Did anyone consider the impact on autistics of recent code of conduct changes?

I can't answer that definitively, but the answer looks to be no. (I would say SE didn't consider the policy's impact on anything enough though.)

Despite knowing I'm (probably) going to regret posting this, here are my thoughts:

I don't like the pronoun policy but it's not because I'm unable to do anything that it asks. Ultimately the reason is that I don't like feeling stressed and/or spending a lot of time writing stuff. I already put an unreasonably high amount of effort into communication (15 minutes for a single comment and hours writing a single post is all too typical for me). When writing a comment requires too much effort, I just don't do it.

I think that the policy will only make it worse for me, especially as time goes on:

• Has this user ever specified a pronoun in any comment directed at me, ever? (And wait, what about posts?)
• What's the correct form of <neopronoun I never see used>? (And how can I be sure I found the right set, when so many of them use the same words?)
• If I write like this, is someone going to confront me about it? (Can I avoid that by spending more time writing?)

I don't have a problem with some parts of the pronoun policy. I especially don't have a problem with what was probably the intent of the policy. This is a site where we shouldn't have to experience bigotry or rudeness or slights. In fact, I was already following a perfectly good third person pronoun policy of my own, one which unfortunately doesn't completely mesh with the new mandates:

• Avoid third person pronouns where possible when referring to other users. Otherwise, use singular they.

The fact is, I just don't understand so much about what's been happening on SE, like why such a restrictive policy (for pronouns) was created, why a well-respected moderator was fired over it, and why discussion with Stack Exchange (the company) isn't going anywhere (because I'm not so new here that I don't remember when it was different).

As someone on the spectrum myself: no.

Stack Exchange has gone so far out of its way to pander to just one protected class, that they ended up hurting all others in the process. Monica's firing has proven that being "gender-blind" is no longer good enough. This used to be a safe way of communication for me, but sadly this is no longer the case.

Communication is already enough of a minefield for me as-is. This new CoC is too subjective and makes it impossible for me to navigate my way through interaction. Therefore I have ceased most of my activity on the rest of the website.

Let it be known: Stack Exchange is not welcoming to anyone who isn't neurotypical. Their "inclusiveness" is limited to gender, and gender only.

As an autistic person, I love having people's pronouns made clear - it's one fewer thing to have to intuit or infer. Likewise, codes of conduct. Even and especially if you disagree with parts of it - better to know in advance than to find out the hard way by getting pounced on with "that's not acceptable in this space" or whatever.

I kind of take issue with people raising autism as a get-out-of-basic-politeness-free card. Not saying that's what you're doing, but this reminds me a bit of when someone calls out bad behaviour and then others are like, "oh, don't make them feel bad, they're probably just autistic and don't mean it". Here's the thing, if I accidentally do something hurtful, I want to know! So I can avoid doing the hurtful thing again in the future. I don't want people to shut up and let me be an arsehole, just in case it hurts my feelings. I appreciate folks calling things out so that I can learn intellectually the things I can't figure out instinctively.

I'm autistic.

I'm a cis woman.

I have no issues with said policy.

"Meet one person with autism, you know about one autistic person". I don't doubt it may be difficult for some folks on the spectrum to adjust their writing style in a way that does not sound like correct English, but it's not for every neuroatypical person.

Individual freedom stops where those of the others begin.

These CoC changes were made to acknowledge that some people were not respected when using SE and that this is not okay. You may have trouble using pronouns you're not familiar with, but if you choose not to, you're hurting other people. Communicate with each other. See if the person would be okay with you referring to them with neutral pronouns (that have been recognized as correct English since the 14th century). If they're not, try to meet their requirements. If you can't, disengage. But don't voluntarily hurt them.

Now I have no idea whether SE did ask themselves about neuroatypical people need for adjustment when publishing their CoC update. But this is how, as an autistic person, I manage to respect the site's policy. I know what it's like to have trouble to adjust to meet other people's expectations. I do it every day. I know it won't be a good solution for everyone but this is the only one I can think of without hurting anyone or running out of spoons.

I'm on the autism spectrum.

I am also transgender (_{NB: My use of transgender here include non-binary people and I am, myself, part of the non-binary community.}).

What people who don't belong to both communities don't realize is that a good portion of autistic people are also transgender (or out as such).

So, this new Code of Conduct does benefit autistic people in a greater way than neurotypical (since we are more likely to identify as transgender).

I'm also French and English is definitively not my native language. When I first joined here, I was still using binary pronouns for myself and hadn't yet realized that I was non-binary. Also, I had no idea that singular "they" was a thing.

However, I had no issues learning this new rule and, as a matter of fact, I find using "they/them" way easier than using binary pronouns (because I don't have to wonder if I remember the pronouns correctly and don't have to double-check every time I want to talk about someone).

Relevant links:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/11/the-link-between-autism-and-trans-identity/507509/

So far, as Spectrum reports, almost all of the published studies that explore the relationship between autism and gender diversity have simply been “incidence studies,” illustrating that autism and gender diversity do in fact somehow appear to be linked.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/is-there-a-link-between-autism-and-gender-dysphoria_b_3896317

Another study, which looked at children and adolescents admitted to a gender identity clinic in the Netherlands, found that almost 8 percent of subjects were also diagnosed with ASD. That figure is nearly four times higher than the rate of ASD in the general population

Being on the autism spectrum does not excuse hurting someone else's feelings. Yes, I have to be more careful than others when writing a comment. Yes, I'm afraid of making mistakes, and I do make some, very often. But I learn, I become better and I do not hide behind my autism to keep hurting people's feelings!

When I make a mistake, I apologize, I try to understand what I did wrong and I promise myself to do better next time.

That's what humans do; they learn. Sure, it might be more difficult if you are on the autism spectrum. But it doesn't prevent you from learning! After all, if you are here, you did learn to read and write in English!

Short answer: A RESOUNDING NO

The longer answer is more nuanced.

I actually debated even responding to this, as I've already taken abuse for even suggesting that some on the spectrum might have problems.

Autism is called a spectrum for a reason, thus the nuance of this answer. If an autistic person is higher functioning, that person MIGHT have no problem. If the person is transgender, that person MIGHT have no problem.

The core of the issue is the rigid thinking and precision of language, and hyperlexia. SOME will not be able to handle the new CoC, and IMO, persecuting them for this amounts to penalizing a blind person for not being able to see, a deaf person for not being able to hear, and a mute person for not being able to speak.

FYI, two of those apply to me, as I am hearing impaired with selective mutism.

But, I digress.

With no disrespect intended towards anyone answering, the fact that you may or may not be able to deal with the new CoC, does not mean that others on the spectrum can. Although we have many common traits, we have many differences as well. Personally, when I see someone like Blair White, I see a "she", some will focus on the fact that she's pre-op and not be able to resolve that in their head. There is no hate involved, but that's not how the CoC handles it.

If someone on the spectrum is not able to comply with the CoC due to the rigid thinking, that person is immediately viewed as hateful, and will be disciplined, labeled, and called names. This has already happened to me for pointing out this fact. I was suspended for 24 hours from chat for saying that I don't want to be called "they".

As I have mentioned in other threads, there is no assumption of good intent, or honest mistakes with this, or even the acknowledgement that someone MIGHT have difficulty with it.

So, IMO, the only thing that can be assumed from this policy is, NO, the needs of autistics were NOT considered, and that anyone who is neuro-atypical to the point of being physically unable to comply with the new CoC is now unwelcome, will be labeled as a bigot, and will be dragged on SE, possibly off of SE if past actions of the staff are of any indication.

It is my reccomendation that anyone on the spectrum evaluate themselves, and if unable to comply, should leave. You will not find this place to be welcoming