How to Tell Someone You Have Autism

People who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might find it difficult to let new people know about their autism diagnosis. They may feel nervous, anxious and overwhelmed just thinking about telling someone new — all of which can make it feel quite daunting.

That being said, telling other people about your autism diagnosis can help understand you better. It may make others feel more empathetic to the different challenges you face, which can lead to greater acceptance and inclusion.

After other people know that you have autism, it can result in greater understanding, which can make communicating, socializing and forming meaningful relationships easier. Telling others you have autism can also release you from the worry and exhaustion that often comes from hiding and/or masking your diagnosis.

These are all great reasons for wanting to tell others you have autism, but how do you actually go about doing it? Here are some tips that could help you feel more comfortable.

Índice

Decide Who to Tell

Revealing your autism diagnosis can seem like a scary task. Part of the reason for that may be that it seems like a giant undertaking to let multiple people know about your neurodevelopmental disorder.

One way to alleviate some of your fears and anxiety could be to start small. Before telling anyone, think about which people you want to tell.

Make a list of all the people who you think you’d like to tell, and then prioritize them based on who you feel closest to, who you interact the most with and who you believe might be most accepting.

Starting small with just a few people can help you feel more comfortable in telling even more people.

Decide What to Tell

You should also think about what you want to tell other people about your diagnosis, and how you want to tell them. You could consider telling them about when you were first diagnosed, what it means and how it affects you personally.

This information can help other people to understand your disorder more, how it impacts you on a daily basis, and what some of the support is that you require as a result.

It’s also a good idea to give people a chance to ask any questions they might have. Not only will this help them to understand you and your condition more, it helps to build trust and closer relationships.

You should also consider where and when you want to tell other people. Try choosing a location that is quiet and separate from other people so you can discuss serious topics. Also ensure that you both have enough time to have an in-depth conversation, so nothing feels rushed.

Discuss How Autism Does, and Does Not, Affect You

There are a lot of misconceptions about autism, and stigma surrounding it. As such, when you tell someone that you have autism, they might not fully grasp what that means.

Some people who aren’t as educated or informed about ASD might automatically think about the most extreme cases of autism. Whatever images this brings up in their mind might not match up with how they think of you, especially if you have a milder case.

So, when you tell someone you have autism, it’s also important to tell them not just how it affects you but also how it doesn’t affect you. In other words, you should talk about not just the challenges you face because of your autism but also the strengths you have — some of which come from the same condition.

How to explain autism to siblings, friends and family

By shedding light on both of these things, it helps others to understand what you’re going through. Plus, it also helps to open their eyes to the fact that autism affects people in a wide variety of ways.

You can take this part of the conversation a step further by telling others how they can provide support to you, if you need it. It could be as simple as asking for some extra grace if you don’t pick up on someone’s nonverbal cues or seem as though you’re being stand-offish. Involving others directly in this way will again help to engender understanding and respect.

What	How
Decide Who to Tell	Start small by identifying who you want to tell. Make a list, prioritize based on closeness, interactions, and acceptance. Sharing with a few trusted people first can ease anxiety.
Decide What to Tell	Consider sharing when you were diagnosed, what autism means for you, and how it affects you. Be open to answering questions to foster understanding and trust.
Discuss How Autism Does, and Does Not, Affect You	Address misconceptions by explaining both the challenges and strengths associated with autism. Share how others can support you and improve mutual understanding.

Blue Gems ABA ayuda a crecer a los niños con autismo

It’s certainly not easy to tell someone you have autism. Doing so, though, can help you to rid yourself of some of the stress and anxiety you might be holding onto, and also get the help and support of people you trust and interact with often.

En Blue Gems ABA, we are dedicated to helping children with autism grow so that they can live happy, healthy and independent lives. We do this by administering applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy.

This science-based approach to learning and behavior helps children on the autism spectrum build the communication, social and daily life skills with which they commonly struggle.

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