> The reason I choose not to label myself this way is that I’ve learned to overcome many of my old hangups like avoiding eye contact. It’s true what you say abo

> The reason I choose not to label myself this way is that I’ve learned to overcome many of my old hangups like avoiding eye contact. It’s true what you say about it holding back your career. When I decided to set out as an entrepreneur I was pretty much forced to up my game in this area. So I did. I can still relate to anyone who struggles with these skills, but I also know it’s possible to overcome them. While I'd say I also have had some success overcoming my struggles with autism, I think "it's possible to overcome them" is a bold and possibly harmful claim. Depending on the particulars, this might very well not be possible for some people with autism. Another important point, I think, is that there's a difference between 'overcoming' and 'managing' autism-related issues. I consider myself very lucky that I've learned how to blend in well, but one downside I've found is that no matter how well I am able to act normal, my being often isn't, and doing too much of the acting can be exhausting, anxiety-inducing and even harmful. Figuring out how 'far' to go in this regard, and when to turn on the 'normal scripts' is one of my main goals. That said, I do agree that practicing and not putting too much weight on labels can be helpful!