Announcing autism on facebook

[TigersRoll]

A friend has just received her autism diagnosis and has announced it on Facebook with wording such as “after years of thinking I was weird, turns out I’m just autistic” and “if you think someone acts a bit odd, accept them for who they are, there’s probably a reason” etc etc (not exact wording but that’s the gist)

Anyway mutual friend thinks it’s attention seeking and unnecessary. AIBU to think it’s a good post? It raises awareness if nothing else?

My point is we should be able to talk about it on Facebook without judgment

There is a stigma about asd. We get quite a few threads on here where parents are reluctant to seek a dx for their children because of The Label. You don't see parents posting similar threads about their reluctance to get a dx of eczema.

I've had a TA pull me aside to let me know my ds was talking about his dx in class. I asked her if we'd be having the same conversation if he was discussing a dx of asthma.

The only way to de-taboo it is for us to bang on about it. It might make some feel uncomfortable, even sometimes, those who have dc with asd. If we're going to make progress it needs to be blown wide open.

Good for her.

My twins were both diagnosed with ASD within a couple of months of each other recently. I’ve been unsure whether to make a public post about it. I know what some people are like (I can anticipate the “every kid is autistic these days” type responses), but I also don’t want people gossiping about why they aren’t talking or behaving like other children. It’s tricky. If it were me I would definitely mention it but then I’m open about the health issues I have.

Good for her to get a diagnosis. It’s hard as an adult female.

Your friend who is slating is the issue here, all I can say is just be there for your Aut friend

YY Headinhands - absolutely.

I shared my autism diagnosis on facebook, but only to a restricted group who I knew would understand or who I see regularly - the people who need to know why I struggle to respond to messages, why I can't cope with phone calls, why I don't always recognise their faces, why I struggle to process conversations in groups or loud environments.

I have a friend who was diagnosed about a year ago and her timeline is wall to wall autism now. I don't think she's attention seeking, I think she thinks she's awareness raising.

The only way to de-taboo it is for us to bang on about it. It might make some feel uncomfortable, even sometimes, those who have dc with asd. If we're going to make progress it needs to be blown wide open.

This, all of it!

DS13 has ASD. We are open and honest about it. Obviously he doesn't wear a badge proclaiming it, but nor do we treat it as something to be ashamed of or upset by. I won't treat it as a taboo because others might feel uncomfortable; they can adjust their understanding rather than me adjust how we feel.

I'm autistic. I mention on Facebook a lot. Most people with autism are not attention seeking, it's the last thing we want. We do want acceptance and understanding.

@Gilead spot on