"Sounds like you have depression." "You have autism." "It's autism symptoms." "You are angry." "You have anxiety." "Autism is a mental health issue." "Maybe you are just clumsy because of your autism disorder." That’s strange. Neglect or Disrespect? Why Not Both! These are the inappropriate and often dismissive phrases I hear repeatedly from healthcare providers since I sought help for my injury over a year ago. This ongoing experience has been relentlessly frustrating, part

Why would seeking help from the healthcare system leave us feeling worse than we initially felt? This question resonates deeply, particularly within the autistic community, where the pursuit of medical help frequently results in feelings of dismissal, alienation, misunderstanding, being undermined, and despair. We autistic people encounter substantial and preventable barriers in the healthcare system, and the allistic society often deflects accountability by implying that aut