Inclusive Language

We are neurodivergent not disordered or disabled.

Agreed. Disabled or disorder has been used for too long now due to the whole it makes people think that we need to be fixed when we don’t. We just need to be accepted, included and accommodated to just like a blind person or a person in a wheelchair.

Absolutely! We have different needs due to being neurodivergent.

I disagree, I don't think a lot of "straight" people do know what LGBTQI means, maybe it's an age thing, but there are lots of people my age who make outrageous assumptions about what it is. Similarly I think they make assumptions about ND people, I've had people say things to me like, 'but you are normal, arn't you?', that made me feel like I'd escaped from a zoo or something. I think part of the problem for older people accepting differences is that years ago, parents were encouraged to place "disabled" babies and children in "homes" and forget about them, we were encouraged to pity people with any disability, people were bad if they misbehaved, especially children and we were encouraged to shun them. Lesbians were women who couldn't "get a man", and gay men were criminals and transvestites were comedians like Larry Grayson. A school friend was misidentified as a boy when born, it was only discovered that she was female a few days later, at that time if doctors were unsure of the sax of a baby they told the parents to basically pick a sex and raise them as that.

There ar still a lot of people who think that ND people are making a fuss and should behave ourselves and learn to be "normal", which is why I make the comparisson.

Made me chuckle, also reminds me that it's autism awareness week next week apparently, my work are making a thing about it. 

I find it funny that most of us have tried to hide/mask most of our lives ,  we get an awareness week, almost as funny as when they set up social events to allow us to get together and talk.  like getting  arachnophobic people tickets  to a spider petting session.

All I'm trying to say is that I don't think autistic people receive that kind of prejudice.

Good point.

I'm not sure that's true. You just have to listen to any homophobic or transphobic person or group and the ignorance about what these people are is in full view. If "I think about two guys kissing and it makes me go ew" was enough for these people to decide they don't like it, they wouldn't spend so much time talking about how gay people can't be trusted around children or trans people are indoctrinating schools. 

Whatever knowledge people have of any group they're prejudiced (or not) about is skin deep, if that. It's easy to see autistic people as this deep ocean because it's where we live, while seeing other groups as some monoculture that's easily understood by outsiders. 

Exactly 

Amerantin (former member) said:

In the case of autism, the vast majority of people really don’t have the slightest idea what it is. None of the people I have disclosed to have reacted badly although some are non-plussed because they don’t really know what it means.

Yes I understand what you mean we are sometimes discriminated against due to lack of accurate knowledge or understanding whereas for the LGBTQIA+ discrimination stems from a refusal to accept the diversity of both gender identity and sexuality.

That’s a shame.

TheCatWoman said:

Maybe thinking along the same lines as other traditionally ill treated groups such as the LBTQT is more helpful?

I’m not sure it’s the same though. People with prejudice against LGBTQ+ know what it is, what the people are, and have decided they don’t like it.

In the case of autism, the vast majority of people really don’t have the slightest idea what it is. None of the people I have disclosed to have reacted badly although some are non-plussed because they don’t really know what it means.

I think basically what I’m saying is LGBTQ+ people face prejudice but I don’t think autistic people do in the same way.

I doubt if there will be any round here or if there are they will be done by the group thats allegedly there to help autistic adults.

No but you can celebrate in whichever way you wish!

For example there will be numerous events happening across the UK such as the Autistic Pride Fair by Autistic Inclusive Meets.

Autistic Pride! Do we have to parade through the streets having a carnival? lol,

TheCatWoman said:

Maybe thinking along the same lines as other traditionally ill treated groups such as the LBTQT is more helpful?

Absolutely! Completely agree, there are so many similarities between both communities and also there is a huge overlap in both minority groups. For example, it’s very common for us autistics to also be a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

TheCatWoman said:

I've always found that sub-groups have been much more accepting of pretty much any difference, they may not have been discriminated against in the same way as us, but they do understand not being allowed to be your real self in everyday life and hainvg to mask in a different way for the comfort of family, school or work.

Yes I agree too, I suppose because dressing or presenting in alternative ways such as gothic style is a way of questioning and refusing to conform to’ neuro normative expectations. To some extent I think that dressing in alternative ways is much more acceptable for neuro normative society than being openly autistic. Maybe a form of masking for gothic culture is feeling forced to wear plainer clothing or no makeup for example.

TheCatWoman said:

I think I'm enabled by autism too, I'm sure there are things I can do and accept in others that if I were NT I would struggle with. On the whole I think it's made me a better and nicer person, because I've had to do a lot of thinking and work on myself and not just accept the norms put in front of me.

That’s great! I am so glad you feel this way too! I think the fact that I am autistic makes me much more accepting of differences in general regardless of what form they may take. It makes us question everything and often that can lead to positive change!

By the way, in case you didn’t already know Autistic Pride Day is on June 18.

I agree that neurodivergence isn't a disability as such, what disables us is the way in which society treats us. I don't think it helps NT's either they're not all the same and yet they're treated as if they are. Maybe thinking along the same lines as other traditionally ill treated groups such as the LBTQT is more helpful? I wish there were better terms to describe us, that wern't such a mouthful to say or type.

One of the things that always strikes me, especially reading posts on here, is how few people seem to have explored sub-groups, like goths or hippy's for example. I've always found that sub-groups have been much more accepting of pretty much any difference, they may not have been discriminated against in the same way as us, but they do understand not being allowed to be your real self in everyday life and hainvg to mask in a different way for the comfort of family, school or work.

I think I'm enabled by autism too, I'm sure there are things I can do and accept in others that if I were NT I would struggle with. On the whole I think it's made me a better and nicer person, because I've had to do a lot of thinking and work on myself and not just accept the norms put in front of me.

I agree that neurodivergence isn't a disability as such, what disables us is the way in which society treats us. I don't think it helps NT's either they're not all the same and yet they're treated as if they are. Maybe thinking along the same lines as other traditionally ill treated groups such as the LBTQT is more helpful? I wish there were better terms to describe us, that wern't such a mouthful to say or type.

One of the things that always strikes me, especially reading posts on here, is how few people seem to have explored sub-groups, like goths or hippy's for example. I've always found that sub-groups have been much more accepting of pretty much any difference, they may not have been discriminated against in the same way as us, but they do understand not being allowed to be your real self in everyday life and hainvg to mask in a different way for the comfort of family, school or work.

I think I'm enabled by autism too, I'm sure there are things I can do and accept in others that if I were NT I would struggle with. On the whole I think it's made me a better and nicer person, because I've had to do a lot of thinking and work on myself and not just accept the norms put in front of me.

I disagree, I don't think a lot of "straight" people do know what LGBTQI means, maybe it's an age thing, but there are lots of people my age who make outrageous assumptions about what it is. Similarly I think they make assumptions about ND people, I've had people say things to me like, 'but you are normal, arn't you?', that made me feel like I'd escaped from a zoo or something. I think part of the problem for older people accepting differences is that years ago, parents were encouraged to place "disabled" babies and children in "homes" and forget about them, we were encouraged to pity people with any disability, people were bad if they misbehaved, especially children and we were encouraged to shun them. Lesbians were women who couldn't "get a man", and gay men were criminals and transvestites were comedians like Larry Grayson. A school friend was misidentified as a boy when born, it was only discovered that she was female a few days later, at that time if doctors were unsure of the sax of a baby they told the parents to basically pick a sex and raise them as that.

There ar still a lot of people who think that ND people are making a fuss and should behave ourselves and learn to be "normal", which is why I make the comparisson.

Made me chuckle, also reminds me that it's autism awareness week next week apparently, my work are making a thing about it. 

I find it funny that most of us have tried to hide/mask most of our lives ,  we get an awareness week, almost as funny as when they set up social events to allow us to get together and talk.  like getting  arachnophobic people tickets  to a spider petting session.

All I'm trying to say is that I don't think autistic people receive that kind of prejudice.

Good point.

I'm not sure that's true. You just have to listen to any homophobic or transphobic person or group and the ignorance about what these people are is in full view. If "I think about two guys kissing and it makes me go ew" was enough for these people to decide they don't like it, they wouldn't spend so much time talking about how gay people can't be trusted around children or trans people are indoctrinating schools. 

Whatever knowledge people have of any group they're prejudiced (or not) about is skin deep, if that. It's easy to see autistic people as this deep ocean because it's where we live, while seeing other groups as some monoculture that's easily understood by outsiders. 

Exactly 

Amerantin (former member) said:

In the case of autism, the vast majority of people really don’t have the slightest idea what it is. None of the people I have disclosed to have reacted badly although some are non-plussed because they don’t really know what it means.

Yes I understand what you mean we are sometimes discriminated against due to lack of accurate knowledge or understanding whereas for the LGBTQIA+ discrimination stems from a refusal to accept the diversity of both gender identity and sexuality.

That’s a shame.

TheCatWoman said:

Maybe thinking along the same lines as other traditionally ill treated groups such as the LBTQT is more helpful?

I’m not sure it’s the same though. People with prejudice against LGBTQ+ know what it is, what the people are, and have decided they don’t like it.

In the case of autism, the vast majority of people really don’t have the slightest idea what it is. None of the people I have disclosed to have reacted badly although some are non-plussed because they don’t really know what it means.

I think basically what I’m saying is LGBTQ+ people face prejudice but I don’t think autistic people do in the same way.

I doubt if there will be any round here or if there are they will be done by the group thats allegedly there to help autistic adults.

No but you can celebrate in whichever way you wish!

For example there will be numerous events happening across the UK such as the Autistic Pride Fair by Autistic Inclusive Meets.

Autistic Pride! Do we have to parade through the streets having a carnival? lol,

TheCatWoman said:

Maybe thinking along the same lines as other traditionally ill treated groups such as the LBTQT is more helpful?

Absolutely! Completely agree, there are so many similarities between both communities and also there is a huge overlap in both minority groups. For example, it’s very common for us autistics to also be a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

TheCatWoman said:

I've always found that sub-groups have been much more accepting of pretty much any difference, they may not have been discriminated against in the same way as us, but they do understand not being allowed to be your real self in everyday life and hainvg to mask in a different way for the comfort of family, school or work.

Yes I agree too, I suppose because dressing or presenting in alternative ways such as gothic style is a way of questioning and refusing to conform to’ neuro normative expectations. To some extent I think that dressing in alternative ways is much more acceptable for neuro normative society than being openly autistic. Maybe a form of masking for gothic culture is feeling forced to wear plainer clothing or no makeup for example.

TheCatWoman said:

I think I'm enabled by autism too, I'm sure there are things I can do and accept in others that if I were NT I would struggle with. On the whole I think it's made me a better and nicer person, because I've had to do a lot of thinking and work on myself and not just accept the norms put in front of me.

That’s great! I am so glad you feel this way too! I think the fact that I am autistic makes me much more accepting of differences in general regardless of what form they may take. It makes us question everything and often that can lead to positive change!

By the way, in case you didn’t already know Autistic Pride Day is on June 18.