As many people in the autistic community know, sensory overload is a common experience for those on the spectrum. Sensory overload can be described as an overwhelming experience where sensory information is processed by the brain in a way that is difficult to handle. This can be caused by a variety of different sensory stimuli, such as sounds, lights, smells, textures, and more.

when COVID-19 hit and masks became mandatory in many public spaces, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. For the first time, I could tic in public without worrying about the weird looks or comments from others. It was a strange and unexpected benefit of the pandemic.