Seriously, don't argue with me on this.

Yesterday, I was speaking with my chiropractor, and said that I was hypersensitive to pain. It's one of the things that might come with an Autism Spectrum condition, and I know others on the Spectrum who identify as such. Hypersensitivity to a stimulus (noise, light, pain, smell, etc.) is fairly common on the Spectrum, in fact.

So, needless to say, it came as kind of a shock when she actually disagreed with me.

I didn't think I'd have to point this out, but when you're talking to someone Autistic, DON'T DISAGREE WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE AUTISM.

It's like a white person arguing with a black person about what it's like to be black. It's insulting and it makes you sound like a complete idiot.

I would think this is just common sense, but apparently not. The simple fact is, if you have Autism, you are automatically an expert on it. Even someone with a Ph. D. in Autism doesn't have the right to tell an Autistic person they are wrong about what it's like to have Autism.

To be fair, I kind of understand where they're coming from. For example, as a white person, when I talk to people of color, they sometimes describe specific incidents where someone was racist towards them. And it's sometimes so subtle that it makes me think "well, maybe it wasn't that they weren't being racist, maybe it was something else..."

And I don't think those things because I necessarily believe they don't know what they're talking about. I think it because I want to cling to the hope that my own people aren't the bad guys. Because realizing you're part of a group that oppresses another group of people is pretty depressing. They may not realize they're doing it, but they are still doing it all the same. And that's a very sad thought.

But let's face it, it's true. 

And it's also true that Neurotypicals can make life pretty goddamn difficult for those on the Spectrum. They generally aren't aware of it, and it might not even be something they can do anything about, but it still happens.

I know I'm not actually supposed to say that. I'm not supposed to point out the situation, because it might piss off some Neurotypicals who could make our lives a whole lot worse.

But if I don't, who will?

If we don't point out what's wrong, no one will fix it. And that goes for all minorities or disenfranchised people.

So, for all Neurotypicals out there: do us a favor, and listen to us when we talk about what it's like to have Autism.