What does it mean if your child is autistic? In this article, we’ll continue busting some common myths about autism spectrum disorder, or ASD.

Myth: “All autistic people …”

There are a few characteristics required for an autism diagnosis, but the spectrum of autism is very broad. Each person with ASD is unique.

Generalizing everyone with autism is both damaging and untrue — especially if it’s a negative generalization. People with autism are people. They feel as wide a range of emotions as any person, though they might express these feelings in unfamiliar or unusual ways.

Myth: “Adults with autism can’t live independently.”

There is a huge spectrum of differences among people with ASD. Some autistic individuals are unable to live independently, but many people on the autism spectrum hold jobs, raise families and are financially stable — in fact, you probably know a few adults with ASD without even realizing it.

Myth: “Autism is a mental illness or a learning disability.”

Autism is not a mental illness or a learning disability. However, people with ASD often experience comorbidities such as depression and anxiety, and about a third of autistic people also have a learning disability.

Myth: “It’s always obvious when someone is autistic.”

Many autistic people learn to “mask” their autism by being hypervigilant about the way they act in social situations. They may study the way other people behave and imitate these behaviors. This helps to avoid the negative stigma or awkward situations that can come from being perceived as different. However, masking can also be exhausting, and some autistic people describe it as a “second language” that never feels quite natural.

Myth: “Only boys are autistic.”

Autism can affect people of any gender. Girls tend to be underdiagnosed, in part because they are more likely to learn to mask their autistic traits in order to fit in.

Myth: “Some people are ‘more autistic’ than others.”

The autism spectrum is not a linear scale but an array of core characteristics. People with ASD may have some characteristics of autism and not others. This contributes to the wide diversity of personalities and behaviors in people with autism.

Myth: “Autism can be cured.”

There isn’t a treatment that can make autism disappear. It’s a part of a person’s identity that will always remain in some form.

However, there are treatments, therapies and other resources for people with autism to improve their quality of life and learn skills that don’t come naturally to them. Other therapies teach family members strategies for supporting autistic children.

The more support a child receives (and the earlier this support is given), the more likely that they will be able to thrive, so make sure to reach out to your pediatrician if you think your child may be on the autism spectrum.

If you’d like help screening your child for ASD or want resources for autistic children and their families, you can call Help Me Grow Utah. Help Me Grow Utah is a free service that helps parents answer their parenting and child-development questions and links them to the resources they need.

Avery Stonely is the EveryDay Learners operations coordinator at United Way of Utah County.