At age sixteen, I sat in the backseat of my parents’ car, doing sums in my head. I pictured the numbers being written out on the back of the seat in front of me. Why was I doing arithmetic when I would rather daydream? Because I thought that “real” autistic people would amuse themselves by […]
Real Independence
Most people believe that the only valuable life achievement of a disabled person like me (non-speaking Autistic with high support needs) is “to be independent”. I already wrote about how the concept of independence is ableist. In short, it is not our ability to live by ourselves, or to care for ourselves that makes us […]
AWN Urges Media Caution When Reporting On Parkland Florida School Shooting
AWN urges caution when speculating about any mental health diagnosis of the shooter in the recent Florida tragedy. News outlets have already begun speculating about the shooter’s possible links to mental health. We especially implore the media to resist their usual patterns of stereotyping people with disabilities when these kinds of killings occur. People with […]
To My Preteen Self
Original post for Autistics Speaking Day by C.L. Bridge Dear eleven-year-old me, Hello from the future! There are so many things I want to tell you. But first, I suppose I should explain what Autistics Speaking Day is, and why I chose to write to you on this day. For you, it’s 2003. Autistics Speaking […]
Parenting and Advocating With Autistic Children
Parents of Autistic children have to learn how to advocate for supports in school, in the community, and even at home. This is not something that gets done after a few hours, or a few days. It begins with the diagnosis and it can last a lifetime. Fighting for supports is like a very long […]
Autistic Representation Needs Autistic Voices
Hollywood loves talking about autism but refuses to talk to Autistics. When a new show or movie with an Autistic character airs, writers, directors and producers pat themselves on the back because they are so proud of their “indispensable” view that will help to “shed light and raise awareness about the disorder”. To them I […]
ABA Providers Making Fun of Autistic People
I have already written about my thoughts on ABA. I do believe it is dehumanizing, and is used to make Autistics act in a way that pleases non-autistic people. Many will say that ABA teaches “life skills”. I say that, if you are paying someone to teach the so-called life skills via reinforcement, you are […]
AWN Statement on Charlottesville
The events that occurred last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia when a vehicle driven by a white supremacist drove deliberately through a crowd of peaceful anti-racism protesters (killing one individual and injuring numerous others) shocked and saddened many of us in America. Autism Women’s Network vehemently condemns this racist act of terror that was inflicted upon […]
Autism Parenting Magazine – Disinformation and Silencing of Autistics
I’ve read an article on the online Autism Parenting Magazine that was so bad, my initial reaction was a giant WTF? It was written by someone who clearly doesn’t know anything about autism. The magazine is self-described as “a magazine for parents of autistic children as well as professionals seeking to work with children on […]
Menopause: Just When You Felt Less Socially Awkward
JUST when I had finally stopped obsessively worrying that I might possibly be offending someone somewhere; just when I had started feeling (almost) comfortable socializing with humans, rather than pets, at dinner parties; just when I had mastered the polite nod, knowing when someone is waving to me and not the person behind me and […]