Autistic Characters - Tumblr Posts

Remember: I don't know your world. I barely know your characters. If this advice doesn't apply, think on it but don't force it.

There is a LOT to cover in this small post so i'm going to skip over the big fucking autistic elephant for just this moment!

From most problematic to least :D

A) Villainizing DID

You are definitely villainizing DID. Certainly. Like this is one of the most clear-cut examples of villainzing DID that I have ever heard.

Seriously:

A "secret" criminal alter

DID meant to not demonstrate people with DID but to scare non-plurals

Murder Mystery Genre

DID as a shocking plot twist

Please, for the love that is holy, don't write THAT aspect of his character. The majority of the DID community doesn't have criminal alters and by writing that specific part of your character you're introducing ableistic bullshit into you writing where mental illness is not meant to be sympathized with but to horrified off.

This is especially bad-looking when you understand that DID (aka dissociative identity disorder) is caused by extensive trauma in their early childhood. I'm talking about the worst kinds of things one can suffer. Not just name-calling. Not just something you can pull out of the Murder Mystery HAT! F#CK!!

B) Delusions

This can work.

It can.

But should it?

From a purely writer perspective, if you already have a character who doesn't see the murder in "murder mystery" as wrong then why do you need DID to throw into the mix for a half-handed messy plot twist that doesn't need to be there?

If you wanted to make Liam Clark a villain while still being an unreliable narrator, just have them be murdering people and then cut those parts out.

HECK! Why do you need delusion in the first place?! Just have Liam Clark be a normal autistic guy who sometimes murders people! Then the theme can be "murderers are humans, not monsters"!

It just screams "demonizing mental illness" and that is not good at all.

C) Autism

At this point, the focus should be on the fact that these autistic traits are going to be seen as evidence that "displays how this guy was always mentally screwed up".

When your audience sympathetizes for the loner bullied guy who gets called weird by his classmates, they are going to feel like they should have been calling this guy weird the whole time!

They are going to re-read the book and see all of these autistic traits and say to themselves "oh how didn't I see this murderer sooner?"

So many times movies and shows use autistic traits to communicate to the audience that something spiritually or morally wrong with that individual.

I'm not saying that autistic characters can't be villains. I'm just saying that it's a delicate topic.

Here are some tips:

The only way this is going to work out for you is if you add a sympathetic good person autistic person. You need to convince your audience that autistic people are not the villain. Only Liam Clark is.

Try to add sympathetic reasoning behind why Liam Clark acts like this. Use diction to properly show why he would find this texture disgusting

Honesty: Yes, autistic people can sound rude when they are trying to be candidly helpful. If Liam Clark is trying to be helpful to these people and he comes of as rude, that is not an issue. If Liam Clark is just saying hurtful shit because he wants to then that's not autism, that's being an asshole.

Really? Your villain is a guy obsessed with horror movies? And is autistic? how groundbreaking...

WAKE UP!!! Scream did it first! And every single f*cking Scream copy-cat did it after you!

This is just pure cliche and is definitely going to be seen as you villainizing autistic traits like hyperfixation.

CONCLUSION:

Is Liam Clark a poor example of autism representation? Kinda. It could swing to good and bad depending on how you play with his traits.

Is Liam Clark a poor example of DID representation? Yes. Definitely.

Is Liam Clark a poor example of delusion representation? Almost certainly.

Liam Clark is a fucking ableist character who feels wholly unsympathetic, kinda disgusting, and pretty ableist all things considered.

Is Liam Clark un-fixable? Obviously not.

You could have Liam Clark as the autistic DID guy who isn't the villain. That's an actual twist.

You could have Liam Clark be the autistic villain who battles against actual hero, autistic somebody!

But never put people with delusions and/or DID in the fucking villain role

I Need help creating a new Character

HI, so I have a new character, but I am worried I would write him wrongly.

My new character is called Liam Clark. But the thing is, he is the villain in his own story.

Sort of like Norman Bates but the thing is,he is austistic.

Yeah, I am so worried. I have opened like ten tabs on Autism in teens and kids and boys. I read a book Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. Great book by the way. Where Ty , has autism or has the traits ,show don't tell but done amazedly well.I think.

My other worry is that he is a villain, anti-hero. Who commits crimes without his knowledge.

I even wrote a draft, if anyone who is Autistic, please tell me if I am writing wrongly. So I can improve it.

I even want to consult one of my friends, but I feel like I am overstepping a boundary by asking him to help me.

I would ask him tho.

So, I have created his well personality, kind off. I want to make him a guy who happens to be autistic not an autistic guy and that's it.I am somewhere, not quite.

So, Liam Clark, is a seventeen-year high School student from southern California.

Liam is a smart dude, gets all A and Bs and stuff. At his High School, people bully him for being "werid" because he likes staring at stuff that are posters. Liam is obsessed with posters and Horror films. The book takes place in 2019 so is very progressive. He HATES loud music and HATES being stared at and it pisses him off.He hates the texture of yogurt because it reminds him of something NSFW, but he is into it.He still eats it because he can and taste like wet cement. He is very picky with his food and stuff and avoids the texture. He is very honest, very rude if you don't know him and points out the obvious to people which pisses them off. He doesn't like socializing much Tho, His classmates are little shits and call him Aussie just to piss him off. And in the first chapter, he calls them out. He really wants to punch those kids but he is worried that he would get in trouble for it, so he insults them in his mind. He divides his lunch and certain foods that look like plastic.

Plus, he is bisexual. Attracted to men most but attracted to women. Since he doesn't get social cues, he would tell the guy to his face about his assets and even girls to which makes them shocked.

Not the best guy right.

I am scared to write him because I feel like I am villainizing Autistic people and making him a villain.

Please I need help.

Worst of all is that he suffers from a big delusional disorder so he doesn't really see what he did was wrong even if it stared at him in the face. And DID, which he isn't aware of his criminal version of himself which does crime from petty to straight up evil. He doesn't get it, he becomes ignorant. He is unreliable narrator.

The story is indded a Murder Mystery which is told in first person and not chronologically.

He is a white guy who is lanky and skinny and stuff.

So yeah.

I need criticism need to improve him, or I would lock him away. And never write him.

I am stretching my hands towards the Autistic community asking for help and advice. Thank you.

Heres a link to the draft. Thanks if anyone reads it and gives their viewpoint.It is also kind of Satire.

I Am Not A Murderer I Swear ( Book 1 #I Am Not Series ) - Google Docs

Thank you so much for the positive response! As someone who has a intense interest in mental illness and media, I can get exceedingly annoyed when I see the same reductive portrayal of these conditions, I can often forget the well-meaning person behind the creation.

For that, I apologize.

If you still want to write a story where Liam Clark is unaware of the murdering, you could use the supression or repression of memories.

It would be an interesting way to still keep Liam Clark in the dark about the murders while not outright villainizing any specific disorder.

Although, if you are going this route, I recommend that some traces of the memories "bubble" up from time to time. It can be a misplaced phobia that doesn't really make sense, an avoidance of certain actions that his brain may associate with the murders, and other stuff like that.

If you want to send in a more "formal" writing advice request, my inbox is always open :)

I Need help creating a new Character

HI, so I have a new character, but I am worried I would write him wrongly.

My new character is called Liam Clark. But the thing is, he is the villain in his own story.

Sort of like Norman Bates but the thing is,he is austistic.

Yeah, I am so worried. I have opened like ten tabs on Autism in teens and kids and boys. I read a book Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. Great book by the way. Where Ty , has autism or has the traits ,show don't tell but done amazedly well.I think.

My other worry is that he is a villain, anti-hero. Who commits crimes without his knowledge.

I even wrote a draft, if anyone who is Autistic, please tell me if I am writing wrongly. So I can improve it.

I even want to consult one of my friends, but I feel like I am overstepping a boundary by asking him to help me.

I would ask him tho.

So, I have created his well personality, kind off. I want to make him a guy who happens to be autistic not an autistic guy and that's it.I am somewhere, not quite.

So, Liam Clark, is a seventeen-year high School student from southern California.

Liam is a smart dude, gets all A and Bs and stuff. At his High School, people bully him for being "werid" because he likes staring at stuff that are posters. Liam is obsessed with posters and Horror films. The book takes place in 2019 so is very progressive. He HATES loud music and HATES being stared at and it pisses him off.He hates the texture of yogurt because it reminds him of something NSFW, but he is into it.He still eats it because he can and taste like wet cement. He is very picky with his food and stuff and avoids the texture. He is very honest, very rude if you don't know him and points out the obvious to people which pisses them off. He doesn't like socializing much Tho, His classmates are little shits and call him Aussie just to piss him off. And in the first chapter, he calls them out. He really wants to punch those kids but he is worried that he would get in trouble for it, so he insults them in his mind. He divides his lunch and certain foods that look like plastic.

Plus, he is bisexual. Attracted to men most but attracted to women. Since he doesn't get social cues, he would tell the guy to his face about his assets and even girls to which makes them shocked.

Not the best guy right.

I am scared to write him because I feel like I am villainizing Autistic people and making him a villain.

Please I need help.

Worst of all is that he suffers from a big delusional disorder so he doesn't really see what he did was wrong even if it stared at him in the face. And DID, which he isn't aware of his criminal version of himself which does crime from petty to straight up evil. He doesn't get it, he becomes ignorant. He is unreliable narrator.

The story is indded a Murder Mystery which is told in first person and not chronologically.

He is a white guy who is lanky and skinny and stuff.

So yeah.

I need criticism need to improve him, or I would lock him away. And never write him.

I am stretching my hands towards the Autistic community asking for help and advice. Thank you.

Heres a link to the draft. Thanks if anyone reads it and gives their viewpoint.It is also kind of Satire.

I Am Not A Murderer I Swear ( Book 1 #I Am Not Series ) - Google Docs

Fuck it I’m re-blogging my stuff from my other blogs here. If you follow my please Consider Giving me a moment of your time-

This is the main character to my ongoing original series “Yumiku’s guide to the human world”

Its about a demon who gets trapped in the human world after a spell gone wrong- but under that simple explanation is a character learning about himself, learning how to be more social In a world that doesn’t understand him. And most of all covering topics of autistic issues and common shared experiences and how to handle them in a healthy way.

If you love shows with magic, and silly shenanigans while also hitting home and digging deep into topics of mental health and disability’s please consider supporting the show! Personally I was sick and tired of seeing BAD autistic rep in media

so far I only have a teaser episode out but I’m in the progress of writing a episode two and It should be done by august!

Fully colored character ref for miku! Fun little fact about miku his favorite color is orange! ((I promise I’m working on the next episode it’s just been a process with some other things I’m working on recently.))

If I made laser cut and engraved recycled wooden pins for my Yumiku’s guide project would any one want to buy any? All proceeds would go to my college funding and paying my voice actors to get more episodes out faster. ((For context black lines are what’s being cut out and red is the engraved lines))

Vote in the Autism Swag finals,

The fate of the world depends on it

In my dear and correct opinion Donatello must absolutely win, I take no criticism.

Vote for Donnie, do it. Mob must not win

I beg of thee dont make Mob win holy shit

GRAND FINALS

Autistic Pride Theo ♾️

( He might be different, but he’s still a really useful engine)

the most autistic thing you can draw is a character peeling an orange (with the intent to eat it)

There’s all these guides to writing autistic characters, but where’s our guide to writing neurotypical characters? Especially in first person.

Like do y’all just… instinctively know what to say during small talk? What’s the secret code you use all the time? Is your brain really just quiet sometimes? How much do you know about your favourite thing? What does fabric feel like on your skin? Why do you like loud environments like clubs? How long can you work on something you enjoy before you need a break?

"this is Tim he dropped out of high school and then forced a billionaire to adopt him. Also his friend died so he's working on cloning him rn"

"wow he sounds crazy-"

"he's like the smartest person you'll ever meet."

Honestly I think it’s so funny that in the Marvel universe, when someone’s really smart, they have like eight to twelve doctorates and they finished high school at age twelve.

And then over in the DC universe it’s like. This is Tim Drake. He’s a genius. He keeps cloning his loved ones. He dropped out of highschool. Over there is Barry Allen. He can reverse engineer a spaceship in less than a minute. He is such a good chemist he’s still going to be known as the best chemist in 4,000 years. He has a bachelor’s degree.

hello fellow amir beckett warframe 1999 enjoyers

i am so happy to see so many people like him, i saw that poll going around asking who everyone plans to romance and its an amir SWEEP. i’m super excited to have more auDHD representation in this game, but therein the problem lies.

i come to you with a humble request (especially to the neurotypicals/allistics out there) to be a bit more mindful of how yall go about talking about him.

some of the things i see being said about him veer dangerously into the infantilization territory that is ALL too common with autistic characters in media, and its kinda disheartening to see. i wouldnt be saying this if it was a throughline for all the male characters (or any of them for that matter), but im hard pressed to find any of these kinds of comments about arthur, quincy, or even aoi. things like “oooh my little baby boy i want to squish his cheeks hes so adorkable hes my little blorbo my poor mentally ill baby” ring way way different when it’s pointed at the one (canonically) autistic character that got released.

like i said i’m super pumped that people like him!! i love him and can’t wait to get to see more of his character development in the coming updates. all i ask is people try and be a bit more mindful of the way that they talk about this. as eleanor said: “He’s not a beautiful, broken marionette, and he’s nobody’s project. He’s one of us.”

let’s talk about him like an equal.

sincerely a fellow grown adult w auDHD

🕸️✨Cryptic fields✨🕸️

First Halloween piece of the month! I really wanted to draw my lizard character (officially now named Bazil) with my new character Perci, his fairy prince boyfriend. I had a lot of fun with the colors and background characters with this one! I hope y’all enjoy!! 💕

Real

writing an autistic character when you are not autistic - a masterpost

completely double spaced version on google docs here – this post is more blocky for the sake of people’s dashboards, but still long so people will be less likely to glaze over it. my apologies if that makes it hard to read

things to look for and avoid in an autistic character

• symptoms only manifesting as “nonverbal and rocking” • super smart / living calculator • super dumb / doesn’t understand anything • all the symptoms you can come up with for them are “awkward” and “has special interest(s)” (please do more research) • trains, technology, and/or math as special interests • acting like a child • getting treated like a baby • unreasonably cruel and uncaring about others’ reactions to them being cruel • if they’re comparable to sheldon from the big bang theory, start over • animal comparisons • a lack of feelings • please no stories about what it’s like to be autistic told by allistics

the right way to write an autistic person

• lots of symptoms, including secondary ones not included on a general diagnosis requirement list (here’s a list i rather like that was made by an autistic person – their blog is also a good resource) • having a good amount of general knowledge and actually talking about it (i cannot believe that i have to say this) • talking about things outside of special interests (again…. come on……….) (special interests are usually the default things our brains go to when theres no stimulation or we want to entertain ourselves – it isn’t literally all we think or talk about ever. if a conversation has no connections to a special interest, reconsider having your autistic character bring it up in a context that is not an introduction.) • explicitly expressed to be capable of attraction and romantic feelings – if your character is an adult, add sexual feelings to this point • capable of general functioning, just with a disability that makes it more difficult – not a walking disability (….sigh) • a wide amount of feelings and emotional turmoil (but perhaps only being able to express it in limited ways) • we’re people • just people whose brains are wired differently

things to avoid in research for an autistic character

• autism moms / autism blogs and websites not run by autistic people • any affiliation with autism $peaks means you should walk away and never look back • a scientist trying to create explanations for what autistic people do without actually asking / not mentioning asking autistic people • anything about a cure for autism • a person that “worked with autistic kids” phrased in the same way as “worked with animals” • talking about autistic people as if they are mysteries, are like animals, or are otherwise othered weirdos instead of people

things to look for in research for an autistic character

• actual autistic people talking about their experiences and symptoms • just stick to that and you’re good but it’s hard to find sometimes ngl. just look for the above red flags

things i would personally like to see in an autistic character

• less easy to swallow sadness and more destructive anger. i would love to see a canonically autistic character who was frustrated easily by small things and had trouble communicating why • not a story about being autistic, a story that happens to have a character or characters who are autistic – it isn’t pointed out or questioned, they’re right at home with the rest of the cast and not othered (a la symmetra from overwatch) • intensive sensory issues / small sounds making large reactions • clear communications about not liking x sensory thing (for example being touched) • poor motor skills / clumsiness and not being laughed at for it • walking funny (body bent downwards, walking very fast, walking slowly, big strides, shuffling, stiffness, etc)  – no one treats it as if it’s funny or something totally strange • a big personality that has a presence so they can’t be cast aside (but feel free to have quiet characters too) – if this was along with being nonverbal they would probably leap to being one of my favorite characters ever • a fear of asking for clarification on sarcasm or jokes because of past experiences and an arc about the character becoming more comfortable asking questions

>> if any fellow autistic people want to add something, feel free <<

allistics are encouraged to rb this

I have decided to watch Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I am only at episode one, but let’s say I am already fully invested! 

I know I'm SUPER late to the party, as I usually am when it comes to consuming new media, but I have finally, finally, finally started watching A Kind of Spark, which is a new show that follows Addie Darrow and her quest to solve the mystery of the witch hunts of England and Scotland.

I am only one episode in. I definitely wish they were longer than half an hour, but at the same time, I am glad that they aren't an hour long like when I watched Peaky Blinders. Anyway, I am loving it already!

A Kind of Spark was written by Elle McNicol, who has written several other books with neurodivergent characters, and the fact that she is autistic herself and insisted on casted neurodivergent actresses to play the characters, is almost revolutionary, because positive representation of autism and other disabilities in fictional media is so few and far between.

Especially in females, who often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because of masking.

I highly recommend checking out Chloé Hayden on TikTok and YouTube. She can explain this sort of thing a lot better than I can.

Anyway, while I can go on a full-on rant about all the reasons why I love this series, I don't want to keep you here longer than necessary. I will probably be back with more as I continue watching Addie's journey!

But for now, I shall say goodbye.

Gravity Falls is such a great example of how autism runs in families

Can you write a Tamaki Amajiki x autistic reader? Or maybe you decided to introduce him to Dungeons and Dragons and see how he reacts?

💫🌷Do you wanna go home?•°

The prom venue is lively with all its colorful lights and loud music. The students who attended are having fun with all the dancing, socializing, games, and the food. You're having fun too, Well... having fun EARLIER to be exact.

Your fingertips comb through the strands of your hair as you sat on the cold floor of an empty corridor near the restrooms, where it is quieter and the lights are lower. Hoping that your breathing will ease and everything will be and feel calm again. This is not what you expected tonight, nor is it how you intended the night to conclude.

The footsteps of someone walking down the corridor echoed through the walls, creating a ringing in your ears that grew stronger as they approached. You covered your ears and closed your eyes. The noise stopped, and a voice quietly spoke.

"[Reader]? Are you okay?" You cautiously uncovered your ears and opened your eyes.

It was Tamaki, crouched down to your level in front of you. You gently shook your head no, your heavy breathing grew frantic once again as you remembered what you had done earlier. "I'm sorry for running off like that, I didn't mean to, I- I tried to bear it but the- the music the noise the lights it- it was getting too much for me- I- I just-!" He reached a hand out but he didn't touch you, just something to let you know that he understands and you don't have to explain. "It's okay hmm? We'll stay here till you feel better." He softly smiled, looking at your eyes that blinked back tears.

The two of you just sat there in serene, comfortable silence till your breathing eased and everything felt a bit calmer than earlier. "Do you wanna go home? Or do you want to stay?" Tamaki asked. "Let's go home." "Okay."

Tamaki covered your ears as the two of you walked out of the venue, and went home.

"Sorry to cut the night short..."

"Its okay."

You looked down in guilt. He noticed this.

"I bought the animated series of Dungeons and Dragons 2 days ago. Do you wanna watch?"

"...Yes."

"Okay."

🌷Sorry it took long, I did a bit of research and if there is anything needed to be fixed/changed please let me know. :) -Hykar.

I just wanna point this out. Entraptas physical mask is so symbolic and important to her character. It symbolizes masking, a common autistic coping mechanism, and we literally see her lower her mask when uncomfortable or trying to hide her feelings. Her physical mask is also her metaphorical way of masking. It also is a nod to her special interest in mechanics as she wears mechanical and practical clothing.

FIRE FORCE SPOILERS PROBABLY!!!

a praising (???) of Viktor Licht from a fan (im not good with words bare with me please)

ok i feel like im a little obligated to say why i like Viktor Licht from fire force so much considering not only do i have a full list of every chapter in the entire manga he appears in, am on my journey of making stickers of him, and draw him practically anytime i can. my teachers this year are going to see this guy on my work just a bit. (i am lying it's going to be a lot.)

okay, im like 99% sure he's autistic. and im autistic. the autism radar is going insane whenever i look at him. if you take a look at his character sheet, which is at the back of book 10, it says something next to his nickname section that just SCREAMS autism to me.

in case you can't read it, it says, "i do understand common sense, whether or not i choose to use it." that sounds like what i, and many more autistic people have to do. i understand what's acceptable, and force myself to use it even if i think it's strange or unnecessary. also, hes only seen making direct eye contact with people he trusts, like shinra or joker. the rest of the time, he's staring, but not in the eyes of anyone. he's also very blunt with that he does. in his very first company 8 appearance in the beginning of book 7, he dives down to touch shinra's feet because he was interested in the adolla burst. in book 22 when they were in the nether, Viktor is running, turns a corner, and accidentally activated tamaki's lure. except it doesn't really bother him, because he's happy to see his company members, ignoring what he just did on accident.

again, in this panel here, he's very open with what he's wanting to see when they're quite literally infiltrating haijima, despite being right beside the security guard. shinra even comments on this, but he seems to have thought that it was a totally okay thing to say. shortly after we are told that he's aware that haijima is planning to kill him, and just talks about it like it's a regular thing to have a major company want you dead.

he also has a very active workspace, as shown here. yet, in the chapter before he's sent to the chinese peninsula, he knows exactly where his needed stuff is in the mess. that might be more of an adhd characteristic, but it seemed like a good point.

another highly regarded autistic trait is being incredibly fixated on one thing, wanting to spend all your time on it. Viktor's hyperfixation is science, and figuring out spontaneous human combustion. he's seen dedicating most of his life to figuring out why people go up in flame. it's said that autistic people excel in their chosen area of study, and of course, i think you can guess what his is.

he also has trouble regulating his voice level, usually seeming to get louder when he's excited or very nervous, like when he yells on accident in the nether the second time when he realizes that he's going to be "roasted alive". he gets all giggly and excited when talking about science in the right panel (or bottom panel??), even when it's a serious topic. he does get feedback that this is a "weird" and "inappropriate" time to be excited. sound familiar, fellow autistics??? on the left (or top! again i have no idea) he's instinctively raising his voice at shinra, wanting to know about what happened to him in adolla.

i don't have the panel yet, but in book 10, shinra and sho are fighting in the nether, right? (this book is literally THE viktor licht autism book im telling you) he accidentally gets too close, smiling and laughing once he realizes, even saying "whoopsie daisy! i got so excited, i got too close for comfort!" during this whole fight, he's watching his friend get injured in the fight, and he's worried at times, yes, but when he's explaining sho's power, which is science based, he's smiling. he even messes (stims, really.) with his hair and gets sweaty, which are both common autistic responses. as he watches shinra and his brother fight, he notices that shinra could quite literally make a black hole in the middle of the room. and y'know what he does? giggles and smiles again, saying it would be "a scientist's dream" to witness a black hole. not sure that a regular scientist would want to die getting sucked into one, but okay.

i was looking through an "autistic traits in adults" list just to make sure i didn't miss anything, and woah boy. "makes unusual or strange facial expressions". cmon. it's stated from multiple people, mostly tamaki, that the faces licht makes are weird or strange. he also used his hands when he's talking quite usually, either touching his face or using them to express urgency. mostly his face, though. another stim maybe??

there's probably more y'know cause he's just all around an autistic guy, but that's my little analysis of his autism summarized. now that i think about it this is more of a "why he's autistic because i love his autism because it gives me someone to relate to" kind of thing but i can go into that now cause that's kind of a good idea.

OKAY so y'know i really do look up to Licht because he really just makes me smile everytime i see him in the manga. im a manga-only btw if that wasn't clear already. i own the emglish omnibus books which are 3-in-1s basically and i cannot tell you how overjoyed i was that Licht got on the cover of the fourth one. i admire him in so many ways because one, hes this scary guy in the beginning that even makes shinra turn away at the tryouts, all nervous. just for them to become besties later, saving each other's lives like 9 times. hes the type of guy that I just love so much, and not romantically either. i don't want to kiss him or anything, i just want to be his friend. ykwim. maybe. but yeah, he's my favorite and he'll always be my favorite and my c.ai chats with him will forever be positive.

i highly recommend fire force by atsushi ohkubo, and may Viktor Licht captivate you as being your favorite when he makes his grand entrance in book 7! :]