Autistic Hedgehog

[If you get to smile

I get to flap]

Mod note: Anonymous creation. 

And yeah, allistics have a tendency to be very caught up in the “right” way to express emotions. Some people laugh or smile when they’re happy. Some people flap or sway. There’s nothing wrong with any of those.

(Er…or is swaying just a me thing? I don’t think I’ve ever seen another autistic person who sways when they feel good. Anyone?)

[“Don’t touch me”

Means don’t fucking touch me!]

Recently I posted an anon Hedgehog that said “Don’t touch me” doesn’t mean I hate you. And this is very much the truth for autistic people.

But also, lately I’ve seen far too many autistics on tumblr talking about how when they tell people they don’t like to be touched, people do it anyway. Sometimes people even do it more. That is so fucked up, I made this Hedgehog.

Touching people without their permission is bad enough. Purposefully touching people even more when they’ve explicitly stated they don’t like it is positively despicable. Do not be that person. 

[If I have a meltdown

Don’t come near me]

Mod note: Anonymous creation.

Step awaaaaay from the hedgehog, people, step away from the hedgehog. Honestly, this is pretty good advice. I think some autistics like comfort during a meltdown, but as a rule of thumb this works best. 

[Anti-vaxxers need no studies

Studies are tyranny!]

Mod note: Anonymous creation. Also, yeah, anti-vaxxer logic in a nutshell.

[You don’t make friends with a hedgehog

By removing its quills]

mod note: Anonymous creation. Also, word. 

[“The stories of low-functioning autistic people who are burdens on their families are too often erased!”

Wow, have you even actually met reality?]

I can’t, you guys. I caaaaaaannn’t.

(And not just because my brain is tired from working so hard the last few days, either.)

[“Don’t touch me”

Doesn’t mean I hate you]

Mod note: Anonymous creation. 

[“Ohmigod my sibling has autism! Why, cruel world, why!? They are so beautiful and they have a beautiful soul and they’re like, so beautiful! How could life do this to me? Whatever will I do now!?”

Here’s a suggestion: Shut up, get over yourself, and stop making this about you]

I know I can’t be the only person who’s getting tired of these. Even when someone means well, it gives me such a headache. Look, allistic people: There are other things you can do than just flapping around like chickens with your heads cut off. Panicking and making assumptions about what this means for your autistic sibling/child/etc. is bad enough.

Panicking and making assumptions about what this means for you is just kind of insensitive. 

I can remember a few times when parents of autistic children contacted me on some website or another, wondering things about autism. Among other things, I would usually tell them that autistic children can learn, that all is not lost and their kids can probably live good lives. I never heard back from any of them, not even a thank you for my time taken responding. 

It’s like people don’t want to hear that all is not lost. Like they want to believe it’s all doom and gloom, so they can recline back on their drama couches, staple their hands to their foreheads, and whine about how cruel life is. Allistics, get your butts off the drama couch and educate yourselves. You can even start with the askanautistic tag right here on tumblr if you want some real insight into us. 

[See Autistic Hedgehog meme

Flap hands for joy!]

mod note: Created by one of our fans. We have fans! I don’t know why I’m saying ‘we’, I’m the only mod here.