The Autistic Traits That Get Rewritten, Not Erased

In “The Autistic Traits That Get Rewritten, Not Erased,” also known as Part 2 of “Autism: Hidden in Culture,” we explore the autistic traits that don’t disappear. They get rewritten.

Many autistic children raised in immigrant or high-pressure families don’t “outgrow” their differences. Instead, they learn to adapt them to meet expectations around behavior, achievement, emotional control, and being seen as “well-adjusted.”

In this video, I explain how traits like strict routines, deep interests, masking, sensory sensitivity, and uneven strengths are often encouraged in some situations and discouraged in others. This mixed messaging makes autism harder to recognize and understand, and often delays meaningful support for the people who need it.

Timestamps:
00:19 - Opening & Introduction
01:24 - How the Video Is Structured
02:30 - Introducing the DSM-5 and IDEA Diagnostic Frameworks
04:06 - Category 1: Difficulty with Nonverbal Communication
06:08 - Category 2: Difficulty with Social Interaction
07:50 - Category 3: Difficulty with Verbal Communication
09:37 - Case Vignette: "Bobby"
11:32 - Category 4: Stereotyped Movements or Repetitive Behaviors
14:20 - Category 5: Resistance to Change or Insistence on Sameness
15:21 - Category 6: Unusual Responses to Sensory Input
16:30 - Category 7: Highly Restricted or Fixated Interests
19:44 - Category 8: Impairment in Functioning or Performance
21:22 - Category 9: Symptoms Present in Early Childhood
23:08 - For Late-Diagnosed / Newly Diagnosed Adults (and those exploring diagnosis)
26:41 - For Parents, Partners, Friends, and Caregivers of Autistic Children
29:26 - For Educators, Clinicians, and Professionals of Autistic Children
31:32 - Practical Approaches for Educators, Clinicians, and Professionals
34:39 - Part 3 Preview
34:58 - Closing