“Being Autistic Is Not Only Okay, It’s Beautiful”

My name is Indigo Price and I’m a behavior specialist and RBT at Center for Social Dynamics. I’m also autistic, which gives me a unique perspective into providing clinical care. I have a special connection with a lot of our clients because I have first-hand experience into how they experience life as an autistic person.  

I was diagnosed with autism when I was 16 years old, which is relatively late. I was also raised as a girl (I’m nonbinary now), which influenced how I presented and made it harder to get diagnosed. A common misconception is that males are more likely than females to be autistic. This is based on stereotypes and makes it harder for people, especially women, who do not match the stereotypical portrayal of autism, to get diagnosed. 

As a child I did very well in school and got along well with adults. I practiced “masking,” which made adults and peers believe that I was allistic (not autistic). While those around me didn’t see what was going on in my brain, I struggled. I felt out of place and lesser than my peers. I had sensory issues and struggled to understand social cues. This led to intense feelings and very low self- esteem. It was only as a teenager that I started to question why I was different. I began researching and asking questions, eventually seeing  a doctor who listened to me. After talking to many doctors and explaining my experiences, I was eventually diagnosed—and it came as a huge relief.

Finally I could point to what made me different! There was nothing “wrong” with me anymore. I was just different. Not only did this bring solace to my self-esteem, it also brought a beautiful community into my life. I was able to bond with other autistic people over our shared experiences and feel safe to unmask. This community taught me that I could be my true self—that stimming isn’t weird, that not understanding jokes and sarcasm doesn’t make me dumb, and that being autistic is not only okay, it’s beautiful. 

I now work to spread love and care to each and every client at CSD. Whether I work with them one on one or not, I want to make sure each client is given the respect and mentorship that I received from my community. Working as a clinician has brought me closer to autism on a deep level that will always be special to me. I love all my clients and work hard to show it. As a clinician, my job is to uplift them, to help them achieve their goals and lead a life that they want to lead.

That is the goal of applied behavioral analysis (ABA). We work to bolster our clients to be who they want to be, not who society thinks they should be. It’s important to always keep in mind the client’s wants and goals, and remove our personal biases. As a member of the Neurodiversity Advisory Board, I work to make this a universal practice, helping clinicians to uplift their clients with respect and care. 

If everyone were the same, the world would be awfully boring.