I hear you. I went and attended a prestigious university where I studied the hardest subject I could imagine (mathematics) to try and prove that I am an intelligent adult. I talk in a very “educated and professional” manner according to others. All of this to prove that I’m an intelligent adult because I was tired of people talking down to me, and I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder. I don’t share my diagnosis with many people, and oddly my efforts at times backfired. An employer once told me the could tell something “was wrong with me” because I seemed different and they assumed I was “retarted” in some way.
When I pointed out I was clearly intelligent as I studied mathematics at a prestigious university there response was “but that’s something people are just born good at. No one works to learn math.” I then realized this was someone who I didn’t want in my life any more.
It was her ignorance, I have a very high IQ and am clearly very intelligent. Yes, I have autism and it’s okay. I like my autism. She didn’t understand anything about diversity and just lumped everyone different than her into a less than category.
So I keep my diagnosis a secrecy except with people I trust a lot.
I hate it when I see grown adults, or even teenagers talked down to. Even a person who has an intellectual disability deserves to be treated with basic respect as an adult.