I want to say that I speak for myself concerning my neurology and how I communicate.
I want to say that if you want to show the benefits of AAC, you should ask AAC users and not their parents or self-important “experts”.
I want to say that you might have chosen to forget that AAC gives me a voice you cannot ignore but I will not be silenced.
I want to say that, once again, you are wrong. AAC does not make me look more “normal”. I am not your definition of normal. I don’t want to be what you call normal. I am, and will always be, a proud Autistic, very distinguishable from my peers.
I want to talk about Autism Acceptance again. I want to talk about Autism Acceptance because soon we will be, again, referred to as tragedies, burdens, afflictions. This will go on, more than usual, for the whole month of April.
April is the month chosen by non-autistics to raise “awareness” about our existence. But most of the conversation does not include us, autistics, and the outcomes of such conversations do not improve our lives.
Autism “Awareness” Month is a frustrating and sad month for Autistics, because it excludes us, while portraying us in a negative way.
It has become a “war cry” for advocacy organizations. But it has become damaging to us.
There are myths and misconceptions that get talked over and over without our voices to educate the public:
Autistic Advocates to Testify at Congressional Hearing
Addressing concerns about representation of autistic women:
Many of you have contacted Autism Women’s Network with concerns that autistic women were not invited to testify before the Nov. 29, 2012 House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to speak in behalf of their unique needs.
First, please understand that initially no autistic people were even invited until yesterday, and this late-hour invitation came about only after the onset of social media protests along with ASAN’s petition about the exclusion of autistic input. At this point, we are grateful that the Autistic community will indeed be present at the Hearing with Michael John Carley of Grasp and Ari Ne’eman of Autistic Self Advocacy Network to speak about the needs of all autistic people.
Safety Skills for Asperger Women: How to Save a Perfectly Good Female Life
Written by Liane Holliday Willey
The really tough parts of Asperger syndrome are obviously the most difficult to talk about, but if we don't... if we pretend life with AS is all jolly and cheer-filled, then we set ourselves up for certain failure.
This book was exceptionally hard for me to write because it shows my vulnerability and because it made me remember things I wish I could forget; things I wish never happened. Nevertheless, I am glad...
Autistics Speaking Day 2012: Two Years Since it all Began
Autistic Self Advocates, Loud and Proud
Written by Sharon daVanport
Has it really been two years since it all began? Yes! It seems like only yesterday when autistic self-advocates Kathryn Bjornstad-Kelly, ASAN Communications Assistant, and Corina Becker, Vice-President of Autism Women's Network first proposed a day for people on the autism spectrum to counter a Communications Shutdown on Twitter and Facebook.
Communications Shutdown was proposed by a group in Australia as a day to stop online communications in order for non-autistic people to understand the communication challenges of people on the autism spectrum; sort of like asking others to walk in the shoes of an autistic person for a day.
My son Leo has passed the eleven and a half years mark. I feel like I'm finally hitting my stride as an autism parent, in terms of accepting Leo on his own terms, and not giving a damn about the imaginary "easier" alternate reality society thinks I'm supposed to pine after. This means I think a lot about the information and attitudes I'd have wanted to jack, Neuromancer-style, straight into my brain eight years ago so I could instantly be the parent Leo needed me to be.
Nearly one week has passed since you, Mr. Scarborough, made the false and unsupportable claim that most people who commit the kind of violence seen in Aurora, Colorado are on the autism spectrum.
Your statement was both prejudicial and factually incorrect. Not a single mass murderer has ever been diagnosed with autism. Not one. Moreover, there is no evidence linking autism to premeditated, criminal violence. Absolutely none.
The ACI Summer Institute is a week-long training for Autistic college students. The training is meant to prepare students to engage in self-advocacy and pro-neurodiversity activism on their college campuses.