![Page 1: [The page features Tux waving in the top panel and talking in the bottom panel] Text: Hi, I'm Tux! I'm autistic! It's Autism Acceptance Month, so I wanted to talk a little about being on the spectrum! I drew a comic to illustrate what that looks like for me!](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQGo3VDacAAaLys.jpg?name=small&format=webp)
ALT Page 1: [The page features Tux waving in the top panel and talking in the bottom panel] Text: Hi, I'm Tux! I'm autistic! It's Autism Acceptance Month, so I wanted to talk a little about being on the spectrum! I drew a comic to illustrate what that looks like for me!
![Page 2: [Tux is jumping joyfully in the top panel. In the bottom left panel is Tux again, but as a human with a green hoodie and square glasses. The bottom right panel features a description of the verb 'masking'.] Text: My shapeshifter identity is a metaphor! I bet you already knew that. One thing it represents for me is my autistic traits! For example... I use my human form to blend in...autistic folks call this 'masking'. Masking: the act of hiding neurodivergent traits, and mimicking more socially-acceptable behaviors and traits, in order to survive in a neurotypical world.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQGpny8aUAIafDe.jpg?name=small&format=webp)
ALT Page 2: [Tux is jumping joyfully in the top panel. In the bottom left panel is Tux again, but as a human with a green hoodie and square glasses. The bottom right panel features a description of the verb 'masking'.] Text: My shapeshifter identity is a metaphor! I bet you already knew that. One thing it represents for me is my autistic traits! For example... I use my human form to blend in...autistic folks call this 'masking'. Masking: the act of hiding neurodivergent traits, and mimicking more socially-acceptable behaviors and traits, in order to survive in a neurotypical world.
![Page 3: [6 drawings depict human Tux in various scenarios to illustrate what autistic masking looks like. The bottom right panel shows them in their alien form again due to exhaustion, saying "ugh..."] Text: What does it look like? Forced eye-contact, Exaggerated expressions, Extreme extroversion, Suppressing stims, Social hypervigilance, Self-censoring [Tux has thought bubbles in the 6th image that say "I shouldn't talk about that...they might think it's weird".] Doing this a lot is really draining, though. I have to shift back at some point to recharge.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQGqzAGagAAXz6w.jpg?name=small&format=webp)
ALT Page 3: [6 drawings depict human Tux in various scenarios to illustrate what autistic masking looks like. The bottom right panel shows them in their alien form again due to exhaustion, saying "ugh..."] Text: What does it look like? Forced eye-contact, Exaggerated expressions, Extreme extroversion, Suppressing stims, Social hypervigilance, Self-censoring [Tux has thought bubbles in the 6th image that say "I shouldn't talk about that...they might think it's weird".] Doing this a lot is really draining, though. I have to shift back at some point to recharge.
![Page 4: [The first panel shows Tux with a worried expression and a thought bubble that says "I can't shift back!?" The second panel, on the left Tux is holding a pen in a trembling paw while thinking about holding it with a human hand instead. On the right, Tux is pulling their ears down in distress due to sensory overload. At the bottom of the page, Tux is curled up and sleeping.] Text: If I get too exhausted I can burn out...autistic burnout can be extremely debilitating. Things that are normally easy can become a lot harder to do...and I'm more easily overwhelmed and overstimulated. When this happens, it's important I take time to rest and be myself...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQGrufHagAAsjqV.jpg?name=small&format=webp)
ALT Page 4: [The first panel shows Tux with a worried expression and a thought bubble that says "I can't shift back!?" The second panel, on the left Tux is holding a pen in a trembling paw while thinking about holding it with a human hand instead. On the right, Tux is pulling their ears down in distress due to sensory overload. At the bottom of the page, Tux is curled up and sleeping.] Text: If I get too exhausted I can burn out...autistic burnout can be extremely debilitating. Things that are normally easy can become a lot harder to do...and I'm more easily overwhelmed and overstimulated. When this happens, it's important I take time to rest and be myself...





























