Thursday, April 2nd, 2026, is a glorious day for people with autism because there is so much representation. As autism becomes more and more well-known, it’s even more important to show awareness. As an autistic woman in her 30s, I didn’t get diagnosed till around 31, which sadly is very common in females. Boys are getting diagnosed at a young age, while little girls are just seen as acting up, and the diagnosis gets pushed aside. People with autism are often seen as picky eaters, trouble makers, and even that they are considered rude for not maintaining eye contact. That’s just it though, picky eating is just aversion to certain textures, acting up is just stimming, and breakdowns are just overstimulation.
I think now more than ever, we need to make autism known to everyone. More young girls need to be diagnosed, and deserve the same treatment as young boys, that its not just acting up. As for food aversion, that’s not being picky that’s not liking the texture of a certain food. Growing up I loved my mac and cheese and chicken nuggets, would always eat it, especially from a kids meal. Textures are a big thing we might not like the slimy texture of a banana, or the weird skin of a grape and that should be completely normal.
Then there is children seen as “acting up” when they have a breakdown. Sometimes we get overwhelmed. I know I can’t deal with loud noises, big crowds or even just a change in our daily routine. It messes up my whole day if I have to do something that is not the normal routine of my day.
Neurodivergency whether it be Autism, adhd or something else needs to be known, needs to be seen not as a disability but a different ability. So if someone is non-verbal or not making eye contact don’t see it as rude, think about what they might be going through. Once we, as a community start seeing it less as a burden and more as something special the world, could be a better place.
