From being 'treated like a snowflake' to assuming they're stupid, people with autism reveal how NOT to talk to them

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People with autism have revealed their frustrations and things they wish people knew about the condition.

Sufferers took to online community, Reddit, to discuss their experiences and feelings about how they are perceived - with one contributor admitting that they were sick of being described as 'a snowflake'.

Other users shared similar experiences, highlighting that autism is a spectrum and they didn't want to be treated like children. 

While some said that their condition wasn't recognised at all and people thought that they were 'just shy'.

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People with autism have revealed the things they wish people knew about the condition on the online community Reddit (file photo)

According to The National Autistic Society, the condition is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people.

It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some can live relatively independent lives but others may need a lifetime of specialist support.

People with autism may also experience over - or under - sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours. 

They have shared their views as part of a Reddit feed which asked: 'Autistic people of Reddit, what do you wish people would understand better about autism?'

In response, a user called PhoenyxStar said: ‘I'm so sick of being called a "snowflake".

They added they hate that people assume they are not good learners.

They wrote: ‘Autism is often trouble learning how to be social, more than an inability to be social, so if you can find some strong incentives and good teaching tools, we can learn. In fact we're often very fast learners.’

Another user, called Reginolium Felangium said they were 'sick of being treated like a child'.

They wrote: ‘I understand you might want to help, but constantly asking if I’m sure I can take the bus by myself or praising me for hours after I make an appointment is pretty insulting.'

And they wish people understood their genuine dislike of being touched - instead of dismissing it. 

They added: '“Don’t touch me” means “Don’t touch me”. Forcing a hug is not friendly, it’s causing me extreme distress.’

A Reddit user called PM_ME_LEGAL_PAPERS said they wished people understood how lonely having autism can be. They wrote: ‘A lot of us are really, really lonely. It’s much harder for us to make friends, harder still for us to keep them.’

'Cryshaney' wanted people to stop trying to change them. They wrote: 'I'm not broken, please don't assume I want or need to be fixed.'

Loveless1997 echoed the desire not to be patronised. They wrote: ‘I’m almost afraid to tell people I’m autistic because almost every time I have so far, they start treating me “special”. I’m not five years old and I want to be treated like a damn adult.'

Loveless1997 echoed the desire not to be patronised.

They wrote: ‘I’m almost afraid to tell people I’m autistic because almost every time I have so far, they start treating me “special”.

‘I’m not five years old and I want to be treated like a damn adult.

‘Just because I have trouble explaining what's on my mind and can't always communicate with you doesn't mean I don't care about you/understand you.’ 

Many users spoke of feeling lonely - and wished others understood the difficulties of communication.

PM_ME_LEGAL_PAPERS wrote: ‘A lot of us are really, really lonely. It’s much harder for us to make friends, harder still for us to keep them.’

Aspacaweb said they wished people without the disorder would be more patient in trying to understand those that do.

They wrote: ‘What would help me the most is if people could understand that I really am trying hard to understand other people.

‘Something that hurts me might not hurt you, and what is interesting and fun to me might be completely boring to you.

‘I sometimes accidentally offend others or take forever to understand a joke.

‘It doesn't mean I am weak, cold hearted, stupid, or not trying hard enough. I’m a little different but its not a big deal, just have some patience.’

One Reddit user said said they wished people would help defend those with autism against bullies (file photo)

And another, called m0llusk, said they wished people would help defend those with autism against bullies.

They wrote: 'Being inept socially means I don't get bullying and can't defend myself against bullies. 

'If you see someone on the spectrum being bullied you may be their only hope for any kind of defense.'

However, Englishhedgehog13 said they wished people would realise not all people with autism are 'completely hopeless' when it comes to social interaction. 

A user called ledbuddha said: The self-conscious aspect of my autism affects me every day... My inner dialogue is constantly getting at me with every action I have with others'

They wrote: 'Just because I'm autistic, doesn't mean I always say cringy things to other people.'

One user, called cryshaney wanted people to stop trying to change them.

They wrote: 'I'm not broken, please don't assume I want or need to be fixed.'

A user called Spiritofchokedout agreed - asking others not to trivialise autism as shyness.

They wrote: ‘I spent 25 miserable years being told "you're just shy. You haven't found the right people. Once you xyz (finish puberty, finish college, find a career, etc etc) you'll feel more comfortable."

‘No. I'm sorry. I just can't. I just can't socialize well and odds are I never really will.’ 

'People glorifying autism as a 'blessing' do not represent people with autism,' added a user called MacHaggis.