Chapter Text
So, for me, I think that Will, Mike, Max, Dustin, Nancy, Jonathan, and Robin are all autistic. Enjoy some headcanons!
Max, Dustin, Robin, Mike, and Nancy all have ADHD as well.
Mike is extremely sensitive to loud noises, screaming demogorgons were a sensory hell for him.
Will has a special interest in art, Nancy has a special interest in guns and journalism, Mike has a special interest in D&D, Max has a special interest in horror movies and skateboarding, Dustin has a special interest in science and technology, Jonathan has a special interest in photography, and Robin has a special interest in languages and movies.
Nancy, Jonathan, Robin, Max, and Mike are very touch averse most times while Dustin and Will find it grounding.
I do not condone the fact that Jonathan took those pictures back in S1, but I think he did it because he has a lack of understanding of social boundaries, and only realized it was wrong when he was confronted.
Max paces back and forth on her skateboard because it really helps her concentrate.
Jonathan, Nancy, Will, and Mike were all nonverbal as kids. (It runs in their families, I guess)
Robin gets overstimulated very easily. Steve learned this one day when they were working at Scoops Ahoy on a very busy day at the Starcourt Mall.
Will knows his haircut looks stupid, but he's had it for years, why would he change it?
Dustin will infodump to anyone and everyone about his current hyperfixation(s). It drives them all up the wall sometimes, but seeing Dustin happy makes them happy.
Out of the kids, Max masks the most, and out of the older kids, Nancy masks the most.
Joyce is also autistic (with ADHD) and she tries her best to accommodate for them, because she knows how hard it can be.
Nancy and Robin and Will and Mike are all super supportive of each other. It's nice to have a partner whose brain works like yours.
When Steve starts dating Jonathan, and Lucas starts dating Max, the two of them are very observant of their partners, trying to help them as much as possible when they need it.
Will, Mike, Jonathan, and Dustin have a hard time understanding sarcasm, while Nancy, Robin, and Max understand it too well from watching others.
Jonathan plays music for himself and Will whenever one or both of them is overwhelmed, but eventually it just becomes fun to stim to.