Tag: autism spectrum

autisticfandomthings:

The way neurotypical scientists frame autistic behavior is so fucked up. 

Autistic people tend to talk enthusiastically, and at length about the things we love. You can frame this in one of two ways

“Autistic people show a strong desire to share the things they love with those around them”

Or

“Autistic people are self-centered, obsessive and unaware of other people, and show no desire to have reciprocal conversation”

And, guess which one the neurotypical scientists go for? 

Autism isn’t something a person has, or a “shell” that a person is trapped inside. There’s no normal child hidden behind the autism. Autism is a way of being. It is pervasive; it colors every experience, every sensation, perception, thought, emotion, and encounter, every aspect of existence. It is not possible to separate the autism from the person—and if it were possible, the person you’d have left would not be the same person you started with.

This is important, so take a moment to consider it: Autism is a way of being. It is not possible to separate the person from the autism.

Therefore, when parents say,

I wish my child did not have autism,

what they’re really saying is,

I wish the autistic child I have did not exist, and I had a different (non-autistic) child instead.

Read that again. This is what we hear when you mourn over our existence. This is what we hear when you pray for a cure. This is what we know, when you tell us of your fondest hopes and dreams for us: that your greatest wish is that one day we will cease to be, and strangers you can love will move in behind our faces.

Jim Sinclair, “Don’t Mourn For Us” x (via andrandiriel)

(spooky: i was mulling over this today in the context of asd versus personality disorders & constructs.)

silversarcasm:

It’s April!

Whilst I’m sure you all mean well, please remember not to support or donate to Autism Speaks this month (or any month for that matter) as they are a terrible organisation who hurt the autistic community

Instead I recommend actually taking time to look at writing from autistic people and learn from them and, if you really want to help and donate, consider ASAN instead

Thank you xx