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Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

If your “autism” came from TikTok and not a developmental lens, you might be BAP (broader autistic phenotype)—not autistic. That distinction matters. Especially for those who need lifelong support.

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Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Parents advocating for their autistic kids aren’t less valid than TikTok creators self-identifying. Diagnosis is about developmental history, not just relatability.

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Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

I’m all for self-awareness. But TikTok isn’t a diagnostic tool—and pretending it is erases the complexity of real autism.

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Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

I’m all for self-awareness. But TikTok isn’t a diagnostic tool—and pretending it is erases the complexity of real autism.

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Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

TikTok can spark curiosity. But it can’t distinguish autism from trauma, ADHD, BPD, or BAP. That’s not gatekeeping—it’s ethical clarity.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Self-recognition is powerful. But when TikTok replaces developmental history and clinical evaluation, we lose diagnostic precision—and protections.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

When TikTok becomes the diagnostic gatekeeper, we risk excluding the most vulnerable: kids, non-speakers, and those with complex support needs.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Autism isn’t a personality type. It’s a neurodevelopmental profile with real implications for support, access, and protection. TikTok trends don’t replace clinical care.

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Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Watching TikToks and thinking “that’s me” isn’t a diagnosis. It’s a starting point. Developmental history, clinical context, and differential diagnosis still matter.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

TikTok is not a diagnostic tool. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a vibe or aesthetic. Clinical evaluation matters—especially for kids who can’t self-advocate.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

I’m grateful my parents advocated for me before I could speak for myself. TikTok didn’t exist. Diagnosis did. Let’s protect that clarity—for every child who still needs it. #ParentAdvocacyMatters #AutismRights #DevelopmentalLens

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Autism diagnosis requires developmental history, clinical evaluation, and context. TikTok can’t distinguish autism from trauma, ADHD, BPD, or BAP. That’s not gatekeeping—it’s ethical clarity. #AutismAwareness #BAPvsAutism #ProtectSupportNeeds

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

TikTok isn’t a diagnostic tool. Autism isn’t a trend. Let’s stop confusing relatability with clinical reality. #AutismAdvocacy #NeurodiversityEthics #DiagnosisMatters

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

If you were diagnosed autistic before social media existed, your lived experience carries more weight than someone who self-identifies after watching TikTok clips. Advocacy must be rooted in neurodevelopment, not aesthetics.

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Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Autism advocacy must center those with developmental history—not those who adopted the label through social media mimicry. Representation without roots risks erasing the very people it claims to uplift.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

We need to protect diagnostic integrity. We need to listen to those who lived it before it was trendy. We need to stop confusing aesthetic neurodivergence with actual neurodevelopmental disability.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

My family knew. My teachers knew. The signs were there. What we lacked was a framework—not a hashtag. Now, people mimic traits without the history, without the struggle, without the neurology. That’s not advocacy. That’s cosplay.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

“If your autism is ‘nobody’s business,’ maybe don’t make it everyone’s business by announcing it online without a diagnosis. Privacy isn’t performative.”

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Autism isn’t a vibe. It’s a neurodevelopmental condition. Those of us diagnosed before TikTok didn’t need a trend to know we were different—we needed recognition, support, and protection.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

"‘I don’t need a diagnosis, it’s private.’ Then why is it a public brand? You can’t claim privacy while building identity off a label you won’t verify.”

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

You don’t owe anyone your diagnosis. But if you’re publicly claiming autism while refusing evaluation, don’t act shocked when people question the credibility. That’s the trade-off.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Refusing diagnosis because ‘it’s nobody’s business’—while hashtagging #ActuallyAutistic in every post—is like yelling ‘I’m vegan!’ while eating mystery meat. Mixed signals.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

If you don’t want autism to be anyone’s business, maybe don’t make it your content strategy.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Social media: where ‘private’ autism becomes a public aesthetic. No diagnosis, no accountability, just vibes.

Tabi Jozwick Autistic Advocacy @tjozwickautism.bsky.social · 17h

Diagnosis isn’t about gatekeeping—it’s about clarity, support, and protecting the integrity of autistic advocacy. If you reject it, fine. But don’t expect the community to center your unverified narrative.