Untypical: How the world isn’t built for autistic people and what we should all do about it

by Pete Wharmby

I rely on stock phrases that I know will work: ‘I’m so sorry, that must be so hard.’ Not because I’m grasping at straws for what emotional event is actually occurring – I get that – but because I just don’t know how to respond; I’m lacking that part of the social script, in the same way I’m lacking the rules of ‘small talk’.