Seeing autistic communication as a cultural difference

I like to imagine that autistic communication is similar to a cultural or linguistic difference. Here’s how it goes…

Imagine you move to another country. You learn the language and the customs but it never really sits well with you. You manage OK – hold down a job, have some friends, but you never really feel at home. Then imagine a friend from your home country arrives. You speak your language with them and you know all their ‘in’ jokes. Their customs are your customs. You love spending time with your compatriot and feel 100% comfortable in their company. It is nothing like interactions from those in your adopted country.

Now imagine there are two people – one speaks German and the other speaks French. Most other people speak German and when someone speaks French they assume that they are speaking German badly rather than a totally different – and equally…