Today I would like to revisit the 'independence' myth.
I've just read an ABA enthusiast saying that 'many' autistic people won't be 'independent'.
No-one is.
It has always been a myth, this independence thing.
Did you make all your own clothes?/

Did you build your own house?
Did you create and install your own power supply to it?
Did you make your transport (car, bus, bike) from parts you crafted yourself from metal?
Did you hunt/grow your own food and prepare it from scratch?/

Did you forage for the ingredients for your own medicines and make those?
Did you create your own songs, books, poems and plays, and star in all of them yourself?
Did you make your own shoes from items you found yourself?
Did you educate yourself, using books you made yourself?/

Do you live independently of all other humans, relying on none of them at all for company, inspiration, reassurance, practical assistance, a hug, a smile, a song, a shared experience?
Did you make your own money?
I could list out many many more way we are Not Independent/

All human beings need those same things.
They're not 'special needs' for 'people who can't be independent'.
Society chooses who it supplies things to, and how it enables them to access those things/

About 2 out of every 100 autistic people have severe learning disabilities as well as being autistic. In their case, they may well need 24/7 care and support, and of course that should be there for them. Same as for non-autistic people with severe learning disabilities/

Some other autistic people, like me, cannot live on our own, for a variety of reasons.
We all deserve autonomy, though - the ability to make our own choices on the things that matter.
And just about every autistic person has the ability to choose.
It's vital/

So, when I hear that 'many' autistic people cannot live 'independently', I challenge it, hard.
Everyone deserves the best life they can have. Safe, with caring people. Warm, with food and drink. Healthy, involved, & rights-led.
Families deserve good & reliable support and rest/

Instead of assuming we all want 'independence', how about asking us?
And start by asking yourself 'how independent am I really?'
Look at that list, above.
We are all interdependent. We are all of equal worth.
Together, we can thrive.

Also, the idea that 'many' autistic ppl are in formal care isn't true.
This is pretty typical as research.
Over half are earning money. (Yes, there's prejudice out there re that)
Most others are parents, students, volunteers or retired

And anyone still living with the idea that living alone is ideal can get some reality here. Nearly everyone lives with other people, who share tasks. Living alone can be utter hell.
https://www.communityledhomes.org.uk/sites/default/files/clh_report_new_2.pdf

"But they need visual supports! This is a sign of terrible dependency!"
Really?
You probably carry yours with you all day long:
Your diary.
Your phone.
Your watch.
What about the clock on the wall?
The calendar in the kitchen?
The sticky note reminding you to buy X or Y.
So....?

"They have to learn to tie a shoelace!"

Really?

Slip-on shoes have passed you by, as a modern invention?
Elastic laces?
Zip-up footwear?

For sure learning skills is great.
Some goals are just bizarre.

https://www.ncsautism.org/blog//grim-future-for-adults-with-autism This is the sort of article that has led to this post.
The allegation that 99 out of 100 autistic adults 'are incapable of living independently'. But this was a study of autistic people where nearly all had a learning disability & multiple other things/

A quick Google search shows another 900,000 papers where being 'independent' was shown to be the goal.
The Independent Living Skills questionnaires are fairly extraordinary.
A combo of actual necessary things, etiquette, social skills, and stuff most people would struggle with/

Want to know what some questions are? Here we go...
Maintained a clean and neat appearance throughout the day.
Did not wear mismatching clothes.
Did not change clothes 'excessively'.
Shampooed hair at least twice a week.
Tidied away 'clutter'/

Knows how to get healthcare for all sorts of situations.
Reported health situations 'appropriately'.
Uses telephone 'appropriately', being 'not too much'.
Budgeted money accurately.
Sorted out ID such as passports
Contacted financial advisers
Used buses or trains/

Attended religious services without prompting (!)
Did not burp in public without apologising.
Visited friends or wrote to them regularly.
Read job advertisements and went to job interviews.
Had 'realistic' job aspirations.
Gets along well with co-workers/

Drank neatly.
Ate at the Right Pace.
Used a napkin.
Maintained long conversations.
Left conversations politely.
Used 'normal' eye contact.
Expressed deep interest in other people.
Interacted pleasantly with family/

Yes, these are the Independent Living Skills questions.

Understanding now why I get cross about the idea that we all have to score highly on Independent Living?