Myths About Autism

Individuals with autism never make eye contact; they do not look at you.
Autism is a mental illness.
Progress means a person doesn't have autism.
Individuals with autism don't speak.
Autism can be outgrown.
Individuals with autism can't learn.
Underneath all the difficult behaviors is a normal person.
Individuals with autism cannot show affection and do not respond to physical affection.
Individuals with autism do not want friends.
Individuals with autism do not relate to peers/adults.
Individuals with autism are very manipulative.
Individuals with autism could talk if they wanted to.
Individuals with autism can't smile.
Individuals with autism don't notice others and don't pick up cues from adults.
When a person with autism does not respond to a question/direction to which he has shown a previous correct response, he is being stubborn/non-compliant/obnoxious.

This article appears courtesy of the Autism Society of America.