A way of being for a person with autism. Autism is not a disease. A lot of people feel desperately sorry for autistic people, and look for a cure, because autistics find empathising/conversing difficult. Many autistics are good at other things such as maths/physics, and rembering lots of information. Around 1 in 10 autistics show savant abilities, which may mean they can do VERY fast maths, or play a song they've heard once on a musical instrument without tution, and a variety of others.

A lot of people are oblivious to the concept of autistic adults, only thinking of autism being about children. This is not the case and many autistic adults (such as myself) have jobs and contribute to society like everyone else, and they are not always "high functioning".

Some Autistic people want to be cured, and that's fine if it's what they really want.
However, there are plenty of autistic people who would rather not edit themselves to conform to society's narrow defintion of "normal", of which I am one. The vast majority of people know nothing about autistic people who are HAPPY the way they are, which is a shame.
Pro-sure: "Oh look at that poor autistic child, his life must be so awful because he's different."
Anti-cure: "It's very likely Einstein was autistic, as well as a whole host of other people throughout history. How about appreciating autistic people for they are, not who you wish they were?"
by BJ_fse July 6, 2006
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Of a person (or animal) who's neurodiverse or has autism, possibly caused by a mutation on chromosome 15 before development and birth. These people are normal but may have sensory, behavioral, and social differences. Otherwise, autistic individuals are either smart or intellectually impaired, sensory oversensitive or sensory undersensitive, unique, and creative. Neurodiversity is not retardation or taboo but a blessing and a personality trait.
Stupid: "You retarded?"
Me: "No, I'm autistic."
Stupid: "That explains why you're weird and probably stupid."
Me: "Oh, so an animal science nerd is stupid!? Spell 'intelligence'."
Stupid: "..."
Me: "Uh-huh! That's what I thought!"

I'm actually autistic, so if I ever encounter someone this stupid, I will just show them this.
by GigglesTheHyena May 2, 2019
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Has contemporary usage as a self-identifier and a term of endearment used online by individuals who self-identify as non-neurotypical. Although often used light-heartedly, and seemingly in jest, it reflects underlying non-typical struggles can manifest as the tendency towards introversion, social isolation, obsessive thinking, anxiety, difficulty maintaining eye contact, social awkwardness and missing common social queues, and a feeling that they do not fit it to normal society. The colloquial usage reflects a recognise of common struggles, shared ability and a steadfast refusal for it to be defined as a disorder in any form. It is not a problem to be fixed, but different way of being, and possibly an adaptation to growing up and socialising online.

Although not clinically-diagnosed as autistic, self-identified austists recognise traits that place them somewhere on the spectrum, are often very high-functioning and analytic, and whilst still feel very deeply, are often lower in emotional intelligence and emotional control, and tend to be obsessive in their pursuit and immersion in their interests.
Hello, fellow autists.
by Josehsan January 29, 2021
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Describing autistic people in terms of functioning levels is controversial. Some children are labeled as low functioning because of a speech delay, but they later learn to communicate and turn out to be intelligent.
Albert Einstein, who was confirmed to have been autistic by an autopsy of his brain structure, did not talk until he was five years old.
by underground aspergian July 13, 2005
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Simply a word to describe someone who has autism. Autistic is NOT an insult and should not be used in such manner. I am an autistic person, and I get really offended whenever autistic (or autist) is used to offend someone. In fact, it’s partially the reason i have depression. So, everybody, please stop using autistic (and autist) as an insult.

If you want a more urban and minimalistic definition, autistic is a word used to say someone has autism, and people who use it as an insult are dicks.
CORRECT USE: Joey is an autistic kid. He has autism, and is really a smart kid.

INCORRECT USE: OMG Bob is such an autistic doofus he’s so stupid!
by just a fellow girl gamer April 1, 2020
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Someone with neurodiversity as opposed to someone who is neurotypical. Not curable as it is not a diseases, virus, sickness or mental health issues. Not a result of trauma or poor upbringing as it is biological. There is a genetic aspect to it but a person can be autistic without having autistic relatives too. There is no specific way in which autistic people behave as autism just refers to a way in which the human brain can process information and function, personality is separate from that.
"I got diagnosed recently so now I know with certainty that I am autistic."

"This Instagram post, which is trying to be informative, is just pushing stereotypes about autism. Have they even asked looked at autistic support sites for actual facts about autism?"
by SleepyNotes March 3, 2021
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I don't know much about the technicals of autism. I do know some autistic kids personally. The ones I know usually socially isolate themselves to some extent. Some autistic kids are remarkably skilled in some area, and know a lot about things that someone would find very confusing.
My best friend's brother is autistic. He is socially awkward but he can name every country in the world and all the components of his computer with a description of their functions off the top of his head.
I knew another autistic kid who was amazingly awesome at street fighter for snes.
by yes.. NO!! May 22, 2005
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