I was cut from a speaking panel in favor of an NT speaker

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So I do spoken word and performance poetry, and I had been booked to perform at a conference on students with special needs and speak about my experiences on a panel. A friend and colleague of mine, who is an NT parent of a child on the spectrum, was also booked. Then we were sent an email stating that he was still on the schedule, but I had been uninvited - the director of the event felt my story "wouldn't connect with as many people." I don't have any hard feelings toward the other guy, but I am pretty upset that the people in charge of the event would value the voice and experiences of someone who had only lived with autism secondhand over those of someone who actually knows what it's like to live on the spectrum. It feels like appropriating and sanitizing - filtering the stories of disabled people through non-disabled people. It's not just that I'm upset about losing the gig, though I am. I really think our own stories should be valued over other people's stories ABOUT us, no matter how valid or compelling those stories may be.

I've spoken at many events. Mostly about electrical engineering. And I've been bumped down or off panels all the time. Sometime I just give up my slot because I may be having a phobia issue. It just goes with the territory. I've have never spoken at an autistic event before but i do believe that a person on the spectrum is more qualified to speak about autism then an NT person is.

That sucks.

Wow, I'm sorry that happened. First off, it's pretty rude to bump anyone for anything. A clear better alternative is to abbreviate time allotted if things are tight. And I think you read it quite well, that this is a parent-centric and/or professional-centric event. Well, what about us as people on the Asperger's-Autism Spectrum? How about are voices? And such a seemingly straightforward point is either not understood or viewed as really weird.

If at all possible, please encourage your friend to attend and do his best. That's taking the high road.

And eventually, like equal rights for African-Americans, like equality for persons who are LGBT, pretty much like every civil rights movement, we're going to have to form our own organizations, mistakes and all.

And good-hearted professionals can help out, but they don't get to run the show.

I'm with Sethno on this one. Do not lay down or no change will happen.

I'd be upset too, but than that would motivate me even more.

It is disgusting that many NT's see us as less qualified to discuss us then ourselves because they think we are damaged and therefore can not understand ourselves as well as "normal" people.

Does Autism Speaks have anything to do with this event?

Why don't you give us the website, facebook, email address etc for this event so they can hear from all of us?

I am sorry that happened to you. It's a real shame.