10 things autistic people wish their neurotypical allies knew going into April
So April is the month that we recognize autistic people. What maybe you didn’t know, is that autistic people often dislike the idea of autism awareness and would prefer autism acceptance. Many autistic people dread the month of April and some images like the puzzle piece and the color blue that have been used as ways to categorize autistic people. This month, we would like to share the top 10 things Autistic People Want You to Know About how they feel about “Autism Awareness Month” (from autistic.com, by Terra Vance).
1. We really don’t want or need awareness.
To most non-autistic people, awareness of autism is to be aware of a disease, to regard it with a somber recognition of how serious a problem autism is and how fervently a cure is needed. Instead, it means that the world comes together to talk about the tragedy of autism. Autistic folks would prefer to be accepted.
2. Most of us do not want a cure.
The vast majority of autistic adults do not want a cure, nor do they see autism as a disease. It is simply their way of existing, perceiving, and being. Autism is inextricable from the identity and perception of the autistic person, and a “cure” would mean to erase from them what is their core self and what their divergent minds can contribute to society. Many of us are quite proud to be autistic.
3. We wish you’d see us outside of the medical disability model.
The medical model pathologizes our innate traits. We may develop on a different curve, have different strengths and weaknesses, and relate differently from the majority of the population, but those traits aren’t inherently negative. In order to be characterized as a “disorder,” a condition must impair a person’s quality of life.
For this reason, autistic innate traits are described in the medical model of autism in the most negative language because they are not how “most people” are. For example, we express empathy differently, but a lack of eye contact or not responding with verbal expressions of emotional solidarity does not mean we lack empathy. We show it in different ways, which may mean that neurotypicals misinterpret it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not profoundly felt. The medical model would portray autistic empathy as deficient.
4. We are extremely offended by puzzle pieces, “Light it up blue,” and Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks has dominated the world’s narrative about autism. They are a fundraising monolith, and their information distribution campaigns rank at the top of search engine results around the internet. The focus of their campaign was originally to scare the world into realizing how important it was to find a cure and eradicate autism… and to implicate vaccines as the culprit. They have continued to deny autistic perspectives, and only a minuscule portion of their many millions in donations actually goes to helping autistic people (often less than 1%).
Essentially, donations go to marketing puzzle piece propaganda and the international “brand” Autism Speaks has created. They are responsible for the “Light it up blue” campaigns. For a more detailed breakdown and alternative charities to support, click here. We ask that you share autistic-authored posts and articles in April and hashtag them #redinstead as a counter to Autism Speaks.
5. We prefer identity-first language over person-first language.
This is an important one. We prefer to be called “autistic” (identity-first) over a “person with autism” (person-first). You may have heard that it’s more respectful to use person-first language, but that only applies to communities that prefer to be separated from their diagnoses. Autism does define us and is inseparable from our identity. It is not shameful or embarrassing to be autistic.
6. We are great at self-advocating, and we wish you’d learn about autism from autistic people.
There are thousands of blogs, websites, organizations, and informational resources out there produced and managed by autistics. The autistic community is a thriving, tight-knit juggernaut of change and advocacy, and they uplift other marginalized populations by focusing on intersectional human rights outside of the neurodiversity paradigm.
They’re fierce defenders of children and dedicated scholars and researchers. They can be found on social media by searching the hashtag #actuallyautistic. You can find some of the most insightful, relatable, and informative posts on NeuroClastic.com
7. Autism doesn’t end at age 18.
Most people tend to think of autism as a childhood disorder, but an autistic person is autistic every day of his or her life. We prefer the word “neurotype” over disorder, while you’re at it.
8. Function labels are deeply offensive and inaccurate.
When someone is autistic, it has been socially acceptable to comment on how high- or low-functioning they are. The truth is, autism is invisible, and a person’s struggles cannot be measured by how a person seems to be performing. Often, “function” comes at great price to the autistic person, meaning that they have to hide or “mask” their innate traits and behaviors to appear more “normal.” You can read all about function labels by clicking here.
9. Autistic adults are the “severe” kids you think we are nothing like.
Many of us, as adults, were the nonspeaking or unreliably speaking children you think are vastly different from the adults you see online. For example, I was not able to read fluently until 5th grade. In my second grade class, the readers were grouped by bird names. The top readers were hawks and eagles. Middle readers were blue jays and cardinals. I was the only crow at the bottom of my class.
Adults, though, have the ability to preserve their own dignity and autonomy by controlling how much the world knows about their weaknesses and struggles. There are linguists and writers who rarely, if ever, spoke a word in school. There are professionals who wear incontinence pads daily because they never were able to gain full control of their bladder.
Those who are nonspeaking can often type or communicate other ways. Many of us still struggle with meltdowns, but we are able to accommodate for our own needs as adults and control how much others know about our struggles. And, just like everyone else, we keep our most private moments private.
10. We can’t do it without neurotypical allies. Until organizations like Autism Speaks no longer monopolize the discussion about autism, autistic people will never be given a voice and room to speak about autism. Advances in behavioral and medical science, therapies, accommodations, social understanding, and disability rights are being stalled or halted by these “awareness” organizations which cause tremendous harm to autistic people. Until our allies stop supporting and trumpeting these organizations, our uphill battles are punctuated with bigger and more pressing obstacles than we should have to mount on our own. Autistic people need neurotypical allies to be more than just aware of autism, but to accept our differences and see our strengths and weaknesses as unique to the individual. We need your help to find our way into the conversation about autism, which means sharing articles by autistic people and supporting autistic organizations. We need employers and schools to accommodate for our neurological profiles, and individuals to understand how we relate differently.
So, let’s make April “Autism Acceptance Month” and shift the focus to autistic people as thinking, feeling, valuable human beings capable of speaking for themselves and their children. By reading this article, written by an autistic person, you’re off to a great start as an ally. Sharing it would be an even better gesture of Solidarity, and remember to tag @NeuroClastic on social media and hashtag #redinstead so we can see how far our allies have carried our voices.
