What is Autism Advocacy?
In the words of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, "the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which Autistic people enjoy the same access, rights, and opportunities as all other citizens. We work to empower Autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community, and seek to organize the Autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us. Nothing About Us, Without Us!"
Teaching children with autism the fine art of self-advocacy
from Washington Post
We recently wrote about how parents of children with autism can talk to their children about their disability. Once the child has a label for her differences, though, there’s another important thing to talk to her about: When and how to share that information with others, and how to express her own needs. READ MORE
from Washington Post
We recently wrote about how parents of children with autism can talk to their children about their disability. Once the child has a label for her differences, though, there’s another important thing to talk to her about: When and how to share that information with others, and how to express her own needs. READ MORE
in their own words
Being Autistic Is...
by Radical Neurodivergence Speaking
Being Autistic Is... In the style of What Epilepsy Is. Like that piece, this one is more about how other people react to autism than what autism itself causes. I'd think that'd be apparent, but one never knows.
Being autistic is being judged.
Being autistic is being yelled at for existing.
Being autistic is being subjected to verbal, physical and emotional abuse for existing.
Being autistic is being at high risk of being killed for existing.
Being autistic is knowing damn well that anyone who hurts or kills you will get away with it.
Being autistic is knowing that the person who hurts or kills you will be a folk hero.
Being autistic is being looked on as a tragedy. READ MORE
by Radical Neurodivergence Speaking
Being Autistic Is... In the style of What Epilepsy Is. Like that piece, this one is more about how other people react to autism than what autism itself causes. I'd think that'd be apparent, but one never knows.
Being autistic is being judged.
Being autistic is being yelled at for existing.
Being autistic is being subjected to verbal, physical and emotional abuse for existing.
Being autistic is being at high risk of being killed for existing.
Being autistic is knowing damn well that anyone who hurts or kills you will get away with it.
Being autistic is knowing that the person who hurts or kills you will be a folk hero.
Being autistic is being looked on as a tragedy. READ MORE
Your Children Are Listening
by Unstrange Mind
"You might think they’re too young to understand. You might think they aren’t paying attention. You might even think they are incapable of awareness. You are wrong; your children are listening.
Your children know what the world thinks about autism. Your children understand. They hear. They see. You may think that’s not true because they don’t look at the source of the voice. You may think that’s not true because their bodies don’t take the positions that you associate with reading. You might think they don’t know. They do. Your children are listening. What are they hearing? What are they hearing from you?" READ MORE
by Unstrange Mind
"You might think they’re too young to understand. You might think they aren’t paying attention. You might even think they are incapable of awareness. You are wrong; your children are listening.
Your children know what the world thinks about autism. Your children understand. They hear. They see. You may think that’s not true because they don’t look at the source of the voice. You may think that’s not true because their bodies don’t take the positions that you associate with reading. You might think they don’t know. They do. Your children are listening. What are they hearing? What are they hearing from you?" READ MORE
No, I’m Not “Glamorizing” My Autism
by Sarah Kurchak
"... In an effort to understand what my ostensible allies wanted from me and people like me, I expanded my usual reading on the subject, mostly a mix of work by other autistic writers and texts recommended to me by my pro-neurodiversity therapist, to include media and discussions dominated by neurotypical people with some personal or professional connection to autism. I was disheartened by a lot of what I found. While there are some wonderful allies out there who are writing thoughtfully on the topic and listening when actually autistic people have something to communicate through whatever means are available to them, there are still more who want to control the conversation with an incredibly narrow-minded and maybe even exploitative narrative. Sadder still, there are a large number of sympathetic people out there who are completely buying into this narrative because they’ve never been exposed to any other perspectives."
READ MORE
by Sarah Kurchak
"... In an effort to understand what my ostensible allies wanted from me and people like me, I expanded my usual reading on the subject, mostly a mix of work by other autistic writers and texts recommended to me by my pro-neurodiversity therapist, to include media and discussions dominated by neurotypical people with some personal or professional connection to autism. I was disheartened by a lot of what I found. While there are some wonderful allies out there who are writing thoughtfully on the topic and listening when actually autistic people have something to communicate through whatever means are available to them, there are still more who want to control the conversation with an incredibly narrow-minded and maybe even exploitative narrative. Sadder still, there are a large number of sympathetic people out there who are completely buying into this narrative because they’ve never been exposed to any other perspectives."
READ MORE
Presuming competence goes both ways
by Ischemgeek
Hat tip to Michael Scott Monje Jr for writing the line that led me to this train of thought.The title sentence is something that’s been ringing in my head ever since I first read the linked poem, and it was hard at first to find the right words to explain why. But now I think I have.
Autistic and disabled people in general do others a grave disservice when we assume they’re ignorant in spite of evidence to the contrary. We do them the same disservice we protest against when it’s done to us. We presume them incompetent. We presume others incompetent of knowing and meaning what they say. READ MORE
by Ischemgeek
Hat tip to Michael Scott Monje Jr for writing the line that led me to this train of thought.The title sentence is something that’s been ringing in my head ever since I first read the linked poem, and it was hard at first to find the right words to explain why. But now I think I have.
Autistic and disabled people in general do others a grave disservice when we assume they’re ignorant in spite of evidence to the contrary. We do them the same disservice we protest against when it’s done to us. We presume them incompetent. We presume others incompetent of knowing and meaning what they say. READ MORE
ACCEPTANCE
Breaking the Cycle
by Eccentric Kimmy
In the autistic community we talk an awful lot about how it is simply not okay for parents to say "I hate autism" or "Autism sucks". We explain to people that autism is not something that can be separated from the person and that hating autism = hating the autistic person. There is always blow back. There is always some sort of protest to this. Parents claim it is okay for them to exclaim hate toward their child in this manner because their emotions are important, they get overwhelmed... it's all about the parents.
Society even expects parents of disabled children to feel this way and say things of this nature. They feel "sorry" for parents of disabled children. Society extends pity and forgiveness when a parent to a disabled person does something heinous (like murder) or abusive.. because you know, we are so hard to love and care for. READ MORE
by Eccentric Kimmy
In the autistic community we talk an awful lot about how it is simply not okay for parents to say "I hate autism" or "Autism sucks". We explain to people that autism is not something that can be separated from the person and that hating autism = hating the autistic person. There is always blow back. There is always some sort of protest to this. Parents claim it is okay for them to exclaim hate toward their child in this manner because their emotions are important, they get overwhelmed... it's all about the parents.
Society even expects parents of disabled children to feel this way and say things of this nature. They feel "sorry" for parents of disabled children. Society extends pity and forgiveness when a parent to a disabled person does something heinous (like murder) or abusive.. because you know, we are so hard to love and care for. READ MORE
Our Children, and their most vulnerable moments:
A Diary of a Mom's Facebook post
..."I won't ever, ever take a picture when my daughter is hurting. Would you want your mom to be snapping photos of you at your most vulnerable and sharing them with the world "to raise awareness?" When I put myself in her shoes, my answer is "Hell no." (Edited to add: What I'd want is for all of my mom's attention to be focused on trying to help me, not filming me breaking down.)
So those pictures will never exist no less be shown. The cost of whatever could possibly be gained is never going to be worth my daughter's dignity." READ MORE
A Diary of a Mom's Facebook post
..."I won't ever, ever take a picture when my daughter is hurting. Would you want your mom to be snapping photos of you at your most vulnerable and sharing them with the world "to raise awareness?" When I put myself in her shoes, my answer is "Hell no." (Edited to add: What I'd want is for all of my mom's attention to be focused on trying to help me, not filming me breaking down.)
So those pictures will never exist no less be shown. The cost of whatever could possibly be gained is never going to be worth my daughter's dignity." READ MORE
In Defense of People Who Need Caregivers: Disability Should Not Erase Dignity
Parents of kids with disabilities have an immense presence on the Internet. Not a day goes by during which I don't come across stories from their perspectives, often sharing the experiences of caregiving for their children. Some articles are filled with celebration, and others are written so that parents can commiserate with people who "get it." And I understand that. Anyone can attest to the fact that being a parent is the world's toughest job, and when a child has a disability, there's no doubt that a whole host of additional child-rearing challenges are involved. I know my mom and dad would be the first to agree that having a kid with a disability isn't always a cakewalk. READ MORE
Parents of kids with disabilities have an immense presence on the Internet. Not a day goes by during which I don't come across stories from their perspectives, often sharing the experiences of caregiving for their children. Some articles are filled with celebration, and others are written so that parents can commiserate with people who "get it." And I understand that. Anyone can attest to the fact that being a parent is the world's toughest job, and when a child has a disability, there's no doubt that a whole host of additional child-rearing challenges are involved. I know my mom and dad would be the first to agree that having a kid with a disability isn't always a cakewalk. READ MORE
CELEBRATION
Autistic Pride
by Amy Sequenzia
I am proud of being Autistic
And of my Autistic friends
I am proud of young Autistics
Who have Autistic pride
They amaze me
I am proud of young Autistics
Who are discovering themselves
They are learning to understand the world
Through creative Autistic eyes... READ MORE
by Amy Sequenzia
I am proud of being Autistic
And of my Autistic friends
I am proud of young Autistics
Who have Autistic pride
They amaze me
I am proud of young Autistics
Who are discovering themselves
They are learning to understand the world
Through creative Autistic eyes... READ MORE
Letters to Autistic Kids
Letters To Autistic Kids was just invented by Kerima Cevik because of Henry writing to Mu. She asked us to make it happen, and Emma immediately responded.
Are you an Autistic kid yourself, or did you used to be? Have something to share with others? Comment on one of the posts of other letters, any of them, and put the name you want to have on your letter when it will be published. Or, you can send letters directly through the Letter Box, above. READ MORE
Letters To Autistic Kids was just invented by Kerima Cevik because of Henry writing to Mu. She asked us to make it happen, and Emma immediately responded.
Are you an Autistic kid yourself, or did you used to be? Have something to share with others? Comment on one of the posts of other letters, any of them, and put the name you want to have on your letter when it will be published. Or, you can send letters directly through the Letter Box, above. READ MORE
How to Be An Ally
The video below isn't specifically related to autism, but is all about acceptance - the pain of living without it, the joy of having it. I found it moving and wanted to share it.
