Autistic Super Powers

 Yesterday I went to a furniture store with my mom. She was shopping for a new couch, and somehow the topic of my son’s autism came up with the salesperson.

Do you know what her very first question was?

“Oh, what is his fixation? What is it that he’s really good at?”

I know she meant well, but I can’t tell you how frustrating that question is. Why is there this automatic assumption that every autistic child is some kind of hidden genius? That they all must have a “special talent” or “superpower” tucked away, just waiting to be discovered?

Here’s the truth: for us, it doesn’t look like that. Maybe one day my son will develop a strong interest or talent, and maybe he won’t. Right now, every single day is about survival. The smallest tasks - getting dressed, eating, going to the store - can feel like climbing a mountain. We don’t have a superpower. We don’t have a quirky fixation that makes life feel magical. What we have is hard. What we have is real.

And I know we’re not the only family living this reality. For so many of us, autism isn’t a “gifted” storyline... it’s a constant grind, a constant struggle, and a constant fight for understanding and support.

When people cling to this stereotype of the “autistic genius,” it erases kids like mine. It makes it harder for people to see the very real challenges, the very real exhaustion, and the very real humanity of our children.

So, please - stop asking autistic families about their child’s “fixation” or “talent.” Stop expecting a superhero story. Instead, try seeing and honoring our kids exactly as they are... without conditions, without stereotypes, and without needing them to fit into some kind of inspirational narrative

Kerri