You are the majority of autistics while people like me are the minority. Most of you weren’t even aware you were autistic until well into adulthood. I need to forgive you even though I have suffered a lot from you avoiding me when we could have been friends. You did what you had to do to survive. The consequences of not masking may have been more severe to you than they were to me; although I still paid a huge price. Most importantly, your choices were very personal and had complex reasons. But a little accountability for your unintended harm goes a long way.
I want you to be honest with yourself. Did you truly believe that being different is shameful and that there was something inherently wrong with both you and me? Have you at any point projected your insecurities on me without realizing it?
What stopped you from standing up for me while I was severely bullied in school? I was bullied by almost everyone in my classes, so I can guarantee that at least some of you joined in because you were afraid the bullying would be directed at you instead. What would you have done differently if you could go back with the knowledge you have?
Last, but not least, how did it make you feel to see me so open and unapologetic about my diagnosis? Did you tell me that I was “brave” to talk about it, while you really believed I was unwise to be so vulnerable? How do you feel knowing now that a small number of people were willing to take those risks to make the world a better place for you?
Autistic Flapper 