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How to Actually Support Autistic People

Mom on the Spectrum

20,533 views

Supporting autistic people isn’t about “fixing” us or making us more “normal.” It’s about creating environments where we can thrive as we are. In this video, I’ll share specific, practical ways to support autistic people and create meaningful societal change.

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In this video, we’ll cover:
👉 Listen First, Don’t Assume – Ask what support looks like instead of guessing.

👉 Respect Sensory Needs – Small accommodations make a huge difference.

👉 Value Different Communication Styles – From AAC to slower processing time, all communication matters.

👉 Challenge Harmful Stereotypes – Move past the “autism equals tragedy” narrative.

👉 Advocate WITH, Not FOR – Nothing about us without us.

👉 Respect Boundaries & Autonomy – Support shouldn’t mean control.

👉 Long-Term Allyship – Real support is ongoing, not just for Autism Awareness Month.

🏆 Key takeaway: Supporting autistic people means respect, not rescue. It means listening, adapting, and valuing us as we are.

🎥 Watch the full Autism Education for Friends & Family series here: Autism Education for Friends & Family

💬 Drop a comment about what support has meant to you.

🌐 Want to go deeper? Join my Connection Groups or explore more resources here: https://www.momonthespectrum.life/com...

📤 Share this video with family, teachers, or coworkers who want to learn how to actually support autistic people.

#audhd #autismsupport #autismeducation #autismandtylenol #autismresources #actuallyautistic #latediagnosedautism

20 Comments

@vvvvv9041 1 year ago

Taylor, hearing you say (paraphrasing) "if you can't see us as equals you are not ready to have the conversation and you need to go to therapy" was such a balm on my shattered nervous system today. Thank you for making and posting this video (and all your videos).

@kentonlundgren3200 1 year ago

When the world gets tough and I feel isolated I realize how lucky I am that at least I really like myself.

@TobyToblerone-b2z 1 year ago

My mother was what they called a “health nut” in the 50s and 60s. She never ever took Tylenol, nor was I vaccinated. I was diagnosed as Autistic (6 hours of testing with a professional) at the age of 64. Explains a lot of the trauma that I’ve had to endure working in the corporate environment. The ignorance about Autism is still so widespread. We’ve always been here. Some of us are highly educated and hold leadership positions. It is most often an invisible disability, which doesn’t mean that we didn’t have support needs. All of this false information about us continues to deflect the fact that societies need for further research on neurodiversity, what it actually is (a difference) and how to support people. Not only to talk the talk (that corporations and society does) but actually walk the walk

@joethecounselor 1 year ago

Thanks for the advocacy here. As an neurodivergent therapist, it's easy for me to see how valid and valuable every autistic person is, but we need to be reminded how the rest of the world puts us down, or when neurotypicals say, "no, you can't be autistic" or roll their eyes when I talk about my own struggles because I come across so well due to being intelligent and working hard my entire life on navigating social situations, they are making us 'less than'.

@petrushka1611 1 year ago

I freaking love how real you are in this one. Like, not as if you come across as fake in your other videos, just that your frustration is so palpable and understandable, and I'm sitting here cheering you on.

And in general, the unedited style is so preferable to the many cutesy, over-edited videos I see elsewhere.

@TobyToblerone-b2z 1 year ago

After 6 hours of testing by a psychologist specializing in testing women, I was, finally, at the age of 64 diagnosed with ASD. This explained so much! I never could understand why after obtaining 2 healthcare provider doctorates, having so many grateful patients, being complimented on my knowledge and quality of my work, and trying so hard to care for and support my assistants, that I would then be fired from my positions after 2 or 3 years. It was the fact that I was often the target of bullies, because I appeared naive. And, as we all know trying to please a bully doesn’t work.

After 6 hours of testing by a psychologist specializing in testing women, I was, finally, at the age of 64 diagnosed with ASD. This explained so much! I never could understand why after obtaining 2 healthcare provider doctorates, having so many grateful patients, being complimented on my knowledge and quality of my work, and trying so hard to care for and support my assistants, that I would then be fired from my positions after 2 or 3 years. It was the fact that I was often the target of bullies, because I appeared naive. And, as we all know trying to please a bully doesn’t work.

@jeffbauer9672 1 year ago

I perceived your response video yesterday as being diplomatic. As someone that is new to this community at the age of 47 I am tired of apologizing for being me. I’ve acted this way my whole life. When people come out and say that Tylenol may cause autism and there’s a pill for it I think there is a huge amount of ignorance amongst the public. It’s is ok to be mad. We aren’t a project. We aren’t less. We are just different.

Yes, I wish everyone would wear a sign around their neck explaining what they mean but no I don’t get to have that. I also can say that most don’t get details and nor do they care. If no one pays attention to details then this world would lose its collective gears faster than current pace.

We are an integral part of what it means to be human. I don’t want to be fixed. I want to be heard just like I try to hear others. (Double empathy) if this world were full of only shallow perfect people then the world would at the minimum be less interesting and at most just a shell with nothing of value inside.

@CourtneyLiterally 1 year ago

Anyone else repeatedly going to like the video and realizing they’ve already liked it? This is such an important video. Thank you so much for this!

@Els-ku9np 1 year ago

it's indeed about being equally valuable, not about being equal.

@vocalsunleashed 1 year ago (edited)

I myself am autistic but I came here to learn how to better support my friends who are also autistic and also how to know and ask for what I need. It was helpful, thank you

@amelie.michiru 1 year ago

I love the low-key anger/frustration in this one, I feel it all the time. I mean, we shouldn't need to get angry and people should just be respectful as a rule, but I love the message this video is conveying of like, "f*** that, I'm not gonna be cute and nice and polite today because I am angry for absolutely valid reasons and I'm not gonna accommodate you, YOU are gonna have to listen". So powerful. Thanks Taylor for this series and for being true to yourself!

@tardisgater 1 year ago

I'm grateful for you showing your anger and frustration. It's validating. Amazing video ♥️

@StephenTrounson 1 year ago

I'm not arguing, I'm trying to figure out the the bits that you're taking for granted that because you know what you're on about, I'm going to instinctively know what it is you're on about.

Also, if I'm silent, it doesn't mean I'm not engaged, I'm trying to figure out this unexpected change you just laid on me.

Thank you for this video.

@DavidLindes 1 year ago

💗

Your anger is so valid! Condolences for having a reason to be so angry, but... the reasons are here, so thank you for sharing it!

@pianodesu 1 year ago

These are all great points, thank you for finding spoons to make this video in last hour, we all appreciate your hard work to make the world better for neurodivergent people!

@Genin99 1 year ago

What I heard from that press conference, is that if we can't work in factories, mines or join the military. The US government thinks we're less human.

@CecilAugusti 1 year ago

You can pitty the life condition and lack of support for some Autistic people. But the conditions should be changed. Every time I tell about my difficulties, people is gaslighting me. That is not believing, or wanting to change anything.
They tell us we are rigid, but neurotypicals is very rigid, there is only one way to do and think things.

I love to learn, it keep me alive in my darkest times.

@ErinBeamish 1 year ago

As level 2, I so need other people to listen to me and hear what I say, especially when I say yes or no the first time because I cant express myself enough to show my like/ dislike of things until a complete meltdown or shutdown happens.
I need validation, time, space and guidance for everyday social aspects to get along in the world.

@JS.314 8 months ago

Thank you for saying (in essence) that if people can't see us as equals they aren't ready to support us, and it's not our job to help them work past that. Today and recently I've been struggling with the awful reality that not only my parents but also only sibling all look down on me and see me as something to pity or fix, and continually speak to me in such a way as to deny my autonomy while simultaneously blaming me for not trying hard enough to be normal. This is without disclosing my autism suspicions, because that would probably only give them more excuse to look down on me. I've been trying for years to get them to see me as a full person and they just can't. It's hard when loved ones are not trustworthy in regards to our most vulnerable experiences. But you reminded me that it's not my fault and that it's not my job to change them or justify my personhood to them. Thank you.

@emiliepoetry 1 year ago

👏 it's so cool to hear you speak so frankly.
I felt this same healthy anger today: the lassitude of saying honestly what you're going through, repeatedly, with vulnerability and still, a lot of people seem to forget the info right away. The lack of empathy is quite stunning.

When you express your needs and boundaries genuinely to someone, most of the time, it ends by having to reassure them and their ego. That's why, what you said about each one taking care of their own emotional regulation is crucial.

I'm okay with the fact that we're all different and I respect everyone the same, neuroatypical as neurotypical. But learning from the other must be both ways.