The speaker is an autistic woman who was diagnosed at the age of 35. She explains how she learned to mask her autism from a young age, and how this led to years of suffering, misdiagnosis, and ineffective treatments. She argues that masking is dangerous and harmful, and that society should accept and celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of autistic people. She urges people to let autistic children be themselves and to listen to their voices.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The speaker was diagnosed with autism at the age of 35.
2. Autism is a condition that affects how a person communicates, relates to people, and experiences the world around them.
3. Autistic people see, hear, and feel the world differently than non-autistic people.
4. No two autistic people are the same, but they share common traits such as communication styles, planning, and task completion abilities.
5. The level of difficulty a person has with these traits determines where they fit on the autism spectrum.
6. The autism spectrum is not a straight line with severe autism at one end and mild autism at the other, but rather a complex spectrum with many variations.
7. Autistic people may have sensory issues, such as hypersensitivity to sounds or lights.
8. Autistic people may have difficulty with social communication, including understanding body language, sarcasm, and humor.
9. Autistic people may have executive function challenges, including planning, organizing, and completing tasks.
10. Autistic people may exhibit repetitive behaviors, such as intense interest in specific topics or activities.
11. Autistic people may use self-soothing behaviors, such as stimming, to calm themselves and process information.
12. The terms "high-functioning" and "low-functioning" are often misunderstood and misused in the context of autism.
13. Autistic people may experience anxiety and intense emotions, which can be overwhelming and difficult to manage.
14. Autistic people may develop coping mechanisms, such as strict routines, to manage their anxiety and emotions.
15. Autistic people are often taught to hide their autistic behaviors and "mask" their true selves to fit in with societal expectations.
16. Masking can be exhausting and damaging to an autistic person's sense of identity.
17. Autistic people are more likely to experience mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, due to the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
18. Autistic people have a lower life expectancy than their non-autistic peers, with the number one cause of death being suicide.
19. Autistic people need acceptance and support to be their true selves, rather than being forced to conform to societal expectations.