Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum

by Michael McCreary

The simplest definition is that autism is a neurological variation. In less fancy language, it’s a difference in your brain and how it’s wired. You see and process things differently from people who are the norm—what we in the ASD community call neurotypical.

My first year of high school did teach me one valuable lesson, though, and it was what a difference a good, responsive teacher can make to kids with special needs—and how much harder it is when the adults at school don’t put in the effort to address your specific challenges.

It’s important to stand up to authority when it’s corrupt, but it’s also important to understand how it became corrupt in the first place, so you can better reason with them.

Self-advocacy is an autistic person’s best friend and an important concept for anyone with special challenges.

Just remember that every time a system has changed for the better, it’s because of someone saying, “I have a problem” loudly enough.

people who matter are the ones who make time for you. Friendship is deeper than having mutual interests. Friendship is setting aside time in your day to help someone forget about life for a while.

“Life is too short to be a chore, so why not say yes and have fun with it?”

You should say yes to life when it benefits you and those you care about, but you always have the right to say no when it doesn’t.

In a world like this, all we have left is our ability to empathize.