I'm not even technically an adult baby and I don't even wear diapers. I'm just like a 4 1/2 year old emotionally and socially. I have Classic Autism and ADHD. 99% if the time, I'm like a hyperactive Autistic 4 year old. I'm really chronologically in my mid late 40s, but I am like a 4 1/2 year old. It's not like that I even purposely act like a 4 year old. I will never be "normal" whatever that means, because having Autism already precludes that. My parents, relatives, old community college instructors that had me in their classes, the few ex-employers I have had, child development professors, friends who are nonautistic, and even friends that are higher functioning Autistic (who are more like 12 year olds emotionally and socially), and to some extent, even young children, think I am like a 4 to 5 year old emotionally and socially. It doesn't take much time for even a normal nonautistic 3 year old to realize that I have some serious developmental issues. I wish there were more people who were in their 40s who were more babyish like me because of a developmental disability, because then I would have more friends, or even a girlfriend. There are also some people with Down Syndrome, aside from Autism and other developmental disabilities, who act like children at a fairly advanced age. I have had friends who were actual preschoolers chronologically even when I was in my 30s, but even children eventually totally outgrow me as they eventually get older. Some of the kids I knew even in my 30s are now virtually adults over age 18. My nephews who are 7 and 11 years old even realize that I have many issues. And even a 3 year old would realize I have a significant disability. They may not know fully what Autism is or anything, but even without knowing what Autism is, they realize I have a problem and that I involuntarily act like a child. I should have never grown up physically at all even. I think people would be much more understanding towards me in a general sense if I did actually look like a 4 year old, albeit as a proportional pituitary dwarf. But even if I were a 4 year old, some things I do are totally off. Some of my social skills are worse than a normal 3 year old. A normal 3 year old can understand social nuances and conversational give and take. They also don't talk to someone about 7 inches from someone's face in conversations and they understand through nonverbal facial cues from others that people might not be interested in their hobbies or interests if they are showing them a toy, or clothes, or a book, or something else. Autistic people can't understand that. Which is why a lot of Autistic adults (and even Autistic children) are ostracized. If you lack social skills, the world isn't so forgiving. If you are even a criminal who has committed horrible crimes, if you have social skills, society is usually forgiving. The unemployment rate for paroled criminals is absolutely nothing like what it is for Autistic people who are law abiding but lack social skills. The unemployment rate for Autistic college graduates is 85%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor statistics for 2023. No other minority has that high an unemployment rate, not even criminals. The suicide rate is also one of the worst for those with Autism, and this is backed up by statistics. If you have social skills and know how to kiss people's behind (err...well, a double s) you'll have a job, even if you are a criminal. Otherwise, if you are Autistic, you're likely out of luck.
- longallsboy
