“I am an autistic person, and no, I don’t need that part of me erased. I don’t need a cure, and autism didn’t kidnap the allistic child that I would have been. I didn’t destroy my parents’ marriage. I didn’t ruin my family’s lives.”
Today is World Autism Day. It seems like only yesterday that it was last year’s World Autism Day. And yet, here we are again.
This day is always difficult for me, because while on the one hand, I want to say “yes! Let’s focus on autism and how it affects us!”, I just can’t, because of who is behind this campaign. Autism Speaks is the primary organization behind autism awareness, especially in the United States. I cannot condone their message of fear and dehumanization. I cannot sit back and be passive.
When I see that blue puzzle piece, or one of those Autism Speaks arm bands/bracelets, something within me dies. Something makes me feel ill and shaky, and I wish that I didn’t have such a visceral reaction to a symbol like this. But this is my blog, and I’m an honest person, and yes, Ms. clothing store manager, every…
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