When asked whether “we are all on the autism spectrum,” autistic adults across the globe often respond with a mix of caution, frustration, reflection, and philosophical depth. It’s a question that seems simple on the surface but carries layers of meaning and consequence — particularly for those who live autistic realities every day.
To explore this question meaningfully, imagine a diverse, global group of 100 autistic adults: different countries, genders, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and relationships to diagnosis. Their responses, while hypothetical, reflect real patterns in discussions within the autistic community.
Here are the ten most likely responses — in descending order of frequency — and what they reveal.
1. “No, absolutely not. Autism is a specific neurodivergence.”
Many autistic individuals push back against the idea that everyone is on the spectrum. They argue that autism is not just a personality trait or thinking style, but a deeply rooted neurodevelopmental difference. For these respondents, autism is not a universal human experience — it is a specific and often disabling way of processing the world.
2. “No, but everyone has autistic traits — that’s different.”
This view acknowledges overlap in behaviors or preferences, such as a need for routine or sensory sensitivity. But it draws a sharp line: having a few traits doesn’t mean being autistic. Just as enjoying solitude doesn’t make someone clinically introverted, occasional sensory overload doesn’t place you on the autism spectrum.
3. “No, and that generalization is harmful to autistic people.”
Some responses go beyond disagreement — they express concern. Saying that “we’re all a little autistic” can minimize the struggles of those who actually are. It can dilute advocacy efforts, skew research, and foster unrealistic expectations of what autistic people “should” be able to do, just because “everyone’s on the spectrum.”
4. “Maybe — if we define ‘spectrum’ broadly enough.”
Others approach the question more conceptually. What is a spectrum, anyway? If it means a continuous range of neurological experiences, then perhaps everyone is somewhere on it. But if it refers to a clinical profile shaped by specific developmental patterns, that’s a different matter entirely.
5. “Some people are closer to the spectrum than they realize.”
This answer often comes from those who see the boundary between autism and non-autism as porous. Many people go undiagnosed due to gender, race, class, or cultural expectations. These respondents highlight the invisibility of many autistic adults, especially those who have learned to camouflage or were never “seen” by professionals.
6. “That’s a hard question. What do you mean by ‘on the spectrum’?”
A number of autistic individuals respond with a question. Words like “spectrum” can be used in vague or contradictory ways. Is the question about diagnosis, identity, neurology, or experience? Rather than offer a binary answer, some ask for clearer definitions — or question the usefulness of the question itself.
7. “We’re all wired differently, but that’s not the same.”
This response aligns with neurodiversity principles: yes, everyone’s brain is unique. But uniqueness doesn’t make you autistic. Just as everyone ages but not everyone is elderly, or everyone feels sad but not everyone is depressed, being different doesn’t mean being on the spectrum.
8. “Everyone has their own spectrum — autism is just one of them.”
Some answers use “spectrum” metaphorically: we all operate on spectrums of mood, energy, sensitivity, communication. But autism, in this framing, is a distinct configuration — not just a point on a universal line but a complex intersection of traits that form a coherent, if diverse, identity.
9. “I’m not sure — sometimes the boundary feels arbitrary.”
Some autistic adults express uncertainty. They question whether diagnostic thresholds are culturally or institutionally constructed. What counts as “disordered” often depends on context: what’s disabling in one society may be neutral or even beneficial in another. This response captures the tension between biology and social framing.
10. “Yes, in a way — we all live in a world of spectra.”
A minority of responses embrace the idea metaphorically or philosophically. In this view, life itself unfolds on multiple spectrums — emotion, cognition, sociality — and autism may just be one visible example of human variability. But even these respondents typically add: that doesn’t mean autism should be flattened into everyday difference.
So, Are We All on the Spectrum?
Not everyone is on the autism spectrum — and saying so can erase real struggles. Difference is universal, but autism is specific.
The dominant answer is no — not everyone is autistic. But the reasons why not differ: for some, it’s about safeguarding a marginalized identity; for others, it’s about clarifying medical language, or resisting appropriation. Still others see ambiguity as part of the human condition.
The question also reveals something deeper: a discomfort with the binary divide between “autistic” and “neurotypical.” As the language of neurodiversity becomes more mainstream, the line blurs — and that has consequences. Some are empowering. Others, erasing.
So instead of asking whether everyone is on the spectrum, perhaps the more generative question is: What do we lose — and what do we gain — when we pretend they are?
The European Autist 