As an autistic woman, I’ve struggled over the years with accepting the fact that I’m different. I received a diagnosis at the age of 16, which meant that for 16 years, I believed I was just “weird”. Once I got my diagnosis, it came as a relief - I finally knew why I struggled so much with things other people flourished at. 

As soon as I received my diagnosis, I turned to social media in hopes of finding a community - and I did. Hashtags such as #actuallyautistic, and the many autistic influencers I found helped me feel validated and accepted. However, social media also comes with its downsides. 

In this article, I will be discussing the many trends, notably on TikTok, which explicitly mock, ridicule or belittle people with autism. 

The 'R-Word' and the damage it does

The R-word is a slur used to belittle those with mental disabilities, such as autism, or to imply that someone is stupid or slow in their thinking. The word was originally used as a medical term to describe children with intellectual disabilities, however the use was discontinued when the word began to gain negative connotations. 

Despite the fact that this word is widely considered a slur, people still continue to use it as an insult. For example, when I was at school once, the slur was used against me. At the time, I didn't know exactly what it meant, or the history behind it - all I knew was that it felt wrong. 

The continued use of the R-word acts as an example of how autistic people are still deemed as 'stupid' or 'lesser'.

TikTok sounds and their negative effects 

Over the years, there have been many TikTok sounds about Autism. Some, like the 'I have autism' sound, was actually made to spread awareness for children with autism. However, others were simply made to outright mock autistic individuals. Either way, these sounds are flooded with Allistics (non-autistics) using the sounds as jokes. 

As stated previously, the 'I have Autism' song has been twisted in a way which makes fun of the people it was originally created to help. The song features the lyrics 'I have A.U.T.I.S.M, Autism', which Allistics have added to videos of them or their friends doing stupid things, such as trying to fit into a small ring, or simply jumping around and acting silly. 

Another example is the 'I like that autistic man' sound in which people posted videos of their partners doing what they deemed as 'autistic', such as lining up rocks or spinning round sideways in a swimming pool. 

Yet another example is a sound in which a voice says 'Autism awareness week. Let's all be aware of Harry' in which people once again post themselves or their friends acting silly. 

These sounds exacerbate the common stereotype that autistic people are somehow stupid or lesser than allistics, using the very label of autism as an insult. 

Other TikTok trends and their treachery

One trend which circulated a couple of years back was the hashtag #autismchallenge - in which numerous allistics posted videos pretending to be autistic through mocking, stereotypical gestures. In one video, the participants even acted out seizure-like movements. 

Another prolific trend is the common theme of video mocking the 'special kid at the back of the class'. 

Trends like these vilify and belittle autistic individuals, reducing them to mere stereotypes.

Social media and attitudes toward autism and other disabilities

It is almost guaranteed that on every single video which features an openly autistic or disabled individual, there will be hate comments. Some common insults/jeers used on the platform include comments such as 'Post this on Instagram reels', 'Is he acoustic?'. I've even come across people using the pronoun 'It' to refer to autistic or disabled individuals, both objectifying and dehumanising these individuals, as this pronoun is used unwantingly. 

What can we do about it?

Call it out. If you see any of these trends, comments or videos featuring these sounds, call it out. Sometimes even a simple 'What do you mean by this?' is enough to call the creator out in a way which gets them to question themselves and their behaviour. Additionally, if you come across an offensive video, you can report it to TikTok, as well as block the creator if wanted.