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Disabled by Autistic Traits… and It’s Nobody’s Fault

Last updated on November 26, 2023

“The world isn’t designed for the neurodiverse,” is a claim I read over and over on social media. “It’s made for neurotypicals.”

Another variation uses “autistics” and “allistics” instead of neurodiverse and neurotypical, but not every non-autistic (allistic) is neurotypical, so I’m not sure that works as well at conveying the intended message.

The claim, in either form, is then followed by the suggestion that it is our society that makes autism disabling.

From my perspective, and I recognize this is mine alone, life would be intolerable without the technologies and creations of people. For every intolerable aspect of human society, there are several human innovations making my life better.

The romantic notions that somehow my autistic traits are only a disability because of… people… capitalism… cities… technology….

Those notions are utter nonsense.

If I lived out in the country, away from all people except our little family, I would still struggle because of my autistic traits.

It is true that urban sounds, that manmade cacophony of noise, causes me pain. A lot of pain. And, that noise never stops.

The problem with blaming people is that only in a nearly silent space am I comfortable. Nature sounds bother at least as much as manmade sounds.

I cannot sleep during storms. Light rain annoys me as much as being near train tracks. Thunderstorms? Forget sleeping. I shake and cringe with each flash of lightning, anticipating the sounds.

Wind noise bothers me. Moving water. Animal sounds. The list is long. Insects? Oh, do I hate insect sounds.

Without the human invention of radio, I’d never sleep well. I listen to old-time radio and podcasts to sleep. The sounds of talking, as strange as it might be, allow me to block out all the other sounds in our house.

I despite extreme temperatures. That’s nature. My body tolerates a narrow range of temperatures, from about 50 to 70 Fahrenheit. Over 75, I drip sweat. My wife and daughters can attest to this. My shirts quickly dot with sweat spots at temperatures others consider comfortable.

Cold causes unbearable pain. My annual winter weather injuries are infamous. Even if I didn’t have a tendency to slip and fall on ice, there are other issues. My eyes tear in the cold (as in rip, not water), requiring surgery. My knees ache. My hands dry out and bleed because I cannot tolerate gloves.

Humans created central heating and air conditioning. Thank goodness.

I love gardening, so you might assume I love sunshine. No. I hate light. I wear sunglasses inside when a room is too bright. The sun hurts. I get headaches if I’m outside without sunglasses for too long.

Photosensitive lenses are an invention worthy of our highest awards. I still have multiple pairs of glasses, including two pairs of expensive prescription sunglasses, but the “Transitions” work well enough to get from indoors to a vehicle.

Surely, as a lover of roses, herbs, and fruit trees, I must love the smells of nature. No. I do not like the smells. I love how roses look. I hate strong scents. Orange blossoms are particularly annoying… and I grew up surrounded by orange orchards. My favorite places have been gardens (conservatories, arboretums) yet I don’t like the smells of these places. I try to ignore the scents and focus on the shapes and colors.

I do like the smells of vanilla, chocolate, and baking bread. Again, humans refined vanilla beans, humans created baking chocolates, and bread was likely one of the earliest prepared foods.

A quick review: the sun, the wind, storms, running water, plants, animals, and insects trigger sensory responses.

Nobody “made” the world difficult for me. If anything, creative people made living without going insane possible. Humans can trigger sensory overload, but nature can be as bad or even worse some days. Without human ingenuity, however, I’d be miserable.

But don’t the attitudes of people make autism a disability?

Well, on a 60 degree day, overcast without wind or the chance of a storm, then my interactions with other people might be the most difficult moments I experience. You hopefully realize how rare those calm days are, when I’m not already on edge.

If I could live along California’s Central Coast, that would be as close to paradise as I might get.

Yes, people make being autistic more difficult in school, at work, and in other social situations. People make being sensitive, anxious, concrete, blunt, and otherwise different more challenging than those traits are when I’m alone.

It would be great if people accepted my autistic traits and allowed me to use all those great human inventions to cope with being The Autistic Me.

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