Seeing Autism differently: Why Autistic Pride Day matters

Seeing Autism Differently: Why Autistic Pride Day Matters
Have you ever met someone who notices details others miss, remembers facts with incredible accuracy, or sees the world from a completely unique perspective?
Every year on June 18, the world observes Autistic Pride Day. Unlike awareness campaigns that often focus on deficits, diagnoses, and difficulties, this day encourages us to look at autism through a different lens; not just as a condition, but as a unique way of experiencing and understanding the world.
For a long time, I understood autism through the lens of medicine alone. Like many people, I associated it with terms like impairments, limitations, disorder and challenges. Yet the more I listened to autistic individuals, parents, educators, and advocates, the more I realised that autism cannot be reduced to a checklist of symptoms. It is a unique neurological identity, a different way of perceiving, processing, and responding to the world.
Autism is often described as a spectrum, and rightly so. No two autistic individuals are the same. One person may excel in mathematics, music, design, or memory, while another may require lifelong support for daily activities. The spectrum is vast, and every autistic life tells a different story. What remains common, however, is that autistic individuals experience the world differently. Sounds may feel louder. Lights may seem brighter. Social situations that others navigate effortlessly may feel like decoding an unfamiliar language. Routine may provide comfort where unpredictability creates distress. These are not signs of weakness. They are reflections of a brain wired differently.
Many autistic individuals face difficulties in communication, education, employment, and independent living. Families often struggle to access affordable diagnostic services, therapies, and inclusive schooling. Yet the question we must ask ourselves is this: How much of the struggle arises from autism itself, and how much arises from a society that remains unwilling to adapt?
It is also important to recognise that autism does not prevent people from achieving excellence. Several well-known public figures have either publicly disclosed an autism diagnosis or have been widely reported to be on the autism spectrum. Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, stated during his 2021 appearance on Saturday Night Live that he has Asperger’s syndrome, a diagnosis that today falls under the autism spectrum. Scottish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has also spoken openly about being autistic and has described it as her “superpower” in helping her focus on climate advocacy.
Some historical figures, including scientist Albert Einstein and inventor Nikola Tesla, are speculated by researchers and biographers to have displayed autistic traits. However, because they lived before modern diagnostic criteria existed, such claims remain retrospective interpretations rather than confirmed diagnoses.
When discussing famous personalities, it is important to distinguish between verified diagnoses and popular rumours. For example, greatest football legend Lionel Messi is often mentioned in online discussions about autism, but there is no credible evidence that he has been diagnosed with autism. Likewise, many successful individuals may exhibit traits associated with autism without ever receiving or disclosing a diagnosis.
In India, autism is far more common than many assume. Estimates suggest that one in every 65 to 68 children may be autistic, translating to more than two million autistic children and potentially 10 to 18 million autistic individuals across all age groups. Yet countless people remain undiagnosed, misunderstood, or unsupported.
The situation in Nagaland deserves particular attention. While official figures indicate that approximately 29,631 persons with disabilities were recorded in the 2011 Census, disability advocates and state officials have repeatedly pointed out that these numbers likely underestimate reality due to stigma, lack of awareness, and underreporting.
And therein lies the heart of the issue. For many families in our villages and towns, developmental differences are still hidden behind closed doors. A child who avoids eye contact may be dismissed as shy. A child who struggles with speech may be labelled stubborn. Some parents delay seeking support because of fear, shame, or misinformation. In some communities, disability itself remains a taboo subject. Awareness is especially important because early identification and intervention can make a meaningful difference in a child’s development. Recognising signs of autism at an early age allows families to access speech therapy, occupational therapy, educational support, and other services that can help children build communication, social, and daily living skills. Early intervention is not about changing who autistic children are; it is about providing them with the tools and support they need to thrive.
The solution begins with informed communities. Parents, teachers, healthcare workers, churches, and local leaders all have a role to play in recognising developmental differences and encouraging timely assessments rather than silence or stigma. Greater public awareness, improved access to diagnostic services, inclusive schools, and stronger support systems for families can help ensure that autistic individuals receive understanding and opportunities from an early age. Yet there are reasons for hope. Autistic Pride Day reminds me that the goal should never be to force autistic people into a mould designed by society. The goal should be to create a society broad enough to accommodate every mind.
When we speak of pride, we do not mean pride in suffering. We do not mean pretending challenges do not exist. Rather, we mean pride in one’s identity despite those challenges. Pride in surviving a world that often misunderstands you. Pride in refusing to believe that being different makes you less worthy of dignity, friendship, education, employment, or love.
I often wonder how many brilliant autistic children in Nagaland remain unseen because nobody recognised their potential. How many future artists, coders, musicians, writers, entrepreneurs, and innovators are quietly navigating a world that does not yet understand them? As we observe Autistic Pride Day, let us move beyond awareness campaigns and symbolic gestures. Let us choose understanding over assumptions, inclusion over exclusion, and acceptance over pity.
If we continue to build more inclusive schools, workplaces, churches, and communities, then the next time we celebrate Autistic Pride Day, Nagaland can take pride not only in autistic individuals but also in our collective commitment to inclusion. Nagas have long valued education, community participation, and social progress. These strengths can help us become a society where neurodivergent individuals are welcomed, supported, and empowered to contribute their talents without fear of stigma or exclusion.
Being forward-looking and educated state as Nagaland is, is not simply about embracing new ideas; it is about ensuring that every member of society is treated with dignity and respect. Let our future celebrations of Autistic Pride Day be a reminder that an inclusive Nagaland is a stronger
Nagaland; one that recognises diversity not as a burden, but as a source of strength. Because autism is not the absence of ability. It is the presence of a different perspective. And every society becomes richer when it learns to value the many ways in which human minds can flourish.
Yensanro L Ezung
A concerned citizen