Seeing Me As an Entire Individual, Not an Autistic Patient
18 APRIL 2025
By: FENG YIFAN
Editor: LI RUIJIA
World Autism Day is celebrated every year on 2 April, and autism awareness talks are organized in different districts and schools in Malaysia. While these efforts have contributed to raising public awareness, the autistic community continues to face invisible barriers—misunderstanding, stereotyping, and social exclusion.
According to the National Autism Society, 1 in every 150 children has been identified with autism in Malaysia.
But if awareness efforts are so widespread, why is the autistic community still not accepted or understood? What do they truly need?
The issue lies in the narrow lens through which society continues to view autistic individuals.
As Beggiato's research shows, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, often characterized by difficulties in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors.
However, in the eyes of the general public, there is a growing perception that they are “eternally childlike”, “non-verbal”, “eccentric”, or “trapped in their own world,” even as they grow into adulthood. These stereotypes culminate in colored glasses.
“Autistic people, especially older autistics, shouldn't be treated like children,” said Fatimah Naqyanti Emma, an autistic student at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
“We have special interests. We might miss social cues. But we grow up, we learn, and we deserve to be respected as adults.”
For some autistic children and their parents, prejudice begins in childhood.
“My child suffers from different levels of prejudice at school; in society, they think autistic means stupid,” shared Koh Sok Chin, a mother of a three-year-old autistic child.
For people with high-functioning autism, the argument is more complex.
“People think high-functioning autism is the same as being neurotypical,”said Siew Jin Jie, a 17-year-old female with high-functioning autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
“But we struggle in certain areas—like math for me—and we try to socialize and make friends, but we don’t know how to explain what we need and want. I've faced a lot of prejudice, so what I really want is to be seen, heard, and valued,” Siew added.
These voices reveal that society's stereotypes and misunderstandings about autism have not diminished, despite increased awareness efforts.
What we can do:
1) Use the media to give them a voice
Firstly, as Malaysian media students, we call for more people to publish specific content in the media so that the public can develop a proper understanding of autism and reduce the public's prejudice against it.
2) Replace prejudice and labeling with inclusive and equal
People label them as ‘weird’ and always assume that they live in their own world due to a lack of social skills. This lack of understanding always leaves them on the fringes of the world, making their voices seem too small. What they really need is acceptance and inclusion, and they should not be labeled as “different” or “problematic.”
3) Treat them as independent humans, do not infantilize or marginalize
Adults with autism are often treated like children. This stereotype of “infantilizing” adults not only deprives them of their dignity and equality, but also hinders their social participation. The truth is, autistic people are just like you and me. They have hobbies, independent minds, emotional needs, and social needs. Koh, as a mother of an autistic child, has the greatest wish to make her children independent and help them to sustain themselves in mainstream school.
4) More educational support
Some autistic students struggle with standardized assessments and traditional learning environments. To support them, we need more special education resources, including special education teachers, organizations, volunteers, and schools to help them.
And optimize inclusion. We can allow more ordinary students to act as ‘partners’ and naturally promote socialization through common activities (e.g., jigsaw puzzles). Avoid forced pairings and respect their social rhythm.
Also, general education teachers and special education teachers can work together to design lessons to ensure that the goals are appropriate for all students.
Autistic people are not abnormal; they perceive the world in their own way. We should see them clearly with understanding, respect, support, and equality.
Mengenai kami
Nadi Bangi adalah portal akhbar makmal Program Komunikasi Media, Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Sebarang pandangan atau kandungan yang disiarkan tidak mewakili UKM. Ditubuhkan dengan objektif untuk menjadi suara warga kampus, Nadi Bangi menyajikan laporan berita, rencana khas, serta pandangan kritis berkenaan isu semasa yang berlaku di dalam dan luar kampus.