"You don't look autistic." Four words that might seem like a compliment but can deeply invalidate an autistic person's identity and lived experience. In this bonus episode, I'm unpacking why these well-meaning comments are actually microaggressions: small, accumulating emotional paper cuts that affect not just autistic individuals, but their partners, families, and friends too. I'm drawing from 20+ years in the field and my own experience raising an autistic daughter to explain how outdated stereotypes, confirmation bias, and gaps in professional training lead to widespread misdiagnosis and dismissal. I'm also diving into masking—why autistic people learn to mask, and the real cost it carries. Autism doesn't have a look, but it does deserve to be seen. 💙 ➔ Watch this episode on YouTube ➔ Read the blog post: "You Don't Look Autistic": Microaggressions and the Problem with Stereotypes

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related