As:Be

As:Be is a makeshift bedroom desk setup that explores the details and ramifications of growing up with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly high-functioning autism, and those who fall within the gray area. This project focuses on print media and papercraft to explore the theme of mimicry—the necessary effort to appear “normal”—attempting to hide the often-lacking social and behavioral autonomy that most non-autistic individuals take for granted. Many individuals spent most of their lives undiagnosed because the matter is highly stigmatized to this day through stereotypes and other cultural taboos. There is a cruel irony in not appearing “deficient” enough to qualify for help or avoiding possible life- changing treatment in fear of judgment. Through analogies, anecdotes, and abridged psychiatric research, I hope to provide a nuanced understanding of ASD in an approachable manner.

The title “As:Be” is a play on the colloquial term for Asperger’s, which is now an outdated term for high-functioning autism. On the surface level, the name itself means to “be as you are,” as ASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. Acceptance can have a profound impact, not just for diagnoses, but as a compassionate acknowledgment of human complexity. A bedroom desk is not only a serene, private space but also a key repository that reflects our human identity.