Adult Autism has many Strengths

A recent visitor to our YouTube channel, @eveadame1059, shared this list from My ASD Child with me and I want to highlight some of the positive traits people with autism often overlook as character strengths that can change the world for the better. I’ve reordered and lightly edited the list.

1. are able to easily forgive others,
2. are conscientious, reliable, and honest
3. are free of prejudice
4. are not inclined to lie to or steal from others
5. have no interest in harming others
6. are less inclined to be fickle or bitchy than their neurotypical counterparts
7. are not likely to be bullies, con artists, or social manipulators
8. are unlikely to launch unprovoked attacks, verbal or otherwise
9. are often untainted by the judgments that people often make regarding one another’s social position or social skills
10. are very accepting of the quirks and idiosyncrasies of others
11. can be selective, choosing honest, genuine, dependable people who share their interests
12. can relax and be themselves without fearing social censure
13. don’t attack the reputations of those around them
14. don’t discriminate against anyone based on race, gender, age, or any other surface criteria
15. don’t force others to live up to demanding social expectations
16. don’t have hidden agendas or play head games
17. don’t take advantage of other’s weaknesses
18. don’t usually recognize hierarchies, and so are unlikely to give someone superior status simply because that person is wealthy or has attained a high position in an organization
19. have high integrity
20. judge people based on their behavior— not the color of their skin or socioeconomic status
21. have values that aren’t shaped by financial, social, or political influences
22. are enthusiastic and have a propensity for obsessive research, thus developing a broad and deep base of knowledge in subjects of interest
23. are intelligent and talented
24. are more likely than those of the general population to pursue a university education
25. are persistent, and when they set their minds to something or make a promise, they can usually be trusted to follow through
26. bring a highly original perspective to problem solving
27. can bring up a variety of interesting facts
28. can listen to people’s problems and provide a fresh perspective, offering pure assessments based on the information provided
29. can recall fine details that others miss
30. loathe small talk and trivialities, preferring instead to talk about significant things that will enhance their knowledge base
31. stick to their positions, even in the face of intense social pressure
32. like to spend time alone and are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves
33. will not go along with the crowd if they know that something is wrong
34. have a good work ethic
35. have a lot of passion when engaging in activities they like
36. have a tendency to adhere to routines
37. have above-average intelligence
38. have an acute sensitivity that supports creative talents
39. have exceptional memories
40. have extreme endurance
41. make very good employees if able to control their pace and work within either a solitary or socially supportive environment
42. pay attention to detail
43. tend to become proficient in the technological media required for lucrative employment in the “information age”

I see so many of these positive qualities in so many of the autistic people I work with. Next time you’re feeling the world doesn’t value what you have to offer, give this list a read and rediscover how many qualities you embody.