This commentary discusses two papers in this special issue on "Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum" that consider strengths as well as difficulties of autistic people and seek to engage with their perspectives and needs: (1) "I Was Just so Different": The Experiences of Women Diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adulthood in Relation to Gender and Social Relationships" (Kanfiszer, Davies, and Collins); and (2) "The Importance of Critical Life Moments: An Explorative Study of Successful Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (Webster and Garvis). The studies of Kanfiszer and of Webster and Garvis both take a fresh approach resulting from their respect for the perspectives of autistic people. This means accepting that human experience is very diverse and that there is no one ideal way to be. [For "I Was Just so Different": The Experiences of Women Diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adulthood in Relation to Gender and Social Relationships" (Kanfiszer, Davies, and Collins), see EJ1149790. For "The Importance of Critical Life Moments: An Explorative Study of Successful Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (Webster and Garvis), see EJ1149795.]