Local autistic man Nathan Green is speaking out against autistic stereotypes after receiving an offensive gift through his office’s annual Secret Santa this holiday season. After revealing to a new coworker that he is on the autism spectrum, Green returned to work the next day to find a new model train set sitting on his desk, topped with a bow.
“It was beyond insulting. This coworker knows nothing about me but assumes that because I’m autistic I must love trains. These stereotypes are offensive and downright ableist. Autistic people are not a monolith,” said Green. “That being said, I will be keeping the train set, not because I’m autistic but because it’s dope as hell.”
“It’s just really important to me that people understand that not all autistic people are these antisocial nerds who are obsessed with World War II history,” Green continued. When asked about the master’s degree in European History hanging in his office, he elaborated: “I actually did my concentration on the era leading up to the Crimean War, so you can take that narrow-minded bullshit and shove it.”
Green is hoping that, by telling his story, he can spread awareness about the impact these preconceived notions can have on autistic people’s everyday lives. “Last week I exchanged gifts with my sister-in-law, only to find out she got me a box set of ‘Young Sheldon’ DVDs. It was really hurtful to learn that even members of my own family view me as no more than a diagnosis. Will I watch the DVDs? Yes, but only because Annie Potts is a national treasure. NOT because I’m autistic.”
“Look, at the end of the day, it’s not about the diagnosis but the person being diagnosed. Yes, autistic people may share this big part of ourselves, but the truth is that we’re really all so different,” said Green, eating Kraft macaroni and cheese with a teaspoon, “so stop trying to put us in a box.”