April is Autism Awareness Month.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.My son's teacher emailed me and asked me to have him wear blue tomorrow for "Autism Awareness." My response is below.
I’m sorry, but many (possibly most) Autistic people prefer the idea of Autism Acceptance, which benefits us by making the world a safer and more supportive place for us. Autism Awareness benefits parents who believe we should be "cured" because we “suffer” from autism.
Frankly, our biggest challenge is in navigating a world that wants to change who we are when we just want to be respected and treated as equals (ALL Autistic people - those who use verbal communication and those who do not).
Blue is the color of Autism Speaks. While they now have included two Autistic people on their board, they have never apologized to our community for the years of abuse and not much has changed with them. Many of us boycott them.
Also, we do not use the puzzle piece as a symbol of our community. We are people, not puzzles and a study actually showed that symbol created lower expectations and a negative reaction in people. I would be happy to talk to you about this more and provide you with lots of information and links to support all I have just shared.
But my son will not wear blue tomorrow. Autism Speaks does not speak for us. We need acceptance, not awareness. We are not part of a "tragic epidemic." We have always been here. We have different strengths and challenges, but the biggest challenge is lack of understanding.
UPDATE: She called me and we had a great talk. (Until I started not being able to speak fluently) I know that she respects my son and recognizes his potential and his wonderful mind and personality. It was the school that wanted her to request it. I recommended that they consider doing something more meaningful and helpful, (and less painful to Autistic people), like a screening of the film Deej, or better yet, having Deej Savarese himself come and address the students.
--Nadine Silber
TaraMarshall
Level 7
Apr 4, 2018
1
This is the first I've ever heard of this. So, yes, I would like more information. You can post it here or PM me.
Like I said earlier, "any news is good news." I mean, we have various cancer awareness months and stuff like that. At least it brings the topic of autism to the forefront of people's minds.
@Melbates, awareness of the Autism $peaks variety kills us. There's always an uptick in killings of Autistic people after they release another ghastly infomercial.
@TaraMarshall I wasn't aware.
@Melbates, that's the big problem with tragedy messaging. It devalues our lives.
@TaraMarshall Do you have the extra info?
@Melbates, spoiled for choices, only almost every Autistic and ASAN have statements on the subject.
[boycottautismspeaks.wordpress.com]
I'm tired of awareness. Most people know that Autism exists and have a stereotype or two in mind. It doesn't help Autistic people.
TaraMarshall
Level 7
Apr 4, 2018
0
I know, honey. But, I look at it with the "any news is good news" kind of mindset.
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