the neurology we’re born with stays with us for life. If a child has autism, they will have it as an adult as well. And while the behaviors that are considered atypical in people with autism can sometimes go unnoticed by others, that doesn’t mean internal struggles aren’t there.

Misconception #2: Autism is a disease. (See #1).

Truth: Autism is not a disease nor a mental illness. It is a condition or a state that comes down to how a person's brain is wired. The misconception that autism is a disease leads to the false and harmful assumption that an autistic person needs to be "fixed" or "cured." Seeking to change a person sends the message that they are inherently "not OK” and further isolates them.

Everyone needs and deserves a support system to be just who they are, even if they don’t fit into a pre-determined mold. Autism is a difference in neurology, not an illness or a defect. Help empower people with autism to be who they are comfortably and confidently, not the opposite.

Misconception #3: Autistic people lack empathy and are unsociable.

Truth: The misconception that autistic individuals lack empathy and do not understand social cues couldn't be further from the truth. Autism does not mean a lack of empathy but a different way of experiencing and expressing it. Emotions can be deeply and overwhelmingly felt with great meaning and compassion, yet they may go unexpressed or are expressed differently than how neurotypical people understand emotions.

Empathy may be experienced or expressed intellectually and analytically, called cognitive empathy, or through affective empathy, which means they feel and experience the same emotions as the other person, even if it goes unexpressed. The sharing of another's emotions can be deeply profound to the point where the person with autism may describe it as painful.

The deep empathy autistic people experience is based on accurately reading and understanding social cues and feelings in others. However, because neurodivergent people relate differently outwardly, they may be pigeonholed as awkward and not given a chance for inclusion by peers. Our collective work is to create belonging and allow opportunities for connection. Someone being “different” can often be the biggest blessing.

Misconception #4: Autism is a male condition.

Truth: Until recently, autism was thought of as a condition that mostly affects boys and men. The truth is that autism likely impacts girls and women at similar rates, but females are more apt to mask their symptoms to better fit in with their peers.

While a young boy might be more likely to act out their frustrations through behaviors that we associate with autism (such as flapping their hands or rocking their body), a girl with autism can feel just as bothered by her symptoms but quietly hide her feelings. That said, females are more likely to be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed with something else because it's harder to tell if they have autism; it's common for women to discover they have autism later in life.

Autistic girls and women might:

• Appear to cope better socially but struggle inside
• Be shy, quiet and hide their feelings
• Hide signs of autism to fit in by masking
• Show fewer signs of repetitive behaviors

Misconception #5: Autistic people look a certain way.

Truth: Autism is not a condition that presents physically. It can be jarring when you hear someone say that a person “looks autistic.” Autism does not impact an individual’s physical appearance but how their brain works.

However, it’s common for people with autism to have comorbid conditions, such as Tourette syndrome or obsessive-compulsive disorder, that may cause noticeable differences in how an individual looks, moves or sounds, which is not related to autism but to the accompanying condition.

Whether a person with autism can be identified through a visible or audible difference or not, their needs should be met with understanding and uncommon compassion. Often, the most difficult challenges are experienced internally, which can be lonely. We can all play a role in creating safe spaces for neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals alike.

You Belong Here

There is no one right way of thinking, living and behaving. By embracing differences, focusing on strengths and fostering inclusion, we can help people on the autism spectrum focus on their gifts and navigate the world with confidence and joy.

Our skilled, compassionate AdventHealth providers can help you flourish physically, emotionally and spiritually with a personalized care plan that honors who you are.

Visit us here to learn more. You deserve to feel whole, and we want you to experience belonging.