Autistic Hedgehog

Repurposing the term ‘quiet hands’?

I’ve mentioned before that I wanted to write science fiction starring an autistic character. I’ve written the first manuscript, though it still needs work. As a plot out the series and more ideas come to mind, there’s research I need to do. In this case, a question I need to ask my fellow autistics.

I’d like to repurpose the term ‘quiet hands,’ filled with so much negativity to so many of us, and use it for something else. In my sci fi universe there are a group of neurodivergent people who hide, sometimes in plain sight, to protect themselves from those who would want to erase them. Starting with autistics who pass very successfully (hence the use of Quiet Hands) they formed a group that works to protect other neuroatypicals from erasure. They work within the neurotypical population, finding others like them, giving them a home, ensuring that their needs are met. Throughout the history of my universe they’ve grown as a group, encompassing other neurodivergences and other disabilities. 

I like the double meaning of calling them the Quiet Hands, but I wanted to know what other autistics thought about the idea. Is it too much? Would it bother you, or do you think it works? 

Since We’re on the Topic of Autistic Characters Anyway

As we’re talking about this as it is, I thought I’d ask y'all something.

For the past few weeks I’ve been working pretty hard, doing world and foundation building for a science fiction novel starring an autistic main character. Though I do want to address the nature of the way society treats neurodivergence, it’s not meant to be a novel just about the Issues of being autistic, and is in fact supposed to be entertaining space opera. Because it really gets tiresome only seeing canonically autistic characters when it’s all about Issues (and/or stereotypes).

It’s meant for an adult audience (because fuck the idea that autism only occurs in children) and while I’m hoping to keep it from being too magic-tech (like Star Wars) I want to keep the science light enough to appeal to readers who don’t normally enjoy science fiction. Though at the same time I want it to have enough science that only the nerdiest of nerdcore will think there’s not enough. But I’m digressing.

My point is, seeing some of the views of autistic characters and representation in media, how do y'all feel about this? My character is female and actually has a job I don’t think would be, stereotypically, expected of an autistic character. Do some of you still feel uncomfortable with the idea of her being explicitly autistic, or would it bother you less since I am, myself, autistic?