FAQs

• Why 'Undercover Autie'?
  Because I spent 26 years passing as a neurotypical person and am often met with surprise when I tell people about my diagnosis.

• Is autism a learning disability/ mental illness?
  No. You can be autistic and have a learning disability and/or mental illness, but autism itself is neither. It has been called a developmental disorder, but within the framework of neurodiversity, many prefer to call it a neurological difference or neurotype.
  

• Is autism a disability?

  While autism isn’t a learning disability, many autistic people do consider it to be a disability.

• Is there a cure for autism?
  No. Autism is not an illness so it cannot be ‘cured’. Most autistic people do not want to be 'cured': see this survey.

• What do these abbreviations stand for?
  ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder
  ASC - Autism Spectrum Condition
  NT - Neurotypical (someone without autism or another neurological difference, eg: ADHD)
  ND - Neurodivergent (someone with a neurological difference like autism)
  Autie - Short for autistic