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.