April 2nd. It’s a day that so many of us dread. For as long as “world autism day” has existed, it is a day where (much like every other day) adherents of the pathology paradigm do their best to drown out the voices of those that proudly display their Autistic selves. Why are we soContinue reading “Shifting the paradigm on world autism day”
Category Archives: Autistic Pride
Big news with even more big news on the way!
I have been nominated for a National Diversity Award, positive role model- disability category. I am honoured to have recieved this nomination, and while I don’t expect to win, I do enjoy reading the kind things that people day about me in their votes. If you wish to vote for me, you can do soContinue reading “Big news with even more big news on the way!”
Not your tragedy, not your epidemic, not your inspiration: reflecting on Autistic existence
Being Autistic is not inherently good or bad, it just is. That’s not to say that I am not proud of who I am, and I am most certainly not denying the obstacles I have had to over come. While being Autistic is an inseparable part of my identity and existence, it is also anContinue reading “Not your tragedy, not your epidemic, not your inspiration: reflecting on Autistic existence”
I am an Autistic person, not a scientific phenomenon
Recently I have been reading Authoring Autism by Remi Yergeau. It has really been opening my eyes to the use of rhetoric in the construction of narratives surrounding Autistic people, and has very much inspired me to write this. I am an Autistic person. And yet the world treats me as a phenomenon, a peculiarityContinue reading “I am an Autistic person, not a scientific phenomenon”
Autistic community, identity, and the sense of self
During my years of active addiction, I had no concept of who I was beyond being a drug and alcohol user. For this reason, I felt trapped into my substance use, unable to escape the horror that I was habitually inflicting upon myself. I finally found sobriety, but was clinging on desperately. That’s when itContinue reading “Autistic community, identity, and the sense of self”
Radical Advocacy: Being an advocate in a hate filled world
Recently I have found myself considering the direction that my advocacy is taking. I have found myself reading extensively on “autism theory” and, on the other hand, writings by actually Autistic authors. At first I felt broken by what I had realised. Our world is built on a paradigm that by design oppresses anyone outsideContinue reading “Radical Advocacy: Being an advocate in a hate filled world”
Creating Autistic Suffering: Ableism and discrimination
This article was co-authored between David Gray-Hammond and Tanya Adkin Trigger Warning: This article contains discussion and examples of ableism and discrimination against Autistic and disabled people. Mentions the R-Slur. When you’re first confronted with the word “ableism”, it seems a bit abstract and unreal. This is because it is so ingrained into our societyContinue reading “Creating Autistic Suffering: Ableism and discrimination”
This one’s for you Spectrum 10k
I am angry. I am beyond angry. I am angry, tired, sad, stressed, and quite frankly, sickened to my core. Since S10k was announced, I have watched as their blithe request for our DNA has traumatised a community that I love beyond measure. My friends and colleagues have poured their heart into fighting your (notContinue reading “This one’s for you Spectrum 10k”
Apparently Autism needs preventing?
The world is not okay. We are not okay. Autistic people are not okay, S10k has served as a stark reminder that we are treated as a burden upon not just the people that we love, but society as a whole. Autistic people are subject to woefully inaccurate and outdated stereotypes that do a greatContinue reading “Apparently Autism needs preventing?”
Autistic representations in the media: The wider conversation
If Sia’s film did any good for the autistic community, it opened up a wider conversation about how autistic people are represented and portrayed in popular media. There are very few, if any, perfect representations. One could argue that this is an impossibility anyway, given the diverse nature of autistic presentations. This has opened upContinue reading “Autistic representations in the media: The wider conversation”
Emergent Divergence 