Today is “World Autism Awareness Day.” While I think awareness is important, I ask you, as a Autistic mom to Autistic and non-Autistic kids: What value is awareness without acceptance? We have been “aware” of HIV for decades and yet people still choose to fear and stigmatize those living with it (case in point: HIV …
I don’t want your autism awareness; I want autism acceptance. Read More »
Dear “autism community,” especially autism parents, Far too frequently the perspectives and experiences of autistic adults are dismissed by autism parents. Not by all parents, of course, but too many. We are told that we are “too high functioning” to understand what you are “dealing with.” We are told that we cannot understand the “severe …
(This post also appears on the “Respectfully Connected: Journeys in Parenting and Neurodivergence” blog HERE.) As much as I can, I avoid those types of offices when my younger children are with me. You know the type: quiet, sterile, not child friendly. Offices where food, drinks, and/or electronic devices are not allowed and where a security …
(This is also cross-posted on the Autism Women’s Network blog, available HERE.) Long before the day we received a formal autism diagnosis, I already knew my daughter was Autistic. However, I hadn’t picked it up at first – not because the signs weren’t there, because they were, but because I didn’t see anything problematic in …
Autism, Therapies and Acceptance: A Mother’s Perspective Read More »
(To learn about what “Autistics Speaking Day” is, click here.) This is my very first Autistic Speaking Day! And true to form, I’m writing this in the evening, the day of (it’s all about that time agnosia). I have no idea if it will be able to be included, but I’ll try anyway.) 😉 Several months …
Speaking Truth to Power: Autistics Speaking Day! Read More »
This is autism. A world where we are defined as a list of “deficits” and “problems” needing to be overcome. This is autism. A world where our killers can be showered with sympathy and compassion for having had to endure a life with us. This is autism. Incessant fatigue created by having to navigate societies …
I’m so freaking tired of people throwing around functioning labels. “High” functioning autism. “Low” functioning autism. “Moderately,” “mildly,” or “severely” affected by autism. Aside from the fact that these labels are arbitrary, divisive, imprecise, and inaccurate, they just don’t make sense. As someone (not me) brilliantly stated, “Low functioning means that your strengths are ignored; …
Face the truth: what you REALLY mean when you say “low-functioning” Read More »
My sweet girl’s contribution for a community flash blog (that wasn’t part of it because Mommy didn’t submit it on time to be included, oops). SO I’m sharing it here. She typed this out unprompted and unassisted. 🙂 This is autizum Autizum is something BIG and good. It is fun to type about autizum! I …
My city, like many others around the country, hosts a huge autism walk each year. For which organization? You already know; the biggest one. Yep, that one. Last year, before I knew better, I wanted to show my support for the autism community. So I walked. With my kids. And as we walked, we passed …
Aut2Change the Autism Organizations that we support Read More »
Yesterday I read a blog post written by the Caffeinated Autistic. It is short, but I suggest that you read it: (http://thecaffeinatedautistic.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/i-am-tired-tw-for-institutionalization-abuse-murder-dehumanization/). It really makes you think and I am grateful to her for sharing and for having the courage to not conform to the “status quo” even if doing so would be “easier.” In …
