From Leah Jane at Nominatissima:
The greatest thrill for me in participating again in Autistics
Speaking Day is seeing what power there is in the voices of many
autistic bloggers coming together to show that they are far from silent,
and not at all cut off from the world, as the event which kickstarted
the creation of Autistics Speaking Day implied.
It’s been a year since the first Autistics Speaking Day occurred.
Back then, I was still using Blogger, was still in Montana, and was
somewhat oblivious to what a vast and awesome network of autistic
bloggers were out there. Autistics Speaking Day opened me up to a new
network of bloggers and activists on the spectrum who believed, as I do,
that the internet was the ultimate tool in dismantling parent/doctor
supremacy in the national conversation about autism and the
medical/tragedy model of looking at autism.
Look around the blogosphere now. There’s a multitude of autistic
bloggers, engaged and passionate. Blogging has helped them tear off the
dunce cap the mainstream media and an unquestioning society pushed on
them, and with their freedom, they’re doing amazing things. I was part
of the dynamic and incredible group which wrote a guide for autistic
students going to college. There are autistic “It Gets Better”
videos, we have an autistic person sitting on the National Council on
Disability, it’s mind boggling to think about all we’ve done as autism
bloggers.
It’s not over yet though. One’s still hard-pressed to find a science
or news article in the mainstream media which doesn’t go to Autism
Squeaks to get a quote on autism, too much time, money, and brainpower
are going towards “genetic” components and potential “cures” for autism
while adults and children languish without the equipment and training
they need to attain independence and life skills needed for happiness,
and autism is the favourite punching bag of many movements which are
looking for a quick n’ infamous disability to tie to their favourite pet
cause, whether it’s vaccines, deodorant, or wireless internet. It can
be exhausting, keeping up and staying on top of the rubbish heap which
accumulates around the collective idea of autism.
But we’ve got an impressive group of advocates ready to continue
dispelling the myths, and I’m going to keep up the good fight myself.
Autistics Speaking Day is another day to keep reminding the world that
our opinions and words are worthy of consideration. Maybe some day they
won’t need the constant reminders.
To raising Autism awareness and Acceptance, and battling negative stereotypes about Autism. To advocate for the inclusion of Autistic people in the community. To offer a forum to broadcast our stories and thoughts, and to help the messages of Autistic people and non-Austistic allies reach as many people as possible.
And bravo to all who have chosen to speak out today. Yes, it is difficult to get the media interested in other than the mainstream point of view. Last year, I emailed our metro paper about ASDay. Cobwebs. So you get my point.
ReplyDeleteI think that very sort of sense of "sensationalism" is what makes us seem pitiful in the eyes of others, and pity is the last thing that I or a lot of us want. You are right -- we are impressive. We are insightful. We are intelligent. And I hope ASDay happens for many more years to come.
-Nicole