What does autism acceptance mean to you?
What does autism acceptance mean to you?
Celebrating what it means to be amazingly autistic, communicating our autistic needs/profile to others and for our many facets of autistic experience to be understood. Embrace the stim in whatever form that may take!
Happy stimming!
Happy Autistic April! (I do realise that I am a few days early with my eager enthusiasm!)
In case you are interested, here is a video about why Autism Acceptance April and why it should be changed to Autistic August instead - the clue is in the first 2 letters of the month August;
"Adjustments" part got me. 100%. "With adjustments you too can fit this round hole"
"What do you mean you aren't a peg?"
For me it is about normalising difference.
The representation of autism in media has meant that stereotypes exist. But these are damaging to not only those on the spectrum but also the opinions and prejudices of those in society who remain ignorant to what autism really is. The programmes Chris Packham has led in the past few years are starting to help that, not to mention TED talks and similar productions that open up the normality and prevalence of those functioning aspies who have been able to do amazing things.
Given how hugely underdiagnosed autism is I would argue that everyone knows a few people on the spectrum, but unless they screen in schools and expand diagnostic testing then we will never really know how many people have slipped under the radar.
Once diagnosed, it is quite alarming how little support there is! You are told this life-changing news which for many, including myself, triggers an identity crisis and reframing of the self which shouldn't be underestimated to how difficult that is to navigate.
Given the extremely high rates of unemployment amongst aspies as well as the high rates of suicide, I think there is clear evidence that the system is unsupportive.
Working is entirely possible in most cases, but not under the rules and demands of capitalist industry - which many NT people struggle to maintain. If companies offered much more flexibility with regard to working conditions, but also, time. There is full-time, part-time (which is hard to find), or then freelance work. Often unsecured and unprotected positions. After 15 years of doing a mixture of these I can tell you that even the biggest of companies who promote inclusivity really aren't adhering to their PR principles.
MUCH MUCH MORE work needs doing. Government should mandate inclusivity in the workplace and demand alternate working schedules and condition are given, not just require 'appropriate adjustments' to a system setup for an entirely different neurological type is tweaked slightly.
Personally, I just wish to get on with my life. I don't need a special day, I think of the Nurse Gollum episode of South Park.
There's a huge need to have World Festivities, on a certain week or day, for what not. It's ego-driven, in my eyes.
I'm happy being me.
Happy World Autism Acceptance Week all.
Here's to building a better world for us all now and for future generations of autistic men, women and children.
I think acceptance for me is about people understanding or at least listening when you say you're autistic so that we're included and not disadvantaged.
I'm newly diagnosed (Jan), I decided this week I'm going to post on FB one of the 5 things from the previous NAS too much information campaign and explain what that means for me. I'm hoping it will help my friends understand and be more accepting of others as well. My main worry is they might think I'm oversharing.
One thing I will say, from what I've read here, is that autism needs to be about the older people as well as the young. I'm one of a few younger members here and a lot of older people come here feeling like they don't belong because autism is a "young person's" diagnosis. The world needs to know it affects all people of all ages.
One thing it should have meant was the national organisation/charity I volunteered for engaging and communicating with me in ways I could handle and use and understand, they weren’t and then wouldn’t accept the official recommendations from my NHS autism assessor for reasonable adjustments. It has been so incredibly sad and in the end understanding that it isn’t a battle I can win I resigned, just a few days ago actually. It is such an irony too that they think they are so inclusive and onboard with neurodiversity, but it’s just tokenism, it’s a big loss in my life. Some of you may know from my previous posts the name of the organisation but it would probably be best if we didn’t publicly name them.
