Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most misunderstood conditions in contemporary discourse. Perhaps even more damaging than ignorance, however, is the casual dismissal of ASD with remarks like, “everyone is a little autistic”. This phrase downplays the challenges autistic people face and reduces them to quirks everyone supposedly shares. In reality, autism isn’t a standard set of relatable traits – it’s a distinctive way of perceiving and interacting with the world that defies such simplifications. Suggesting otherwise isn’t just inaccurate, but is dismissive and ultimately harmful.
Let’s set the record straight. Autism is not a scale where one can be “a little autistic” at one end and “very autistic” at the other. Framing ASD on a linear scale oversimplifies and ignores the profound differences in how it manifests. Some autistic people are non-verbal, while others are hyperverbal. Some struggle with extreme sensory sensitivities, while others experience this differently or less intensely. It’s not about “more or less” autistic, it’s about the unique and individual ways autism shapes experience.
A major phenomenon that contributes to this misunderstanding lies in the shared traits of mild sensory sensitivity or experiences of occassionally missing social cues. While many people may find loud noises irritating, for instance, autistic individuals often experience certain sounds as an assault on the nervous system. Similarly, you might feel awkward when laughing too hard at a joke, but for autistic individuals, such social disconnect can complicate relationships, work, and daily interactions. The reality is that autism represents a fundamentally distinct way of processing the world.
This persistent “everyone-ing” amounts to a form of invalidation. Imagine this: you’re burning up with a high fever, barely able to eat, let alone have a shower. You finally gather the strength to visit your GP, only to be dismissed with a “everyone’s feeling down these days.” For an autistic person, being told “you’re overreacting” during intense sensory overload feels strikingly similar. This isn’t just a misunderstanding, but a form of gaslighting. When autistic people repeatedly hear that their experiences are “universal,” they’re being told that their struggles are either exaggerated or insignificant. This dismissiveness is far from harmless: it breeds isolation, anxiety, and a profound sense of alienation.
Moreover, these generalisations that minimise autism often intertwine with other harmful misconceptions—like the “high-functioning” versus “low-functioning” labels. These terms serve as makeshift rankings on the autism spectrum, yet they fail to capture its complexity. An individual may be deemed “high-functioning” academically, while struggling significantly with daily life skills. Such labels oversimplify an intricate neurodevelopmental condition and fail to truly represent the experiences of autistic individuals. Additionally, this framing undermines the need for accommodations. If autism were merely a set of quirks, why would accommodations be necessary? Accommodations are not preferences, but essential adjustments that enable autistic individuals to participate equitably. Dismissing these needs as “demands” is a fundamental misunderstanding that perpetuates ableism.
While the phrase “everyone is a little autistic” may seem innocent, it’s anything but. It distorts the reality of autism, commodifies the lived experiences of autistic individuals and propagates damaging misconceptions. Autism is not a spectrum of common traits shared by all. It’s a unique neurodevelopmental condition that comes with distinct challenges and perspectives. True inclusivity requires us to abandon such misconceptions and cultivate genuine understanding by recognising and respecting autistic experiences, supporting essential accommodations, and amplifying autistic voices rather than disregarding them.
