Thread:
Just a reminder this study of autistic adults' reports of mental health found that there is a direct connection between experiencing [both internal & external] autism acceptance and positive mental health.

Without acceptance, we're in danger.
1/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-017-3342-7

It's really something to believe the reason you're having trouble is because you have a DISORDER that makes you BAD AT [socializing, sensory overload, speaking, moving, thinking, eating...].

It causes depression and anxiety such that of the dozens of canadian Autistics I know 2/

I don't know a single autistic person who hasn't struggled with depression.

Because we all grew up thinking we were fucking broken, and wrong, and needed fixing, and that we'll never belong anywhere.

Depression, self harm, ideation, the whole gig.
Stigma is killing us.
3/

Meanwhile non-autistics lecture us about awareness & how if we don't fit the right stereotypes we aren't autistic?

Meanwhile non-autistics, supposedly the natural masters of social skills, don't get that by constantly belittling how our brains work they're hurting us?
4/

#AutismAcceptance is a direct predictor of positive mental health.
Lack of Acceptance is a direct predictor of depression.

Internal AND external acceptance, folks!

That means for autistic people to be healthy, we need to be accepted - something far from the current climate. 5/

As long as there are non-autistics saying "autism is a serious problem" / "families suffer from autism", this is not an accepting climate.

As long as N-A parents are comfortable harassing autistic people for being our authentic selves online, this is not an accepting climate 6/

This has all resulted in my generation of Autistics struggling like hell with mental illness and depression.

So when we are out here accepting ourselves, getting acceptance from each other, and someone busts in to say we don't belong in the conversation about ourselves...7/

It certainly seems like a purposeful attack. Even if the N-A outburst is just that ignorant, we have lived experience of our mental health improving when we accept ourselves and find acceptance, nevermind proof like this study ^

So we know these outbursts hurt all Autistics. 8/

#MentalHealthAwareness if you care about autistic people means being aware of the Stigma and Prejudice you hold against autistic people and traits.

(Also against BIPOC, LGBTQ2+ folks & more - don't think any of us believe acceptance predicting health is limited to autistics!) 9/

Personally my mental health has improved so dramatically since I found the #NeurodiverseSquad/ #AutisticCulture it's almost unbelievable how depressed & self-judgemental I was!
We'll keep working so all autistic folks feel the acceptance, both from outside them and within. 10/10