Published on 12, July, 2020
The week commencing 27 March is the designated 'Autism Awareness Week'.
Looking at the NAS articles, it seems to be all about fundraising, about baking cakes, going for a walk or holding a sponsored event. All very worthy, I am sure.
But aren't we missing something really important. The slogan is 'until everyone understands'. And what will everyone understand about autism if we just bake cakes or go for a walk? That there is a condition called 'autism'. That those who are autistic can bake cakes?
'Autism awareness week' should surely be an opportunity we should all use to state our case. Anyone who has been touched by autism, from parents and carers, relations, and those who are autistic themselves - should get involved in awareness where it really counts.
And that is by contacting the newspapers, writing letters to the media, writing to our MPs, lobbying parliament, writing to local councillors, and organising campaigns where the real issues relating to autism are stated. Issues such as lack of available diagnoses for adults, the waiting time for a diagnosis, the real lack of anything having been done under the 'Autism Strategy', the fact that NHS trusts do not offer any help at all to adults who may be on the spectrum. Many MPs are on Twitter and Facebook, we could message and tweet them. Get the broadcasters, local radio especially, interested in our cause. Write an article or letter for the local newspaper on the difficulties we face in everyday life, barriers put up not by us but by the attitude of others. This is surely as important as any amount of fundraising in raising awareness.
Daily I see discussions on this forum about problems autistic people and their carers are having with authority, funds being cut, barrers put in our way. And if we also let a wide audience know of these difficulties some of this may just begin to make others understand. Some seed may fall on stony ground, but if we all did communicate our issues to the media, our lawmakers, our local councillors then maybe, just maybe, we would begin to open a few doors in the barriers that are put in our way.
But how many of us will do this?
Just remembering my post from way back, as usual not much has changed.
The 'Autism Debate' was a nod in the right direction. I wonder how many who invited their MP got a response? I haven't had one yet, but being Harry Hopeful perhaps one will arrive soon. Unfortunately the debate happened just as something about Europe was being discussed so MPs would have had other things on their mind....
Over the last year there has been some headway made in making people aware of autism. Such things as the CEASE therapy being prevented from advertising and having action taken to prevent their totally misrepresenting autism and so called 'cures' are certainly a start. But also there has been awareness made of treatment of autistic people in care homes. However I think that real awareness of autism is still not there, not least because neurotypicals still think of it as a mental health condition.
The walk might be have positive results but only if it makes the news. And there probably won't be enough participants to make more than a line in a local newspaper. There is also a problem that many autistic people who have an aversion to crowds would not take part.
So Autism Awareness should be more than baking cakes (although I like the idea of putting slogans on cakes, why can't Greggs or someone get involved in baking some Autism Slogan Cakes for sale during the week and making a donation?). Letters and press releases should be written to newspapers, together with real stories, MPs should be lobbied, and a high profile campaigns should be adopted. Facepack, Twigger, and other social media should be used for spreading information (I'm sure we could have some good points to spread to th masses) And as Clovis said last year (2018) it should be a celebration of Autism, with autistic people displaying their creative, artistic, scientific, technical and other talents in the media for all to see. Perhaps Autism Has Talent ... and not just a Variety Entertainment Show but something which really shows how autism has 'changed the world'.
And this should be 'for life' not just for April Fool's week. And I am sure there is not really a connection there ... or is there?.
I'm getting fed up with this Autism awareness week. It's a 'fluff' type celebration used as a facade by the NAS to cover the fact that they provide next to no services for large numbers of people that they are supposed to be representing.
The cakes are all lies but the NAS could probably sue for defamation anybody who dares to write the truth on them in icing.
Yep. Although I work for a large foundation that caters for people with all kinds of disabilities (physical and learning), including a few people with autism, the general understanding among staff of the condition is very poor. Even one of our trainers believes that having Asperger's means that a person is 'highly autistic'. So I've produced an A5 leaflet - 'What is Autism?' - which gives a basic introduction to the condition, and the issues that autistic people have. I've also got a page of 'Facts, Figures and Myths' which covers stuff like education, social interaction, availability of support, and so on. I've used it to challenge a lot of the stereotypes and the 'lack of empathy', 'anti-social', 'mental health', 'everyone's a bit autistic', 'vaccinations' and 'cures' nonsense. I'll give copies to all of my colleagues. I think most people are genuinely interested, so it could prove useful. I'll see. Several of my colleagues have openly said they would like to know more.
I'll also make it known to people that I'm happy to answer any questions they may have.
As you say, it should be a celebration of autism.