Adult Autistics Exist Too

Autistic kids are awesome, just don't forget we eventually become Autistic adults

Adult Autistics Exist Too — (Stock photo from Canva)

April 18, 2025

Today is National Adult Autism “Awareness” Day.

Many* Autistic self-advocates prefer terms such as Autism Acceptance, Autistic Appreciation, Autistic Pride, and Autism Equity. Awareness campaigns have a history of being ableist, deficits-focused, and focused more on neurotypical (NT) parents of Autistic children than on Autistic people.

Autistic people generally don’t need more awareness, we need better public education, understanding, and acceptance. Many of us simply want others to treat us with dignity and respect, rather than trying to change us to conform to NT expectations.

If you wish to support Autistic people and the Autistic community, please don’t “light it up blue” in April or post images with puzzle-pieces (I won’t explain why here because I’ve already written about these issues, please feel free to click those links to learn more).

*To be clear, I do not speak for the entire Autistic community. I write based on my academic, personal, and professional experience, which includes being very involved in the Autistic community, as well as being an Autistic parent to an Autistic child.

We are not a monolith. Not everyone will agree with my perspective or opinions, and that’s okay. The Autistic community is highly diverse, and that’s part of what makes it so great.

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Autistic kids are awesome

My son and I are both AuDHD. Autistic kids are awesome, so this isn’t an attempt to compete with others for attention, resources, or support. This is simply a reminder that Autistic adults do exist. Autistic kids eventually grow into Autistic adults.

When you search for information or resources about autism, the vast majority of what you will find is aimed at parents of Autistic kids. Not Autistic youth or adults. It’s as though the general public, government, and service providers believe that autism somehow leaves our nervous systems as we mature.

It doesn’t. (To be clear, I’m glad for that).

The problem is that when Autistic adults — or adults who think they may be Autistic — are struggling, it is incredibly difficult for them to find appropriate support.