Igor Potapov, a psychiatrist at the Treatment and Diagnostics Department of UKB No. 3 at Sechenov University, told RIA Novosti that the romanticization of autism can distort the perception of the disorder and depreciate the real difficulties faced by people with such a diagnosis.
February 18th is International Asperger's Day, which is part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
According to the specialist, some people with ASD are indeed prone to systematization, sustained interests, and attention to detail. In some cases, this can help in professional activities. However, as the doctor emphasized, such features are not a mandatory characteristic of autism.
Potapov noted that romanticization, like stigmatization, forms a distorted perception. It can create unrealistic expectations and ignore difficulties such as sensory overload, communication problems, and quick fatigue.
According to him, people with autism spectrum disorders often need support not because they are "incapable," but because the environment doesn't always take their characteristics into account.
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