#AutisticJoy

[vulpine111]

My skillet steak!

[b0rgpup]

The Unstoppable Force: A Queer Autistic Child's Unmitigated Curiosity 🌈✨

There is no force of nature more powerful than a queer autistic child’s unmitigated curiosity. It is a relentless, beautiful engine of discovery, a quiet rebellion against the ordinary, and, for many of us, the very compass that guides us to our authentic selves. This essay is a testament to that force, a journey through a childhood defined by an insatiable hunger for knowledge in a world often resistant to its pursuit.

I’ve always been a bit precocious. My first memory, vivid and tactile, wasn't of a lullaby or a parent's face, but of a sensory landscape. As a baby in my parents’ duplex in Milwaukee, I recall crawling upstairs to my great-grandmother’s unit. To this day, I still have photographic recollection of every color and smell from that room – the seaweed-colored shag carpet, the faint, comforting scent of old lady perfume, the way the light filtered through the lace curtains. It was a world waiting to be cataloged, understood, and absorbed, even before I had the words for it.

This innate drive for understanding manifested early and dramatically. At the tender age of three, I taught myself how to read, long before entering kindergarten. By four, I was devouring books at a 4th-grade level. The local elementary school, designed for a more linear progression of learning, didn’t know what to do with me. I was bored, restless, and deeply resented being reprimanded for doing homework ahead of the rest of the class. The structured environment, the expectation of conformity, and the stifling of my intellectual pace felt like a cage. After first grade, my mother, recognizing the mismatch, made the unconventional decision to homeschool me – a rarity in the early 1990s, long before such arrangements became common.

Then, as now, starkly different priorities motivated my parents and me. Quite simply, my parents sought to exert total, unquestioning authoritarian control over every single aspect of my life. Their philosophy, as I understood it, was that children under the age of 18 were essentially owned livestock, subjected to unquestionable parental dominion in all places and at all times. This belief system clashed fundamentally with my burgeoning autonomy and my inherent need to explore, question, and understand the world on my own terms. My curiosity wasn't just a trait; it was a fundamental aspect of my being, and it was in direct opposition to the rigid boundaries they sought to impose. 

Their authoritarian control wasn't just about rules; it was built on a foundation of dogma, a set of outright lies repeated with such vigorous intensity as to stifle questions or dissent. I heard pronouncements like, "The Earth is only 6,500 years old," or "The United States was founded as a white Judeo-Christian nation," and even the seemingly benign, "God loves you," felt like a coercive assertion when presented as the only truth. Put plainly, they asserted one single infallible true correct path to living a full, happy human life, leaving no room for my inherent need to question and explore.

Kids today might think of their phones or iPads as their primary source of truth and knowledge about the world. In the early 1990s, however, the landscape of information was vastly different. The only "cell phones" were bulky "car phones," and the internet was a nascent, inaccessible concept for most households. Back then, people still knew how to memorize phone numbers, and you could express a satisfying burst of frustration by rage-hanging the phone, slamming it into the receiver with the gumption of a boxer – there was virtually no danger of breaking it. Information was hard-won, often requiring trips to the library, poring over encyclopedias, or engaging in conversations with those who held knowledge. For a child whose primary drive was to learn, this presented both a challenge and an opportunity to develop resourcefulness.

This was also the era of the "Satanic Panic," a period fueled by unsubstantiated claims of widespread Satanic ritual abuse of children. Fear permeated the air, and children were raised with pervasive fears of "stranger danger," a constant vigilance against unseen threats. This cultural backdrop of paranoia and misinformation created an environment where questioning, critical thinking, and independent exploration were often viewed with suspicion. For a child whose brain was wired to seek patterns, verify facts, and dissect narratives, this era was a bewildering contradiction. How could the world be so full of fear based on so little evidence? This early exposure to widespread societal delusion only sharpened my inherent skepticism and deepened my commitment to seeking verifiable truth, a trait that would prove invaluable in understanding myself. 

In a world that seemed to thrive on fear and unverified claims, I found my antidote, my sanctuary of facts and reason, in the most unlikely of places: the public library in my hometown. It was my intellectual oasis, a sanctuary where the rigid boundaries of home dissolved. No one could stop me there. Sussex was a small town, and I lived closely enough to walk there every day, losing myself among the stacks. I voraciously consumed non-fiction volumes on every subject imaginable – from astronomy and biology to history and philosophy. Each book was a window into a world of verifiable facts, a stark contrast to the unquestioning dogma I encountered elsewhere. It was within those quiet aisles that I began to forge my own fully-grounded understanding of the basic facts of life. Scientific empiricism, the rigorous pursuit of truth through observation and evidence, became my unwavering lodestar, a method for sifting and winnowing through the noise to find what was real.

My unmitigated curiosity, far from being a mere intellectual pursuit, became my primary tool for navigating a world that often felt alien. It was the lens through which I began to understand why I felt different, why certain sensory inputs were overwhelming, and why social cues often felt like a foreign language. This relentless questioning led me to discover the concept of neurodivergence, and specifically, autism. It wasn't a diagnosis given to me, but a self-discovery, a framework that finally made sense of my internal world and experiences. This knowledge wasn't just empowering; it was liberating, transforming what had been perceived as "flaws" into fundamental aspects of my operating system.

Similarly, my curiosity extended to the realm of human connection and identity. In a world that presented a narrow definition of love and attraction, my unmitigated curiosity compelled me to explore the vast spectrum of human experience. It was through reading, observing, and questioning – often in secret, given the restrictive environment – that I began to understand and embrace my queer identity. This wasn't a choice; it was a recognition, a deep knowing that resonated with the truest parts of myself. The same internal engine that sought to understand the mechanics of the universe also sought to understand the mechanics of my own heart and desires.

This journey of self-discovery, fueled by an unstoppable curiosity in the face of control and misinformation, is the very essence of Pride. Pride is not just a celebration of identity; it is a profound affirmation of the right to exist authentically, to love freely, and to be seen fully. For queer autistic individuals, this journey often involves an intense internal exploration, a meticulous piecing together of self in a world not always designed for us. Our unmitigated curiosity becomes our greatest ally, allowing us to ask the questions, find the answers, and build the understanding that leads to self-acceptance and, ultimately, to joy.

The queer autistic child, with their boundless curiosity, embodies a powerful truth: that genuine understanding, both of the world and of oneself, is the most potent form of liberation. It is a force that dismantles fear, challenges dogma, and illuminates the path to authenticity. As we celebrate Pride, let us not only honor the vibrant tapestry of LGBTQ+ identities but also recognize the quiet, persistent power of every curious mind, especially those that dare to explore the depths of their own unique being, illuminating the world with their unwavering light.

[johnnyprofane1]

I loved working on this project...

Cuz I love this initiative & the team.

#Neurodiversity #NeurodiversityPride #ActuallyAutistic

https://youtube.com/shorts/G4nc_5z7zqQ?si=2a-xdRYjKOjbCYR-

[stingscustom]

Autism is like experiencing the world through a unique lens, filled with vibrant colors and sounds that others might not notice. It’s not about fitting in; it’s about celebrating who we are in our own beautiful ways. How do you explain autism to someone who doesn’t understand? Share your thoughts and let’s inspire understanding together!

[theriancultureis]

Therian culture is having a vivid dream where you had sharp, fang-like teeth and the first thing you do after you wake up is to check if they're still there.

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[kermple]

in the end, no matter how much you're struggling, there's always putting on MBMBAM and playing Stardew Valley until your brain melts out your nostrils

[neil-gaiman]

I got curious about Expert At The Card Table after its mention in s2e5,enough to put it on my Christmas list -- I was trying out some of the shuffling techniques today and Holy Moly new tactile stim unlocked! My thanks to you (and Aziraphale!) for the recommendation and unexpected life enhancement! :D #AutisticJoy

That's wonderful!

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

From Autisticality’s post:

Whenever I hear someone say "I think I'm a little bit Autistic too" or "we are all a little bit Autistic at the end of the day", it really annoys me. Not just because it is massively untrue, but also because it diminishes everything we go through as Autistic people just to simply make it through our days.

And whilst I'm aware these aren't the criteria for being Autistic and are based on my personal experiences as an Autistic person with other factors at play (ADHD, depression, social anxiety etc), the post is mainly to make a point that we are not all a little bit Autistic because if we were then the world wouldn't treat Autistic people as poorly as it does.

Whether your intentions are kind to make it seem like the Autistic person is not alone, this phrase does nothing to make us feel better but instead is a slap in the face in my personal opinion.

Image description: "We are NOT all a 'little bit Autistic'

> Do you also physically and mentally dread leaving the house?

> Do you also have nightmares remembering what happened at school?

> Do you also get excluded just because you are ‘quiet’ or don’t speak?

> Do you also have to go to extreme efforts to prove you are struggling just to get any support?

> Do you also feel so alone and misunderstood that you sometimes wish you weren’t alive?

Think before you make comments that invalidate, minimise & diminish what a minority experiences."

#autism #autistic #neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #AutisticPride #AutisticAcceptance #AutisticCulture #adhd #MentalHealthAwareness #neurodiverse #neuroqueer #neurokin #AutisticAppreciation #neurodiversity #neurodivergence #AutisticExperience #InfinityNotPuzzle #GoldNotBlue #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #AutisticAcademic #AutisticJoy #AutisticAppreciation #autisticfuture

Autisticality

[ivorygrace7]

Missing autumn #autisticjoy

[canadian-mixedtale]

@gr8writingtips @gigagoku30 @gasterofficial @graysans-art @grillby-au-showdown @fwugradiation @flavor-text-chara @floweypilled @forgettingcrowbin @friendship-propaganda-archive @dankmemesreasonforliving @dreemurr-skelememer @darkxsoulzyx @deltarune-au-domain @shencomix @sarahseeandersen @screenshotsofdespair @scientificphilosopher @shitpeoplesayintf2 @arceal-doodles @autisticjoy @ask-kriscrossapplesauce @ask-undyne-the-undying-blog @aseuki @q @quotemadness @quotes @quiet @quirky @writing-prompt-s @worldhistoryfacts @wily-art @windowsninteygreat @world-heritage-posts @errortaleaskblog @eyepatchbracket @entrysixteen @errorinklovers @e @requinoesis @rainbowsans @riftfic @rainingskeletons @raspberryflo @theweirdwideweb @toxicgummy @tf2 @textsfromsuperheroes @the-meme-monarch @yamujiburo

PLEASE SIGN AS MANY PEITIONS AS YOU CAN AGAINST THE KOSA BILL

IT. MUSN'T. PASS

USE THE TAGS. GET THEM TRENDING. SPREAD THESE LINKS AROUND.

[theblackautist]

Join the #AutisticOutLoud Webinar Series — A Conversation on Black Autistic Experiences & Advocacy!   Wednesday, July 2 — Building Community and #AutisticBlackJoy 6 pm - 7 pm EST #BlackAutisticVoices #HealthEquity #Neurodiversity #AutismAwareness #CommunityPower #AutisticJoy #FightForEquality 

[one-autisticperson]

All In A Stim - An Autistic Persons Poem #autism #stimming #autism #creativity #autisticlife #stimming #autismspectrumdisorder This is just a little poem I have I have written as part of a bigger writing project I am currently doing to explore emotions more and how emotions and the experience of an autistic life can be beautiful, scary, frustrating and utterly joyful. This is a poem that I have written for my Joy Volume, and focuses on the feeling of elation. It looks at the joy felt when stimming and how important this is for me and many other autistic people. 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@OneAutisticPerson/?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Stay Connected With Me. Tiktok: https://ift.tt/VndDbTC ============================= 🎬Suggested videos for you: ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF3QPTgRKl0 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cP8xrM6AIE ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzVcKIC6M7c ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXPy-ER9Hgc ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOXbKKGSb6k ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASN2Zn6ZRd0 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syo3W-0E7Rg ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb8O0h4vPg8 ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9etrvP3awX8 ================================= ✅ About One Autistic Person. Welcome to One Autistic Person! I’m Jason, and this channel is my space to share the real and raw experiences of living as a neurodivergent person. Diagnosed with autism at 37, I created One Autistic Person to explore the journey of late diagnosis, its impact on life, and how it intersects with comorbid conditions like ADHD and mental health challenges. Here, you’ll find personal stories from my life, honest discussions about autism, and advice on managing life as an autistic individual. I also invite conversations with others—neurodivergent individuals and those with lived experience of mental health conditions—through engaging podcasts and meaningful discussions. Let’s learn, share, and grow together! 🔔 Curious about life with autism? Subscribe now to explore authentic stories, honest discussions, and real advice on living with autism and neurodivergence! https://www.youtube.com/@OneAutisticPerson/?sub_confirmation=1 ================================= 🔎 Related Phrases: Autistic Creativity, Autism, Neurodivergent Life, Being Creative As An Autistic Person, Autistic Joy Hashtags #autisticjoy #autismspectrumdisorder #autisticperson #neurodiversity #neurodivergent via One Autistic Person https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp77VOc0feeDsV3Q6i3cYHA March 17, 2025 at 03:46PM

[johnnyprofane1]

Podcast: "Calm Down!" Why is this the WORST Advice You Can Give an Autistic Person?"

Now a Podcast! "Calm Down!" Why Is this the WORST Advice You Can Give an Autistic Person...? Includes text & captioned video featuring artwork. #ActuallyAutistic #ADHD #AuDHD #Neurodivergent

Ever been told to ‘calm down’? How’d it feel? Well, this autistic feels like exploding! 🚨Content note: profanity, opinionated, disturbing images, therapist bashing… “Calm Down!” Why is this the WORST Advice You Can Give an Autistic Person?” – #AutisticAF Out Loud “Calm down.” G-d damn, I hate those words. Always have. And I’ve heard them pretty much every day of my LONG life. “Pro…

[stingscustom]

🌈✨ Celebrate Neurodiversity! ✨🌈 Introducing the **Neurodivergent Communication Button**: - A powerful tool for expressing your needs - Perfect for promoting Autism Awareness - Designed to foster inclusivity and understanding Share this moment with your friends and family. Together, we can create spaces where everyone feels seen and valued. How do you express yourself? Let's start a conversation! - What symbol resonates with you? - How do you advocate for your needs? Join the movement to uplift and empower. Reblog and share your thoughts! #Neurodiversity #AutismAwareness #Inclusion #HolidayGift #SelfExpression

[theriancultureis]

Dogkin culture is getting extremely happy when you get patted on the head or scratches behind your (human) ears, to the point where you can feel that sensation of your tail wagging, even though it isn't there.

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[kermple]

dropping out of college to focus on the important things. like Sherlock Holmes.