My closest friends know that the more focused I am on explaining a complex idea, the more monotone I’ll become, and the less I’ll be able to pay attention to their reactions. But they also know that once my thoughts are out, I’ll be eager to hear theirs. • My co-workers know that stimming helps me focus, and they don’t judge me for using a fidget toy during meetings. • My family knows that even if I’m not looking at them, I’m still listening. In a perfect world, all communication styles would be understood well enough that no one would need to mask or translate. But in the meantime, before I
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