Read on Twitter
So. A parent tried to join in an autistic community here by putting #ActuallyAutistic in their own tweets of their own words.
That& #39;s a hashtag for autistic people, so we can find one another, communicate in our own language/culture without too much misinterpretation, etc/
That& #39;s a hashtag for autistic people, so we can find one another, communicate in our own language/culture without too much misinterpretation, etc/
And various autistic people politely asked that they did not use that hashtag of #ActuallyAutistic, as it means the person is autistic.
Then the parent said they wanted to use it to say the words of their young person.
Various people said politely that/
Then the parent said they wanted to use it to say the words of their young person.
Various people said politely that/
...yes, the autistic young adult is more than welcome to use that hashtag, and the parent could find ways to convey their thoughts & ideas, making it clear it& #39;s their words and not those of the parent.
Then someone said & #39;but Twitter is too complicated for them to use!& #39;/
Then someone said & #39;but Twitter is too complicated for them to use!& #39;/
...and people explained politely that the parent could perhaps enable communication via picture or whatever other system they use, and then the parent can & #39;translate& #39; that into words to put on twitter for them, acting as interpreter/liaison person/
But instead, the parent wrote a hate blog about autistic people. In it our thoughts were described variously as
childish
nonsensical
dangerous
harmful
libelous
meaningless
& gaslighting
Self diagnosis was said to be nonsense, too/
childish
nonsensical
dangerous
harmful
libelous
meaningless
& gaslighting
Self diagnosis was said to be nonsense, too/
Now, can we understand why autistic communities, (filled with people who have e.g. major trauma, depression and anxiety situations because of past treatment & namecalling), are wary about nonautistic people using that hashtag themselves, when they& #39;re not autistic?/
This cartoon sums it all up, I feel.
No matter which small space autistic people try to create, someone claims it& #39;s their space ,we& #39;re excluding them, and we should let them in.
So many autistic people live lives with zero privacy in care. Watched day and night.
The tiniest hint of & #39;our own space& #39; is vital.
So many autistic people live lives with zero privacy in care. Watched day and night.
The tiniest hint of & #39;our own space& #39; is vital.
Repeating that I& #39;m a parent of a fine autistic adult. That I spent many years as carer for a person in our family with high support needs who was in high secure accommodation. That I work for and with fabulous families 1-2 days a week with teams.
None of this is anti-parent.
None of this is anti-parent.
But goodness me, there& #39;s times when I need to be in my own autistic peer groups online and & #39;speak autistic& #39;.
And I& #39;m grateful for the #ActuallyAutistic and #AllAutistics hashtags, for giving autistic people the chance to do just that.
And I& #39;m grateful for the #ActuallyAutistic and #AllAutistics hashtags, for giving autistic people the chance to do just that.
