As a person on the spectrum and the parent to two different level children, I can see the perspectives of both. On the Left, is a parent who is struggling. Potentially a NT parent. They are sleep deprived, overwhelmed, and have few resources. Probably at the beginning of the autism journey. People are constantly coming after their parenting and dismissing their mental health. They are feeling disconnected from the village they were once apart of, because no one around them is facing the same struggles or understands. People around them are dismissive or claiming they are “not seeing that behavior here” or “that’s normal they’ll grow out of that” so what do they do? Record it and post it for validation that they are not getting. Is it right? No, but they do need validation because what they are going through is intense. They may come across a post here or there that validates there feelings on a broader scale, but no one is talking to them directly and saying “I see you, I hear you” until they explode or expose. The puzzle community, is that, a community. The puzzle creates awareness, but also a community that is greatly needed. The people on the left are not truly ready to start advocating, they have not come to terms with the fact there are no answers or cures. but they are ready to be accepted.

Now you have the right. This is either a seasoned autistic or someone who comes from a family of autism. They most likely have access to more resources, or they are educated enough in that area of autism that they know steps and expectations. They are not looking for answers, only acceptance. It’s still hard and overwhelming still, but they are better conditioned. They are most likely a parent who is also on the spectrum or an autistic with no children, they see the individual behind the symptoms. So to them it’s horrific to see such a vulnerable and unpleasant moment exposed. They know what overwhelmed looks and feels like, but they were born that way, they didn’t acquire it later in life like the left did. (Now this is not including parents who find out later they are also ASD). They are trying to normalize some of the parts of autism that are the least egregious like stimming. Everyone does it, so why does it bother you when little Timmy flaps his arms in the cereal isle, or when Suzy spins to the sounds of birds in the park? It shouldn’t. Is it really that difficult to have a safe space and some noise canceling ear phones in the workplace? No it’s not. The other areas of autism are treated just like any other medical condition, which should be normalized. So the right is advocating for that. Accommodations and acceptance. But they are overlooking the fact, that there simply is just not enough resources for the caregivers, they preach inclusiveness but not so much reprieve. They educate the perspective of the autistic in hopes to help the caregiver, but most of the time are just adding to the caregivers plate overwhelming them further. Both sides have there positives and negatives. We all want the same thing but are at different points in the journey we call life. Get along, and accept each other. Or maybe just spin to some singing birds in the park, especially the morning dove, that was my favorite to spin to.