The Truth About Autism Awareness: Why We Need to Shift from Fear of Autism to Acceptance of Autistic People
From awareness to acceptance: Shifting the narrative and rethinking Autism Awareness Month: Empowering Autistic voices and experiences
Today (April 2nd, 2024) is the 17th Annual World Autism Day. This is my 7th World Autism Day, knowing that I am Autistic.
I have many feelings about April, watching it come and go since I first learned I am Autistic a few months before my twenty-ninth birthday.
For many Autistic people, April can be a source of frustration and pain (because instead of promoting acceptance and understanding, traditional awareness campaigns often perpetuate harmful stereotypes, contributing to our continued stigmatization).
Years ago, on my first April, knowing my Autistic brain, I was naively excited about having a month to talk about Autism. Unfortunately, that excitement quickly turned to frustration and dread once the reality of this month became apparent.
The reality is that this month is only one month, during which organizations and people (who don't know enough about Autistic People to speak without doing harm to us) suddenly shift their focus to Autistics, forgetting we exist the other 11 months of the year.
Every April, we are inundated with support from unqualified and uneducated voices who suddenly become interested in Autistic People - many of whom will return to business as usual in May.
Because many of these passers-by are not Autistic themselves, they often share and amplify harmful messages that perpetuate Awareness, fear, and stigma- thinking they are being helpful without understanding why what they share is harmful.
This is one reason why many Autistic People are asking our allies to move beyond "being aware of Autism." Many of us feel as if Awareness isn't enough.
Being AWARE of something is not the same as taking action.
Autism Awareness is minimal in that it doesn't move further into taking steps as to what's needed to include, empower, and accept Autistic People.
It's time to rethink Autism Awareness Month.
Awareness can be an excellent first step in overcoming obstacles (like the obstacles that prevent equitable inclusion of Autistic and other NeuroDivergent people in society).
Awareness can be helpful because it can point us at problems, helping to gain sympathy for causes that may be underserved.
However, Autism and Autistic people ARE NOT a problem to be solved.
Autistic People are human beings, and "Autism Awareness" campaigns paint us as a problem that needs fixing (even though we don't need fixing).
Awareness (or BEWARE-ness campaigns, as I call them) don't help Autistic people. They help make money for companies in the medical industry that serve to profit off of the fear and stigmatization of Autistic people (the autism industrial complex).
I want more!
Most people are aware of Autism now and know Autistic people exist.
However, many people still fail to understand what it means to be Autistic (and don't see Autistic People as fully human).
Instead of focusing on fear and stigma, it is past time we shift our attention to acceptance, appreciation, and empowerment, viewing Autistic People as PEOPLE, not stereotypes and assumptions.
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In Autism Month, conversations around Autism become more prevalent for a short period.
Throughout this month, there usually are 2 main ways people are talking about Autism and Autistic People:
FIRST (what I personally believe): The world is horrible for Autistic People, and we need to fix the world so Autistic People can be appropriately included within it.
NEXT (the gloom and doom narrative): Autistic People are "the problem," and the (NeuroTypically designed and controlled) world is fine.
Those who view Autistics as a problem to be solved believe Autistic People are incomplete, broken, or poorly behaved and, therefore, need to be molded to fit into the world around us.
NOTE: People who see Autistics as broken non-autistics believe the ultimate goal for an Autistic is for us to become as "normal" or non-autistic appearance as possible (indistinguishable from our peers). This holds Autistic People to unfair (and often unreachable) non-autistic standards and ideals, which is cruel (because it sets us up for failure).
Misconceptions Harm Autistic People
In April, because of the increased traffic of "Autism Tourists," there are many misconceptions and Autism Myths (and products) that will be spread around this month, even though the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and misinformation about Autistic people can have devastating consequences (such as social isolation, bullying, and low self-esteem). They also create barriers to employment, education, and healthcare.
There are so many misconceptions about Autistic People out there; we don’t even know what an Autistic person who’s not struggling would look like (more in this post featured in the video below).
ID: Lyric, a pale-skinned nonbinary person with black hair with dark green ends and shaved sides, is wearing a black hooded sleeveless shirt and sitting in an RV with dark wood panel walls in front of a closed window shade.
This is why it's essential to listen to and amplify the voices of Autistic People so that we can recognize and challenge these myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes, such as:
Misconception: Autistic people are "broken" or need to be "cured."
Harm: This harmful idea can lead to harmful therapies and treatments and perpetuate the stigma that being Autistic is somehow less desirable.
Misconception: All Autistic People have "genius-level" IQs and have exceptional math skills.
Harm: IQ scores are biased and not a great measure of success, as this number doesn't consider the person's challenges and needs. This stereotype can lead to unrealistic expectations and pressure on Autistic individuals, who may struggle with math or have average intelligence.
Misconception: Autistic people are unfriendly and are unable to form relationships.
Harm: This myth can lead to social isolation and stigma, as Autistic People may be viewed as unfeeling or uncaring.
Misconception: Autistic people are all the same and have the exact needs.
Harm: This assumption can lead to a lack of understanding and support for individual Autistic people, who may have unique needs and experiences.
By recognizing and challenging these misconceptions, we can work towards a more inclusive and understanding world that accepts Autistic People.
More Autism Myths in THIS Substack Post, which included the following video:
It's essential to listen to and amplify the voices of Autistic People because WE are the best authorities on our own experiences.
We need our allies to listen to and amplify our voices rather than speaking over us or assuming you know what's best for us.
Only by centering Autistic perspectives can the world gain a deeper understanding of the Autistic experience (and work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting world for Autistic People).
Ways to Support Autistic People During Autism Awareness Month
So, what can you do to support Autistic People during Autism Acceptance Month?
Listen to Autistic People when you are educating yourself about Autism and Autistic experiences.
Amplify Autistic voices and support our advocacy by sharing resources and content we create
Avoid using harmful stereotypes, language, and symbolism, challenging other people who cause harm
Don't donate to (or amplify) Autism organizations run by non-autistic people - support Autistic led small businesses, charities, organizations, and individuals directly.
Autistic Acceptance Month should be a time of celebration and empowerment (similar to PRIDE Month), not fear and stigma (like months related to deadly diseases are - because Autism is NOT deadly).
Our minds are DIFFERENT, but different is not bad.
Allies, your job is to create emotional safety so that your Autistic peers can feel safe and encouraged to speak up about issues that harm them, hold them back, or hinder their success.
You can start by listening when the Autistics in your life share solutions or changes that can be made to create a more inclusive environment and support them as they advocate for change
By shifting our focus to acceptance, appreciation, and empowerment, we can create a more inclusive and accepting world for Autistic People.
If we work together to break down harmful stereotypes and amplify Autistic voices. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.
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