"I’ve stopped saying I ‘have Autism’ – being autistic is brilliant, not a burden"

I aim for a realistic optimism.  

I'm autistic, and it's hard and exhausting, but I wouldn't change it.  Possibly because I'm autistic and resustabt to chsnge! 

It's given me so many negative experiences to deal with, but those experiences have made me stronger and more compassionate.  I've felt much better about myself since rejecting the influence of social constructs to be more authentically myself, though it's taken a while to work out who that is.  

One thing I have heard when the idea of neurodiversity is discussed in the news is that it is only the verbal, "high functioning" (ugh I hate that phrase) who are promiting the idea of neurodiversity, and that "obviously it can't possibly extend to those who are non-verbal or need some support."  This is, quite frankly, b*ll*cks.  

The people saying this have clearly never read Amy Sequenzia.  She is multiply disabled, non-verbal, and writes amazing and passionate work on accessibility by typing, which takes her much longer but is her communication method.  Honestly, Google her because it's quite the read.

All people are important and valuable to society, no matter what their abilities.  All people deserve respect.  I've worked in day centres and care homes and seen the infantalising and dehumanising that can occur.  They don't look closely enough to see or understand how alternate communication happens.  I have stories.

But I believe that embracing neurodiversity means embracing everyone, even the ones who require more effort to understand.  Because even though some of us have often been made to feel lesser, we're all human.

I aim for a realistic optimism.  

I'm autistic, and it's hard and exhausting, but I wouldn't change it.  Possibly because I'm autistic and resustabt to chsnge! 

It's given me so many negative experiences to deal with, but those experiences have made me stronger and more compassionate.  I've felt much better about myself since rejecting the influence of social constructs to be more authentically myself, though it's taken a while to work out who that is.  

One thing I have heard when the idea of neurodiversity is discussed in the news is that it is only the verbal, "high functioning" (ugh I hate that phrase) who are promiting the idea of neurodiversity, and that "obviously it can't possibly extend to those who are non-verbal or need some support."  This is, quite frankly, b*ll*cks.  

The people saying this have clearly never read Amy Sequenzia.  She is multiply disabled, non-verbal, and writes amazing and passionate work on accessibility by typing, which takes her much longer but is her communication method.  Honestly, Google her because it's quite the read.

All people are important and valuable to society, no matter what their abilities.  All people deserve respect.  I've worked in day centres and care homes and seen the infantalising and dehumanising that can occur.  They don't look closely enough to see or understand how alternate communication happens.  I have stories.

But I believe that embracing neurodiversity means embracing everyone, even the ones who require more effort to understand.  Because even though some of us have often been made to feel lesser, we're all human.

Glitter said:

All people deserve respect

Not always. Taking a personal example: (of course) 

Maqui brings me a huge pigeon with a ring on it's foot in the living room one day, and carefully transfers the completely unharmed (as he knew I liked my presents) bird from mouth to floor in front of me securing it with a paw as he looks up at me with a look of magnanimity upon his (very expressive) little face.

I reach down for it and he withdraws the paw, but I fumble my part allowing the pigeon a few milliseconds to leap from my imperfect grip and fly into the bay window. 

Maqui gave me a look that could ONLY be interpreted as "you fecking eejit" and stalked off, leaving me to sort my mess out.

Transitory or very specific disrespect E.G. for "sustained & wilful incompetence" has a place in civil and friendly life I feel. 

Very well said.