Autism Politics - Insulted At Everything You Disagree With

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Autism politics is a very different psychosocial sphere then racial and gender based advocacy. Having been involved for over 8 years in the online self-advocacy movement but leaving the past two years for local advocacy I understand a fair amount of things. Unfortunately my blunt speaking and seeking facts makes people upset at times but I've been told to ignore that and just say what's on my heart.

My job is to study the sociology and general social psychology of the autism community when applicable to core interests that divide. Fortunately my analysis and professionalism requires I don't take anything personally for reasons of bias. However there are some things I cannot really help but have an emotional reaction to like the I AM Autism Video. I already felt bad about costing people money and I've heard the hate of some people about how people with DD are lazy and cost allot of money.

In this post I'd like to explore what people are offended by and why they are offended. If you could post some subject that people find offensive in the autism community at times I could really figure out the possibilities why.

Nathan Young

Oh that's really interesting. I am just getting involved with the self-advocacy movement. It's a little difficult to comprehend what all the issues are because there seem to be many points of force. I'm offended by the line: "I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain." Yes, autism can be expensive. I can see how much a struggle autism could be for a parent who totally doesn't understand or knows what to expect. But that's out of proportion. How do you yell at something that is a part of who a person is? It's like battling extroversion, shyness, or an affinity for mechanics. It's a weird piece. But, I'm pretty much offended by that mindset of "wah, autism!" Those people don't even understand what it's like. In fact, most, if not all of those people seemed to be relaxing, having a good time, or were absorbed in their environment and having a good time. They don't look like victims. It seemed like the people making those videos were more like the victims. I know you are more debilitated by some issues of autism by your previous posts (and I'm familiar with your work.) Do you feel like a victim? I don't feel like a victim. You label someone a victim and you take their power away (not you specifically...I hope you all know what I mean.) That and people exploiting a disability to meet their own needs. Grrr....and the person who couldn't spell and also couldn't accept her son for the way he is.... (a comment on youtube.) I could go on. Bigotry.

I am offended when people discuss autism in pathological terms or describe us as better off dead. Otherwise, anything goes. Without lively and potentially informative debate, there would be no reason for any of us to use Wrong Planet.

I'm offended by every advocacy gathering I've ever gone to. All these "experts" and none of them are on the spectrum! They invite one or two people to speak, but they don't care what I have to say, because they are so interested in their expertise that they forget I have insights they will never have. The worst part about those meetings are phrases like "We need to think about such and such" They are more interested in a circle jerk than they are trying to find real solutions to the problems. I give good suggestions, but what do I know, I'm just a ret*d with Asperger's that doesn't have a fancy Ph.D from Smartypants University. I rock the boat too much, and they don't like it, because then they have to think, and thinking is too much work.

ci I bestow the honorific of threadstigator upon you. Good work on putting these thought provoking threads up.

Anyway what gets me annoyed is people who are opposed to a development of a cure for Autism. Now granted a 'cure' is a nebulous thing to define since we can't even agree on the disorder or if it is one as such, but anyway when some intelligent person with excellent written skills posts something along those lines and I think of my son who would really benefit from being able to talk (so we can help him with what he wants) for example, well then that offends me. Who are they to speak for other people?

Well I think I can see reason why autism advocacy will never reach the support levels of racial/ethnic or sexual orientation advocacy.

See those types of groups are defended on the basis that they're human beings no different from straight white people and that they can communicate and socialize and care for others just like any human.

Hate to say where I'm getting at with this: but these same kinds of people don't look at autism in the same manner. We lose support from NTs due to our awkward manner of communication that often comes off at rude. You look at a person the wrong way and you can bet to pay the price. Autistic people have the greater challenge of not being able to control the very things that the human race will universally judge the most...our social skills. Social skills take precedence in the eyes of many over our race, our sexual orientation, etc. Not saying that's a bad thing. It makes sense but in the end autistic people get the short end of the stick no matter which way you look at it.

Autism Advocacy itself continues to be a pain. The majority of campaigns against autism are no different from Autism Speaks in that the groups consist of parents who are constantly victimizing themselves because their autistic children are sucking away at their social status or their normal daily routines. What a joke! I doubt you'll hear parents crying this much if they had a child with Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy because their disabilities dont have half the tantrum power that autism does.

How ironic is it that the parents of autistic children are victimizing themselves more than the children who have it? They think their life is miserable? How about thinking about what your kid is going through (like having to put up with your moaning about the situation) for one damn minute!

Its the same kind of thing I think. I'm not saying autistic children are the same as the terrorist vermin.

Nevermind