Between the Folds: Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Sister’s eyes

Context:

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts socially, and processes information. It is estimated that about 1 in every 127 people are on the autism spectrum, making it a significant part of the global population. Individuals with autism often experience challenges with social skills, speech, nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. Understanding common social cues—such as sarcasm, jokes, or figurative language—can be particularly difficult, as these often rely on subtle nonverbal signals like tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. Many autistic individuals also find abstract or metaphorical concepts hard to interpret, which can further complicate social interactions.

Fixations are also extremely common in autistic individuals, with some examples being animal enthusiasts, dinosaur lovers, hockey masters, vehicle adorers, and more. Some of the common fixations can be specific objects, topics, activities, skills, and experiences. These fixations are intense focuses that immerse the person in almost all everyday activities. Given the extremity of the hyperfocus, there can be many positives or negatives that can occur.

Common misconceptions of autism are that it is a mental illness after birth, when it is truly a neurodevelopmental disorder. It cannot be cured and isn’t an illness. Another frequent myth is that autistic individuals do not want to socialize or make friends. The reality is that these individuals have difficulty making social connections because of sensory and communication differences. Additionally, while concerns have been raised, autism also has no link to vaccines or 5G technology, as autism is a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Research has been done by the CDC and has led to the conclusions that “there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD)” and that “No links have been found between any vaccine ingredients and ASD” (CDC.gov).

Autism spectrum disorder is in its name, an unlimited spectrum. Autism isn’t limited to a few traits but means that autism presents itself in various ways unique to every person who has it. A few conditions to fall under the umbrella of ASD is the Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD). While these are categories, not everyone falls under one of these perfectly. Some individuals with ASD are nonverbal, some are highly functioning, and some have other intellectual disabilities.

Personal Significance:

As the younger sister of an older brother with autism, the topic has always held a deep personal significance for me. Growing up, I constantly witnessed widespread misconceptions about autism, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Yet at home, I saw the reality: a kind, brilliant, and uniquely thoughtful individual who happens to have autism. It’s not a disease, it’s a different way of experiencing the world, and for some, it’s even a kind of superpower. My oldest brother, for example, has an incredible passion for animals and dinosaurs. Sitting with him and listening to him talk about these topics reminds me just how much brilliance lives within him. Recently, I did an interview with him to get his own input on autism spectrum disorder and his life with it. Here’s what he said.

Interview 07/25/25:

Mia Molnar: “This is Mia Molnar recording interview on autism spectrum disorder. The date is 07/25/25. Who am I here with?”

Marcelo: “Marcelo.”

Mia Molnar: “Perfect. Do you consent to be asked questions and be recorded for further use in an article about Autism?”

Marcelo: “Yes.”

Mia Molnar: “Okay, lets get right into it. How do you feel about autism spectrum disorder as a whole?”

Marcelo: “It’s probably, um, a kind of condition that I feel a lot of people have, even if it is not noticed. It’s a spectrum.”

Mia Molnar: “Do you think, for you and others, it is a positive or a negative?”

Marcelo: “It would be, for most people, positive, even if they want to feel different than others. There are those that probably would feel negative about it because they don’t want to feel inferior or just less intelligent or less smart that way.”

Mia Molnar: “Do you think having autism limits you?”

Marcelo: “To a certain perspective, possibly, for some people.”

Mia Molnar: “Do you think it limits you personally?”

Marcelo: “Mostly.” (He shifts around in his seat as he says this)

Mia Molnar: “What reaction do you usually get when you tell people that you have autism spectrum disorder?”

Marcelo: “It’s a response that would determine if I would feel offended or more, like, just, you know, triggered that way.” (He looks past me while saying this, seeming uncomfortable.)

Mia Molnar: “So, is it more of a negative response usually?”

Marcelo: “It would be…yeah.”

Mia Molnar: “More backhanded?”

Marcelo: “It would be so.” (With replying to this, visually, he moves around in his chair and seemed uncomfortable, again, with the question.)

Mia Molnar: “What are some things you are truly passionate about?”

Marcelo: “It would be on certain kinds of hobbies that I would say.”

Mia Molnar: “Any specific topics?”

Marcelo: “Basically, it would be about animals, types of things in the natural world, things that are human concepts; and dinosaurs, for the most part.” (His mood seemed to shift into a more comfortable position, as if the topic change was now something he enjoyed.)

Mia Molnar: “Did you enjoy the new Jurassic World movie?”

Marcelo: “It’s so-so.” (He smirks as he says this.)

Mia Molnar: “Good to know! What kinds of environments are the hardest for you, and what helps?”

Marcelo: “Any in particular that feels more social depending on if it has to be something that you have to really put your time and put yourself out there, mostly. Or like school and public settings, yeah.”

Mia Molnar: “What helps you when you’re in those environments?”

Marcelo: “The silence or the amount of sound that is there that I would be more concentrated about. Like, more loud noises in public spaces disrupts my thinking.”

Mia Molnar: “What can make you feel most comfortable in social settings, or how have you become more comfortable being in social settings?”

Marcelo: “If I were to be comfortable, it would just be, working in solitude, like space or just at a distance where there’s less disruptions. For the most part, I think I would work fine either way if its going to be how it is and I just work my way through, just not having to deal with that.”

Mia Molnar: “Let’s give a scenario. Let’s say you are at a store. How have you become more comfortable being in that kind of social setting and doing this by yourself?”

Marcelo: “I do fine, but for some things it would not be so. If I don’t focus or in a certain space then I push past that. Practice too.”

Mia Molnar: “When talking with other people, you have gotten more comfortable with doing that?”

Marcelo: “I think I’ve done well, mostly independently now. Especially with people I know well.”

Mia Molnar: “Okay, that wraps our interview up. Thank you!”

Marcelo: “Thank you.”

Conclusion:

After this interview, I realized how often people with autism are underestimated and misunderstood. They are not helpless or less capable, they are individuals with unique perspectives, multifaceted talents, and an untapped value in our communities. True understanding and empathy begins with letting go of misconceptions and seeing the person beyond the diagnosis. So, the next time you meet someone who may have ASD, take a moment to introduce yourself. Listen, learn about them, and try to build a friendship based on respect

Works Cited:

“Autism and Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Dec. 2024, www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/autism.html. Accessed 31 July 2025.

“Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 May 2025, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928#:~:text=Autism%20spectrum%20disorder%20is%20a,and%20repeated%20patterns%20of%20behavior. Accessed 25 July 2025.

“What Is Autism?” Autismspeaks.Org, www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism. Accessed 25 July 2025.