Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

“Despite what people believe, Autism is not defined by rudeness, masculinity, or having any kind of mathematical skill. In the scientific literature, it’s arguable whether the disability should even be defined by the presence of clear behavioral signs, such as trouble reading social cues or hesitating to initiate contact with other people. Instead of looking to the external signs of Autism that others might pick up on, it’s important that we instead focus on the neurobiological markers of the neurotype, and the internal experiences and challenges that Autistic people themselves report.”

This quote ties in with the book’s main theme of Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions About Autism. Price’s tone is assertive and educational, aiming to correct the widespread misunderstandings about Autism by emphasizing the need to consider its neurobiological aspects and the personal experiences of Autistic individuals. By advocating for this, Price calls for a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of Autism, one that respects the diverse realities of those on the spectrum.

“The mental health needs of white, wealthy people (and the hassle rich mentally ill people presented to their high-status families) were the primary concern of early psychiatrists. Everyone else was, at best, an afterthought, and at worse an undesirable to be purged. This history shaped how professionals saw and defined Autism from the very start, and its legacy is still with us today.”

By using the words “afterthought” or “undesirable,” Price underscores the systemic neglect and marginalization of diverse groups in the understanding of Autism. This historical context is crucial in understanding the current landscape of Autism diagnosis and treatment, revealing how deeply ingrained biases have shaped and continue to influence perceptions and care for Autistic individuals, especially those from non-white or non-wealthy backgrounds. This quote evokes the book’s themes of Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions About Autism and Intersectionality and Autism.

“A sensory seeking, fun-loving persona makes for a very effective Autism mask; no one sees you as an ‘overly sensitive’ disabled person if you’re constantly traveling the world and thrashing to the music at your local bar’s metal night. It might even be an enjoyable mask to wear, though needing to constantly seek out stimulation can prove limiting.”

This quote hints at the theme of Masking and Its Consequences, as Price implies that such a mask, while potentially enjoyable and effective in deflecting stereotypes, comes with its own set of limitations and pressures. Price subtly critiques this adaptive behavior, pointing out the exhausting nature of constantly seeking stimulation to maintain the mask, thereby illustrating the complex and often taxing reality of living with Autism and the societal pressures to conform.

“It’s quite common for adult Autistic women to be incorrectly labeled with Borderline Personality Disorder, for instance. This is a really disastrous diagnosis. Borderline Personality Disorder is many therapists’ least favorite condition to work with.”

By describing a misdiagnosis of BPD as “disastrous,” Price evokes the gravity of this issue, suggesting the significant negative implications it has for those misdiagnosed, including potentially inappropriate treatment and further stigmatization. Price’s statement also reflects a critique of the mental health field, subtly pointing out the biases and challenges within the therapeutic community, where BPD is often viewed unfavorably, further complicating the experiences of those misdiagnosed.

“Neurotypical people are obsessed with functioning levels. If you tell a nondisabled person that you’re Autistic, but you’re able to hold a conversation or maintain a job, they’ll immediately start gushing about how functional you are. Usually, that remark comes with the implication that you don’t really count as disabled because you can fake a nondisabled status (if only for a moment).”

In this quote, Price adopts a critical and slightly sardonic tone to highlight the narrow-mindedness often exhibited by neurotypical individuals regarding the functioning levels of Autistic people. He points out the superficial praise that Autistic individuals receive for displaying abilities like conversing or working, which ironically undermines their disability by implying that their worth is tied to their ability to “pass” as neurotypical. Price’s commentary implicitly critiques societal perceptions that equate functionality with value, and the inherent ableism in valuing Autistic individuals only when they conform to neurotypical standards.

“Hiding self-destructiveness behind a mountain of achievements isn’t functioning, not really. The very concept of ‘functioning status’ is predicated on the logic of capitalism and the legacy of the Protestant work ethic, which both have trained us to believe that a person’s productivity determines their worth. […] Equating a person’s social value (or even their right to exist) with their productivity is sadly a common outlook, but it’s also a profoundly alienating and ableist one.”

Price challenges the notion that high levels of achievement or productivity equate to effective functioning, suggesting that this mindset can mask underlying self-destructive tendencies. This quote suggests the theme of Masking and Its Consequences.

“Regular life is more cognitively and emotionally demanding for neurodiverse people than it is for neurotypicals, but we have to hide that fact from other people on a daily basis. To prop up our façade of being ‘high functioning,’ we build a messy, unstable scaffolding of flawed coping mechanisms.”

In this quote, Price employs a metaphor to describe the precarious coping mechanisms that neurodiverse individuals often construct to maintain the appearance of being “high functioning.” This imagery effectively conveys the fragility and constant effort required to uphold this facade in the face of everyday challenges that are more demanding for neurodiverse individuals than for neurotypical individuals. Price’s choice of words emphasizes the hidden struggles of neurodiverse individuals, critiquing the societal pressure to conform to a standard of functionality that doesn’t account for their unique experiences and needs.

“They may be asked to repeat conversational niceties like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ over and over until they hit on the correct tone of voice, or be told to stand up and sit down repeatedly while the therapist snaps their fingers at them like they’re a trained dog. When Autistic kids act out or demand attention, ABA therapists are supposed to withdraw, leaving the room or ignoring their distress. This teaches the Autistic child not to expect any help from the outside world. ABA therapists also punish children by electrocuting them. The electroshock devices used in ABA therapy were briefly banned by the Food and Drug Administration 2020, before being reinstated in 2021.”

Price provides a stark and unsettling portrayal of ABA therapy for Autistic children, using vivid and distressing imagery. His comparison of the repetitive training methods to the treatment of “a trained dog” and the mention of punitive measures like electroshock therapy criticize the dehumanizing and harsh aspects of such therapeutic practices. This passage serves not only as an indictment of specific controversial treatment methods but also reflects a broader critique of approaches to Autism that prioritize external conformity over understanding and addressing the actual needs and experiences of Autistic individuals.

“Many don’t know how to refuse an unreasonable demand, or how to express emotions like anger or fear. One former ABA therapist confessed on an anonymous blog that she worries she conditioned her patients to be easy to manipulate and abuse.”

Price highlights a troubling consequence of certain Autism therapies, particularly focusing on the impact of ABA. The statement that many Autistic individuals, as a result of their therapy, struggle to refuse unreasonable demands or express basic emotions like anger or fear, underscores a deep concern about the long-term effects of such treatments on personal autonomy and emotional expression. The inclusion of a confession from a former ABA therapist serves to reinforce this point, bringing a humanizing and regretful perspective to the discussion and emphasizing the potential for such therapies to inadvertently render Autistic individuals more vulnerable to manipulation and abuse.

“Some masked Autistics are drawn to the structure and sense of control that an eating disorder can provide. We often seek out clear ‘rules’ for good behavior, which we then adhere to rigidly, hoping they will keep us socially safe and finally render us worthy.”

Here, Price illustrates how societal expectations and internalized notions of worthiness can lead to harmful coping mechanisms. This connects to the book’s theme of Masking and Its Consequences.

“Masked Autistics sometimes find structure and belonging in ‘high control’ groups, such as radicalized political organizations, religious communities with very restrictive beliefs, and cults. High control groups famously prey on people who are lonely and desperately seek a sense of purpose. Their repetitive rituals, seemingly close-knit social bonds, and ironclad rules about who is ‘good’ and who is ‘bad’ appeal to isolated people who yearn for connection and structure.”

This quote, which ties in to the book’s theme of Masking and Its Consequences, also hints at the theme of Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions About Autism. While Autistic people are stereotyped as aloof or antisocial, it is actually the need for social belonging, as well as structure, that drives some Autistic individuals toward high-control groups.

“Some Autistic people end up being radicalized by far-right online communities, which tailor themselves to appeal to lonely, frustrated men. Groups like QAnon, the Proud Boys, and Men Going Their Own Way provide a sense of belonging to people who have persistently been alienated. They offer friendship and a place where it is safe to ask taboo questions and say offensive things without fear of social consequences. These communities also prey on the Autistic tendency to fixate on a narrow array of topics. They bombard members with propaganda, teach them obscure language that no one outside of the group will understand, and desensitize them to bigotry using jokes and memes.”

Price’s analysis of Autistics being drawn to far-right online communities brings to light the intersection of neurodiversity and susceptibility to radicalization. He effectively portrays how such groups exploit the Autistic tendency toward fixation and the need for belonging, offering a pseudo-community that feeds into obsessive interests. Price continues to demonstrate that Autistic individuals, like allistic people, have a need for belonging and socialization, something that high-control groups sometimes exploit.

“Autistic people are at an increased risk of domestic abuse, in part because we tend to be a bit gullible or overly trusting, and are quick to alter ourselves to placate others. When you’re trapped under the mask, all love feels conditional. It’s hard to know which needs are acceptable to voice. It’s also easy for us to feel responsible for serving as an intermediary or peacekeeper when any tension arises between other people, because for us, conflict can be very dangerous.”

This revelation highlights the theme of Masking and Its Consequences, demonstrating that striving to accommodate others can lead to exploitation. Many masked Autistics develop people-pleasing tendencies that are affirmed and encouraged by society, but Price shows that these tendencies can lead Autistic people to be vulnerable to abuse.

“The process of unmasking is all about rethinking the beliefs and behaviors that seemed normal prior to discovering we were Autistic. It means reexamining the stereotypes about Autistics (and other disabled people) we’ve been exposed to via media, education, and formative experiences in our youth. It requires we question society’s most deeply cherished values, and notice where there are gaps between what we’ve been told we should be, and how we’d actually like to live. Finally, unmasking demands that we look back on our past selves with a spirit of grace, gradually learning to see that the sides of ourselves that we were told were too loud, too stilted, too weird, or too much are actually completely fine, even wonderful, and absolutely deserving of love.”

Price effectively sums up the complex process of unmasking, showing that it is a gradual journey that requires looking inward and outward, and toward the past, present, and future. This quote employs a reflective, accepting tone.

“It’s heartening to witness how fellow masked Autistics take proud ownership of traits they once deeply disliked and were taught to loathe: childishness, selfishness, stubbornness, being a robot. Looked at from another angle, childishness is joy and open curiosity. Selfishness is a vital protective skill. One interviewee told me that his stubbornness and moral clarity is what allowed him to be a whistle-blower when he discovered his company was violating customer privacy protections.”

Price celebrates the reclamation of traits often seen as negative by Autistics. He reframes qualities like childishness and selfishness as positive attributes, highlighting their hidden strengths and benefits. This perspective challenges traditional views and encourages Autistics to embrace their unique qualities, linking to the theme of Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions About Autism.

“Quite frequently, the traits that inconvenience or weird out neurotypical people are the very same ones that define who we are and help keep us safe. When we stop taking an outsider’s perspective of our own disability and instead center our own perspectives and needs, this becomes clear. It’s not actually a bad thing that we are spirited, loud, intense, principled, or strange. These traits are merely inconvenient to systems designed by abled people that don’t take our unique way of being into account.”

In Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions About Autism, Price casts Autistic traits as revolutionary and self-protective. Price does not view Autism in a vacuum but rather orients it within a larger societal framework. This ties in Price’s use of the social model of disability, as well as the book’s theme of Intersectionality and Autism, a theme that views Autism as inextricably intertwined with identity and societal forces.

“Interestingly, adults are only shamed for having an obsessive interest if that interest is a bit too ‘strange’ and doesn’t come with the opportunity to rack up a lot of achievements or make a lot of money. People who routinely complete eighty-hour workweeks aren’t penalized for being obsessive or hyperfixated; they’re celebrated for their diligence. If an adult fills their evenings after work learning to code or creating jewelry that they sell on Etsy, they’re seen as enterprising. But if someone instead devotes their free time to something that gives them pleasure but doesn’t financially benefit anyone, it’s seen as frivolous or embarrassing, even selfish.”

This quote demonstrates one of Price’s core arguments: Autistic people, and disabled people more broadly, are often shamed for not meeting capitalist standards of productivity. Price critiques these standards, suggesting that they link productivity to self-worth.

“It’s my Autism, not my mask, that helps me live in accordance with my beliefs.”

Price succinctly summarizes the authenticity of living as an unmasked Autistic individual, contrasting it with the inauthenticity of masking. He implies that his true self, shaped by Autism, aligns more closely with his personal values than any façade created to conform to societal expectations.

“Because Autism is a core part of who we are, impossible to separate from our personalities, talents, preferences, and general outlook. We wouldn’t be the same people without it.”

Price affirms that Autism is an intrinsic and inseparable aspect of an individual’s identity. This statement Challenges Stereotypes and Misconceptions About Autism, which view Autism as a disorder, a burden, and an impediment.

“Self-stigma is a liar; you’re not cringey, ‘too much,’ a baby, or a cold-blooded creep. You’re a marginalized person with many beautiful and unique qualities. Your needs are value-neutral, and your emotions are helpful signals to respond to that don’t merit any shame. Autism has always been a powerful driving force in your life, often for the better, even when you did not know that it was there.”

Price uses the second-person perspective to address readers directly. He uses repetition, declarative sentences, and a reassuring tone to empower the reader, redefining Autism as a positive force.

“Because Autistic people’s motivation level, interests, and social and sensory requirements shift, Marta Rose suggests we can think of time as a spiral rather than a straight line. Rather than being parceled out in detached chunks with predetermined purposes (lunch time, work time, sleep time), we can see time as flowing and even folding back on itself, an overlapping series of cycles, periods of dormancy intersecting with growth. She writes: ‘Almost all of the standard measures of time that we now take for granted—the way our hours and days and weeks are structured—are based on a factory model of work. I call this Industrial Time […]. There are other ways of thinking about time. Seasonal ways. Cyclical ways. Ancient ways.’”

Marta Rose’s concept of time as a spiral, as cited by Price, introduces a novel perspective on how Autistic individuals perceive and interact with time. Price uses this concept to advocate for a broader understanding of neurodiversity, implying that societal structures need to adapt to accommodate different ways of experiencing the world. The imagery of time as a “spiral” rather than a “straight line” suggests a fluid, organic, and dynamic flow, as opposed to the rigid, linear, and segmented structure typically associated with the “factory model of work” or “Industrial Time.” The idea of time “flowing and even folding back on itself” conjures a sense of time being more interconnected and cyclical, reflecting the ebb and flow of motivation, interests, and sensory needs in Autistic individuals.

“For masked Autistic people, knowing ‘too much’ or thinking about something too deeply is seen as suspect. People find it calculating or creepy for us to put more effort into something they never grant a passing thought. In all of these ways, Autistic ‘life hacks’ and the pressures of masking are quite often linked. But they don’t have to be. Though neurotypical people expect us to hide the efforts we go to in order to fit in, not hiding our brushstrokes can be a revolutionary act. If something is difficult for us, we shouldn’t have to pretend it’s easy, or hide our exhaustion or stress. And if we need a lot of information in order to feel comfortable navigating an unfamiliar space, we shouldn’t have to conceal that fact, either.”

Here, the metaphor of “not hiding our brushstrokes” is used to convey the idea of embracing and revealing one's authentic self, with all its complexities and efforts, rather than concealing them to conform to societal norms. This metaphor likens the individual actions and coping mechanisms of Autistic people to the visible strokes of a painter’s brush, which are typically integral to the art but often concealed in the final product. By suggesting that not hiding these “brushstrokes” is a “revolutionary act,” Price emphasizes the radical nature of being openly Autistic in a world that expects conformity to neurotypical standards. The metaphor encourages a shift from concealing to openly displaying the unique ways in which Autistic individuals interact with the world, advocating for authenticity and the validation of their experiences.

“Radical visibility, in other words, is absolutely antithetical to masking. Where masking conceals, radical visibility steps into the limelight. Where masking scans the environment constantly for signs of social threat, and reins in the unruly stims and tics of the Autistic body, radical visibility encourages it to simply be. A masker gets their needs met in private, through a series of apologetic half measures and veiled coping mechanisms; a radically visible person openly declares who they are and what they require, because it’s what they deserve.”

Price creates a clear juxtaposition between the confining, cautious nature of masking and the empowering, assertive stance of radical visibility. The repetitive sentence structure serves to emphasize the contrast between these two modes of navigating the world. The imagery used in describing radical visibility (“steps into the limelight” and “declares who they are”) makes the concept of radical visibility not just a theory but a palpable, desirable state of being. Overall, Price’s rhetoric is crafted to not just inform but persuade, communicating the benefits of radical visibility for Autistic individuals.