E188: Emer Maguire on Autism, Coming Out and becoming a Comedian

It's interesting, isn't it? Because you

could be, like I'm thinking as a parent, you could be the type of person, well, I'm going to put them in that position to make them see.

But as you said, that could absolutely terrify them and that's not right for them.

So I think it's self-awareness of everybody in situations.

But you said to me,

education on the

phone, like

educating yourself about it.

Yeah, that's probably the most important thing.

So, for example, like I spent a long time sending my mum Reels on Instagram, pictures on Instagram about autism because I thought you're one of the closest people in my life.

You need to know how to communicate with me.

This will reduce any miscommunications or whatever.

This will help you help me.

And like I used to be a speech and language therapist and I didn't know the breadth of information about autism that I know now through educating myself.

And the more you know, the more you're able to Help people and the more you're able to make informed decisions about how you want to help people and I know for example my mum has been Since she's been more educated about autism our relationship has our relationship is always great, but it's improved even more and like for example I have always struggled with directions.

You know, I wouldn't, don't get public transport.

I would not be able to read a bus timetable, all that kind of thing.

And I remember recently, you know, my parents were in Malaga and I was meeting them.

And my dad was saying to me, you just come out of the airport and you just get this bus to this place.

And my mum interrupted and said, you know, Eimear wouldn't be able to do that.

So she was like, you just get there and you get in a taxi.

And I thought that's a real sign of understanding, even though it's such a simple thing.

Because if I was expected to get a bus somewhere, I would be in a total panic.

I wouldn't be able to do it.

And even recently I put out that I was going on tour and one of the dates was Manchester and some really lovely person who my mum knew, maybe from college, contacted her and said, see Eimear's coming to Manchester, she can stay in mine, someone my mum knows really well.