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Can I ask everyone to please stop using our perceived intelligence to assert the worth of autistics? It's a common refrain I hear from family members and caregivers, but it's harmful for a few reasons. First, the concept of intelligence is itself rooted in ableism, white (1/6)
supremacy, and eugenics. It's a social construct. @twitchyspoonie talks about this here: https://twitter.com/twitchyspoonie/status/1256430613537546240?s=20
Autistics typically do well with standard measures of intelligence because of things like hyperlexia, special interests, and pattern recognition. But (2/6)
Autistics typically do well with standard measures of intelligence because of things like hyperlexia, special interests, and pattern recognition. But (2/6)
Not all autistics are strong in all or even any of these areas; we are as varied as allistics in terms of strengths and weaknesses. However, the "savant" stereotype is often used to downplay our difficulties. It's assumed we can compensate because we are "so smart". (3/6)
While autism is not in itself an intellectual disability, many autistics have a comorbid ID, and they are not lesser than the rest of us. Intelligence has no moral value and should not be used as a measure of someone's worth. (4/6)
So next time the subject of autism comes up and you're tempted to say, "Oh, I teach autistic kids, and they're just so intelligent!", ask yourself why you feel the need to emphasize that. Would you do that for NT children? Is it because you instinctively feel the need to (5/6)
Assert our humanity? Or because we are only as valuable as what we can contribute to the world? I understand that this usually comes from a place of love and protectiveness, I just want you to consider the message it sends. (6/6)
