There are a lot of different ways to be autistic.
No way is better than any other way.
Some autistic people talk.
Some autistic people don’t talk.
Some autistic people only need a little help.
Some autistic people need help all the time.
Some autistic people also have intellectual disabilitiesDisabilities that affect how you learn and think. People with intellectual disabilities might learn more slowly..
Some autistic people don’t.
This is all okay!
All of these autistic people belong in the autistic community.
But, societyA big group of communities. A society usually has rules and people in charge. tells us it is not okay to need help.
Society tells us it is not okay to have an intellectual disability.
Society tells us it’s not okay to be non-speakingPeople who don’t talk with their mouths..
Some autistic people believe these things.
So, they think it’s bad to have intellectual disabilities.
They think it’s bad to be non-speaking.
They think it’s bad to need a lot of help.
They look down on autistic people who have intellectual disabilities.
They look down on autistic people who are non-speaking.
They look down on autistic people who need a lot of help.
They might treat these people badly.
They might not let them into their group.
Sometimes, people don’t say these ideas out loud.
They show them with their actions.
They might say that anyone can come to their group.
But then they get mad if someone needs extra help.
They might say they care about all autistic people.
But then they make fun of people who can’t use big words.
Autistic groups should include all autistic people.
All autistic people are important.
All autistic people deserve rights and respect.