When I Was Ignored for Being Autistic
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When I Was Ignored for Being Autistic
Chronicles of a Quiet Fighter
Today at work, I had a moment that left me both hurt and seen. An older man came in trying to return a brake hose. The part was right, but he had installed it on the wrong side of his car. When he explained it, it didn’t make sense to me—his words got jumbled, and I told him plainly: “I’m autistic, and you’re confusing me.”
Instead of slowing down or respecting that, he turned his attention to my coworker John. He even said, “He said he’s autistic, maybe you can help me,” like I wasn’t standing right there anymore. Then he added that he had a granddaughter who is autistic. That stung even more. I thought, I hope he treats her better than he treated me.
In that moment, I started to feel myself nearing shutdown. What bothers me is not knowing exactly what signs I was giving off that made it obvious. John later told me he noticed it happening—that’s why he hung up on his own customer call and stepped in to help.
And honestly, that meant the world to me. John trusted me enough to know I wasn’t making this up. He respected me enough to step in without making me feel small. He saw what was happening, and instead of ignoring me, he had my back.
Being ignored after disclosing my autism hurt. But having an ally who saw me and stepped in reminded me I’m not alone in these moments. Allies matter.
To anyone reading this: if an autistic person tells you something’s confusing, don’t dismiss them. Don’t ignore them. Slow down. Listen. Respect them. It’s not about making things easier—it’s about treating them as human.
I deserve that. My coworkers deserve that. My autistic community deserves that.
💙 Quiet Fighter Merch exists to stand for respect, visibility, and the voices that too often go unheard.
Thank you for reading and for treating autistic people with dignity.
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