turning it around on the person whenever possible is the best thing you can do. “What makes you say that?” Stuff like that making someone explain a view point and watching as they trip over words is always satisfying and doesn’t make you look mean or let them know they got under your skin.
That's actually a good comeback. People saying that aren't trying to be mean, but it's dumb and there's really not a good response. This one is non confrontational while affirming that yes, I am autistic.
Haha, omg. Reminds me of a friend who worked at a grocery store and a little girl came in wearing a beret and asked “guess what I want to be when I grow up?”. Friend gave her a confused look and said “French?”.
"Yeah, I spent years being abused for being abnormal so I learned to put on a veneer of fake normalcy, and now it's a trauma response I can't turn off, thanks for asking"
I’ll also take “Yeah, I put so much effort into not appearing autistic as a survival mechanism and became so convincing as a high functioning neurotypical that it seems like almost everyone thinks I’m lying for attention and lazy.”
"In many ways that's unfortunate because I was undiagnosed as a child and continually punished and tormented by my parents, teachers and peers for my neurodivergent behavior"
I would apologize and launch into a caricature that would make fuckin Trump's reporter act look like an innocent kid reenacting something he didn't understand to his mom. Then after sufficiently making a scene and thoroughly discomfiting said individual ask them if that's what they'd like to see so they could maybe "pin it" next time. Like all the mean stereotypes combined with maybe even some real shit you've witnessed in a more profoundly affected individual, whatever. Idk, I'm not autistic but I have definitely done that same concept to be disrespectful about someone talking sideways about how.i'm an addict and I always will be no matter how well I'm putting on a front. I then proceeded to emulate a full blown tweaked out psychosis episode whilst constantly thanking them for seeing the real me and letting me be myself, liberating me from my mask. I am serious and i know that's not a healthy or mentally stable kind of response but it certainly gets some sort of reaction..
Oh, hang on, sorry, I forgot my binder filled with trains, train accessories, schedules, and the graph that explains why Union Pacific is better than Central. But first let me rant about fucking trollies...
Either the classic "You don't look uneducated, but here we both are, learning new things."
Or
(In a total deadpan voice) "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I must have left my neon sign at home. What autism would you like me to perform for your amusement?"
"Did you know that Satoshi Tajiri initially conceptualized the Pokémon world as a harsh dystopia in which most Pokémon trainers lead failing careers so shameful they can never return to their home towns? Additionally, the villain of the original Pokémon games are a literal mafia that endanger humans and Pokémon alike in order to make money."
Not a comeback, but I can't believe a therapist would say that. They're supposed to be qualified professionals with years of experience and education, and yet they think that autistic people have a certain look?? (Maybe certain styles might apply, but I can't think of anything else.)
If you really need a comeback, especially for the therapist, ask if you were supposed to bring your helmet and elbow/knee pads, or just start making "hurr durr" noises and hit your chest with a limp hand and go "Is that better?"
'what does an autistic person look like?' that usually makes them re-evaluate their choices. and if they tell you what an autistic person looks like, it's usually a caricature, like in Sia's autism video which turned out HORRIBLY for her.
Just go fetal and start shaking. Someone who says something like that probably has one image in their head as to what an autistic person should look like.
Oof I fucked up with a manager one time when they said this to me... I just hit them back with "well you do look it but at least I didn't say anything"
Could have gone south but manager just died laughing and said I'm so sorry that was not okay of me... I told him it's time to get tested
You look smart. Appearance can be deceiving