For people living with Autism spectrum disorder, or those who are living with an Autistic loved one, there are many things that are awesome about them. For people on the autism spectrum, things like jumping, clapping, and (what may seem like) staring at someone could all be seen as a part of their awesome. For parents and family members of those on the autism spectrum, there may also be moments in which they feel they are surrounded by these points of awesome. These points of awesome are not just limited to those on the autism spectrum, but are shared by those who are supporting them.
Of course this is a Spectrum and not all individuals with Autism exhibit all or some of these traits and abilities. They can be very different from one another and each person with autism has their own talents and idiosyncrasies. But these characteristic and aspects are what makes autism awesome.
1. People with Autism see the world in a different way than neurotypicals do
People with Autism who are "highly functioning" have a number of strengths in their abilities. They often see the world differently to people without Autism. This is because of the way people with Autism interact with their brain. Autistics use the visual cortex for information processing much more than neurotypicals do, which means they are highly visual thinkers. They are able to perceive visual differences much more than the average person. Others have estimated that people with Autism see the world in a much improved way than people without Autism.
2. More honest than most neurotypicals
People with Autism are honest to a much higher degree than neurotypicals. Their honesty isn't an issue of malice or intent; it's just what comes out of their mouths. One might think that such honesty would be a bad quality. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. Autistics have a natural tendency to tell the truth, and that's more than could be asked from most other people.
3. Don't judge people because of their flaws
People with Autism are often misunderstood. They don't judge people based on flaws like the rest and they don't feel the need to point out their insecurities and they view people as unique and special. They can be some of the most accepting and understanding people you know. They don't care about how you look or what you wear. They don't care about if you have a lazy eye, or if you're bald because you've been ill, or have a scar on your face. All they care about is getting to know you as a person.
4. Very good at doing repetitive tasks
People with Autism spectrum disorder are all different and every individual has their own strengths and abilities. One of the traits in many people on the autism spectrum is a tendency to perform repetitive tasks. They are often very good at doing repetitive tasks because they don’t get bored with them and won’t get distracted. Repetitive tasks are very good at cultivating the skills of focus, thinking carefully, and consistency. This often leads to success in careers like accounting, finance, research, purchasing, and IT.
5. Good at understanding systems
A lot of people with autism are good at understanding the systems and interactions between things in the world, because they notice the detail and complexity in everything in a way that neurotypical people don’t. Some of them when bombarded with stimuli are able to handle it and able to put these stimuli into context and understand the facts. This ability can be applied to anything from money to understand how the system works, to learning about how the human body functions. They're able to put together the pieces that surround the "system" and see the hidden picture.
6. Can concentrate for long periods of time
Those with autism are known to have a higher ability to concentrate than most. It’s thought that this is because those with autism have less of a need for stimulus to occupy their minds and to give them a break from sensory information. It’s not uncommon for someone with autism to become immersed in an activity and to be able to focus on it for long periods, on occasion for several hours and tend to be better at focusing on tasks for a longer period of time than those without.
7. Good at spotting patterns
Research has shown that some people on the autism spectrum are excellent at noticing patterns. This is because, for example, someone with autism may take in more details while a person without autism may be too distracted by other things around. They tend to have a greater attention to detail. The inability to easily filter out information, such as little changes in facial expressions and body language, allows them to pick up on subtle details which other people may not see.
8. An amazing memory
Some people with autism are known for their incredible memory. They might not be the best at housing concepts in their cerebral cortex, but they are excellent at remembering any detail of what you say. This makes them ideal for those who need to remember every detail of what happened on a project, whether it’s the head of company reporting a project or a journalist writing a story.
9. A sense of wonderment and new perspective
People with Autism often have a special freshness about life. They come with a sense of wonderment and new perspective. They are so observant and so in the moment with gratitude for the little things. You might actually enjoy their company since their lack of social boundaries and filters means that they're not going to sugarcoat things. And this can be a great thing because it gives you a glimpse into what it is to be human. Whether they're aware of it or not, they're going to make you see the world in a different way.
10. A passion for math and science
People with Autism have a strong interest in math and sciences, and many have an affinity for numbers. It’s natural for them to work in an area that involves those things. Statistics and data analyses come natural, and for many people with Autism, it’s a great way to lose themselves when concentrating on these things. We need more people with Autism to help the world because we only need to go so far in this fast changing world.
11. They are very punctual
People with Autism often have impressive levels of self-awareness so they're always very punctual. They have a natural sense of urgency and tend to be concerned with this to the point where they don’t enjoy waiting for other people. They tend to be more punctual than the average person. They also have a heightened sense of responsibility which means they're less likely to shirk their responsibilities. They're also deeply committed to order and good organization, which also contributes to their punctuality.
12. A strong adherence to rules
People with Autism often have a strong adherence to rules. This is because they like to feel secure in their environment. It helps them feel grounded and safe as they go about their day. The reality is that living in a world that constantly changes can be overwhelming so it’s good to have some sense of stability. They may even experience anxiety when there are no rules, or when they have to break a rule. So it's important for them to establish an activity with rules and to stick to it in order to feel comforted.
13. Dependable with schedules and routines
People with autism can be astonishingly dependable. You can always rely on them to stick to the tasks you've given them. This is because they have a structured routine and schedule. This can make them very good workers, and they can often have a higher attention span. Giving them structured, predictable tasks that don't involve too much interaction make them great candidates for a variety of jobs.
14. Logical, precise and detail orientated
People with autism often have a high intelligence, precision and attention to detail. This makes it possible for them to excel at tasks such as mathematics, programming and engineering. Since they are often detail-oriented, it may be less difficult for them to perform repetitive tasks. Many people with Autism have an increased ability to work with numbers and are thus more detail-oriented, which may make them more suited for higher paying, precision jobs.
15. Extremely sensitive and more aware
Unfortunately, the stigma that surrounds people with autism tends to make them feel misunderstood and frustrated. In reality, people with autism are more sensitive and more aware, which is why it’s important to take the time to get to know them as people. They are much more aware of what’s going on around them. They live with heightened senses and are bombarded with more information than their peers. They often have to think differently to process all of this information and work with it.
16. Wonderfully creative with an ability to think abstractly
People with autism are often very good at solving puzzles and finding solutions to complicated problems. They have the ability to think abstractly, so solutions that are linear to other people may not be linear for them. Increased creativity can be a result of this, as it allows them to think in ways that have not been thought of before. For someone with autism, the world may seem more of an extension of themselves. People with autism are wonderfully creative, and should be encouraged to rely on their imagination.
17. A drive for perfection and order
People with Autism are often described by their intricate perfectionism, orderliness, and obsession with details. They can often become frustrated by the anomaly and the lack of order, and may display compulsive behaviors to combat that. They really like to organize things and to have everything in an order that they understand. Things need to be symmetrical, repetitive, and in the same order as they always are. Basically a structured life with set routines.
18. A capability for alternate problem solving
People with Autism often have an amazing capability for alternate problem solving because they can imagine a world with different rules. This is because their brains are wired differently from neurotypical people. They can see how a problem could be solved in an entire new way. When it comes to thinking outside the box or identifying patterns in our environment, a person with autism may be more likely to do so.
19. A strong sense of justice
People with autism often have a heightened sense of justice. They’re good at seeing exactly where things have gone wrong and they’re really fair and logical. They’ll always try to compensate for perceived injustices. They understand why people deserve more or less without batting an eyelid. Those with autism need to have the world explained to them on their own terms. That way, they can pick up on the little inconsistencies and contradictions that make society so frustrating for them.
20. No hidden agenda
Individuals with autism lack the social skills so many of us take for granted. They have no hidden agenda and are willing to make themselves vulnerable. Typically people on the spectrum don't have any ulterior motives. They are almost always straightforward and honest and don't keep secrets. They often have trouble reading body language and the facial expressions of others, prompting a feeling of isolation.
21. Extremely passionate about the things they love
People with Autism are actually extremely passionate about the things they love, to a point that you wouldn't have witnessed before. They would rather focus on their favorite activity than do anything else. This dedication and perseverance is a really great quality to have. Their interests can be pretty hyper intense be it related to their hobbies or their academic prowess.
Autism is a complex and often misunderstood neurological condition. Since it’s a spectrum diagnosis which means you can have autism, but each person who does, will have different strengths and challenges. It’s said that every person on the spectrum is different, and that there’s no single set of traits that everyone shares. There are a variety of things that come along with Autism which can be extremely tough to cope with. But, at the same time there are so many amazing things about being on the Autism spectrum.
If you have any stories or insights that you want to share, please feel free to comment below.
By the way things like Special Needs Trust, Estate Planning, Having a last will and Testament are extremely important if you have a child with Autism and Special Needs. If you haven’t got down to getting these things in place and you need more information, an excellent book to check out is “What will happen to my Special Needs Child When I am Gone?“ by Susan Jules. It is available as an eBook on our website and as a paperback on Amazon
