Education Through an Autistic Lens

Hey besties, 

Quote of the day: “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.”

No matter your age, keep dreaming, keep showing up, keep setting and achieving goals. 

So, this week besties we are going to talk about education. I am an English major about to complete my bachelor’s in creative writing and English literature, and I am going on to do my master's in creative writing but how easy is education with autism?

Honestly, autism vs education is complicated. Not in a dramatic, over-the-top way, but in that quiet, constant tug-of-war kind of way. Like part of you really loves learning, and another part of you feels completely shut out by the way learning is delivered.

You know what I mean?

Let us start with the good stuff because there is good stuff, and it is actually kind of amazing.

When education lines up with your interest, it does not even feel like “education.” It feels like breathing. Like finally being allowed to exist in a way that makes sense. You are not forcing yourself to focus, you are not counting the minutes until it is over, you are just in it. Completely absorbed. Hours pass and you do not even notice. It is not draining, it is energising.

There is something really special about that kind of learning. You go deeper than most people expect. You notice details others skim past. You make connections that feel almost instinctive. It is not about being “gifted” or anything like that, it is just that your brain has locked onto something and said, yes, this matters.

And when a teacher understands that? When they actually lean into it instead of trying to redirect you? That is where things can really shine. That is where confidence builds. That is where education actually works.

But then… there is the other side.

The classroom itself can feel like a completely different world. And not in a good way.

There’s noise, constant noise. Chairs scraping, people talking, pens clicking, someone coughing, someone tapping their foot. It is like your brain is trying to process everything at once, and there is no filter. Meanwhile, the teacher is talking, and you are trying, really trying, to hold onto what they are saying, but it is like trying to catch water with your hands.

And then there is the social side of it. Group work, class discussions, being put on the spot. It is exhausting. Not because you do not have ideas, but because the environment does not make it easy to access them. You might need more time to process, or to phrase things in your head—but classrooms do not always allow for that. Everything feels rushed. Immediate. 

Performative.

Teachers can be a huge part of this, for better or worse.

A good teacher? They notice. They give you space. They do not mistake quiet for disengaged or overwhelmed for disobedient. They adapt, even in small ways. And those small ways matter more than people realise.

But a teacher who does not understand… that’s where things get hard.

Being misunderstood over and over again wears you down. Being told to “just focus” when you are already trying as hard as you can. Being seen as difficult, or lazy, or not trying, when you are putting in twice the effort just to stay afloat.

And then there is the bigger struggle: learning itself.

Not wanting to learn, that is usually there. It is how that becomes the problem.

Education often comes in one format: sit still, listen, absorb, repeat. But that does not work for everyone. Sometimes you need to see it differently, experience it differently, approach it from a completely different angle. And when that option is not there, it can feel like hitting a wall repeatedly.

You start questioning yourself. Why can everyone else do this? Why can’t I?

But the truth is, it is not that you cannot learn. It is that the system is not built in a way that lets you.

And in the middle of all this chaos, there is one thing that quietly holds everything together: routine.

Routine is… underrated, honestly.

It is not boring. It is grounding.

Knowing what is coming next, knowing how the day will flow—it takes away that constant edge of uncertainty. It frees up mental space. Instead of worrying about what might happen, you can focus on what is happening.

There’s comfort in repetition. In familiar paths, familiar timings, familiar expectations. It does not mean you cannot handle change; it just means that when things are predictable, everything else becomes a little bit easier.

A good routine can turn a stressful day into a manageable one. It can be the difference between shutting down and staying present.

And maybe that is the thing people do not always see when they talk about autism and education.

It is not just about support plans, labels, or accommodations (though that matter too). It is about understanding that there is this constant balancing act going on. Between passion and overwhelm. Between curiosity and exhaustion. Between thriving and just getting through the day.

Education can be incredible, it really can. But only when it meets people where they are, instead of expecting everyone to fit into the same mold.

And honestly? Imagine how many more people would thrive if it did.

Love,

Your autistic bestie.