I kinda fell like Gen Z gets this right, or more right more often than the others. My Gen Z son is autistic (super high functioning, until the crash comes and he’s out for a day or more).
But his friends all understand, and many of them, although NT, identify with some of the experiences atypical people have. And I’ve seen this with his friends in the States as well. Nobody gives him shit, everyone is accommodating without making a big deal out of it.
Just seems like Gen Z will get this one right, like they have many things. Older Gen Xer posting, just for reference. Like a lot of things, Xers just didn’t know better until someone showed us.
I think that’s because they’re actually aware of it. Most older people actually have no idea what autism is or means. So many people think autism means non functional, can’t speak, can’t do anything independently when in reality so many autistic people are literally just normal ass people in nearly every way. So if you think autism looks one way you never realize you need to make accommodations for all the people who experience autism in a different way, you never even realize they have autism and need accommodations to begin with. Unless you tell someone you’re autistic and what accommodations you need they can’t know
It took a few decades, but the dam seems to be breaking well. Mental health is now no more taboo than physical health (at least for the newer generations, in many places). Accommodating your autistic friend, when they burn out a bit, is no more of an issue than accommodating your friend with a busted knee, or the one working on their weight.
Watching the younger generations roll with what would be horrifying to older generations makes me feel better about the future.
I kinda fell like Gen Z gets this right, or more right more often than the others. My Gen Z son is autistic (super high functioning, until the crash comes and he’s out for a day or more).
But his friends all understand, and many of them, although NT, identify with some of the experiences atypical people have. And I’ve seen this with his friends in the States as well. Nobody gives him shit, everyone is accommodating without making a big deal out of it.
Just seems like Gen Z will get this one right, like they have many things. Older Gen Xer posting, just for reference. Like a lot of things, Xers just didn’t know better until someone showed us.
I think that’s because they’re actually aware of it. Most older people actually have no idea what autism is or means. So many people think autism means non functional, can’t speak, can’t do anything independently when in reality so many autistic people are literally just normal ass people in nearly every way. So if you think autism looks one way you never realize you need to make accommodations for all the people who experience autism in a different way, you never even realize they have autism and need accommodations to begin with. Unless you tell someone you’re autistic and what accommodations you need they can’t know
It took a few decades, but the dam seems to be breaking well. Mental health is now no more taboo than physical health (at least for the newer generations, in many places). Accommodating your autistic friend, when they burn out a bit, is no more of an issue than accommodating your friend with a busted knee, or the one working on their weight.
Watching the younger generations roll with what would be horrifying to older generations makes me feel better about the future.