A mum attempted to transform people’s perception of autism when she shared a sweet album of her daughter online.
The Imgur photo gallery showed seven-year-old Molly playing outdoors, meeting a clown, spending time with a dog, and eating her favourite vegetables.
It was simply titled: “This is what autism looks like.”
[This is what Autism 'looks like'](http://imgur.com/a/Sczqk)
However, despite the positive nature of the Imgur album, it soon began to receive a number of critical comments from online trolls.
One person wrote: "Look, she's cute, but you say 'she has ASD, ADHD etc' like you just looked that s**t up online. If she has issues, you have a diagnosis."
Another suggested that autism shouldn’t look so ‘cute’, even going so far as to question the authenticity of the post.
And another wrote: “Not to be that person, but this is what 'higher functioning' autism looks like. I'm happy for you guys, honestly, because it could be worse."
In response to the comments, Molly’s mum decided to share a very different series of photos with the internet.
The album, which showed Molly in a series of stressful situations, was titled: “Is this what you want to see?”
[Is this what you want to see?](http://imgur.com/a/IXkaq)
Molly’s mum wrote underneath it: “In response to the negative comments on my last post.
“I want to raise awareness but it seems people doubt the authenticity of the disability if they only see it in a positive light, which was exactly my f**king point!
“She can't cope walking to the shop, there might be people, too much noise, unexpected situations. She doesn't sleep, she is aggressive and violent and suicidal, she has no danger awareness and runs in front of traffic and has to use a buggy to get home from school. She gets to stressed out even going to the park that she has seizures and panic attacks. She self harms and she vocal tics, she cant play with other kids even though she desperately wants to as she just cant cope.
“I had wanted to highlight the other side of autism, the one where the kid is having a good day and coping, but people tell her off [because] she doesn't 'look autistic’… that's the side of it that nobody has compassion for.
“If she looks normal she should be able to fit in right? Is my kid not the socially acceptable type of disabled?”
Some parents commented on the second post, thanking the mum for her honesty.
"As a parent in a similar (well, basically the same) position: Thank you for this post," one person wrote.
However others suggested that she remove the second album, insisting: “OP, delete this! You don't owe the assholes that doubted/criticized you ANYTHING! Keep painting her in a positive light. They'll come around.”
“You're breaking my heart over here,” said another.