autisticeagle:

If you’re working with autistic children, and they’re not doing the puzzles you give them and not following instructions, here’s some tips from an actual autistic person, which feature tips I got, things that were good/bad about them, and things I wish had been used for me when I was a wee kid.

1. Autistic kids are still kids, they just have some other traits. I’m guessing you know this, but just in case, remember that they are still kids. They’re still going to want to play, and do interesting things. It’s just that how they play is different, and it might not look like play to you, but it is to us.
2. If your kid’s not interested in something, they won’t do it. If you want an autistic kid to play with a puzzle, then make it worth their while. Give them a story line that they like, or give them an incentive to beat it.
3. If stimming is a problem, then YOU are going to have to adapt. DO NOT expect an autistic child to not stim. That’s like asking someone to not breathe; i.e. they’ll be successful for a few seconds, and then their instincts will kick in and they’ll just HAVE to.
4. If stimming is a problem, then YOU are going to have to adapt. I cannot stress this enough. YOU will have to adapt to stimming, not them adapting to not stimming. Remember that it’s instinctive for us to stim, and that even if you “train it out of us”, it WILL recur later in life, when they are not so able to be forcibly restrained until it stops. Just put up with the stimming, because if you don’t all you will accomplish is an upset autistic person with emotional trauma.
5. The only time you should use “Quiet Hands” is when the child is in immediate physical danger. Seriously, unless they are going to spill a jar of sulphuric acid, don’t restrain them.

If you want a stimming child to stop stimming, give up. It won’t happen. I’ve been through 16 years of parents holding my head and arms against my body, I’ve been through days on end when I have literally had bandages strapped over my eyes because of eye movement stims, and in all that time, the best method for getting me to not stim was just by giving me something interesting when I was stimming, and I would stop so that I could play with it.

*******

I know this probably wasn’t what you wanted, but it’s the only thing that I can truthfully say.

Forcing an autistic person to not stim is a horrible thing to do, and it is always detrimental long-term.

*******

— Sam

goldenheartedrose:

This is “why it’s an issue to put an autistic person’s photo on the web without their consent” post.

1. Putting up a person’s photo is objectification. It treats them not as people, but as objects, as things.

2. It’s inspiration porn. It says “look what my token autistic can do!” It also plays into the “what’s your excuse” bullshit that disability porn often is. Not all autistics are capable of the same things, and we don’t live our lives so you can be inspired.

3. Parents, siblings and friends don’t own autistic people. You need the person’s consent, not their relative.

4. There is still a huge stigma around autism. Labeling them as such without their consent is opening them up to lots of discrimination. It should always be an autistic person’s choice to reveal their dx. You don’t ge to take that away from them.

5. Future employers can see what’s posted on the web. Again, it is no one’s business except the autistic person when or if they reveal their diagnosis.

6. It’s just plain creepy. I keep thinking about how creeped out I would have been if a “friend” had made a blog about me and my “weirdness” (wasn’t dx with autism until I was an adult) at age 14. I would have lost so much trust for them.

Just don’t do it. Parents or friends. Just don’t.

kceyagi:

Crap. 

I remember seeing a post on tumblr saying there was a “bad” autism group or organization that people needed to stay away from. 

My brother is autistic and as the oldest child/big sister, my parents believe it is my duty to do all the research and such. Which I sometimes don’t mind doing. 

Hopefully Google will help me. 

Hi human-friend! I think the bad group you are thinking of is Autism Speaks. Here are a few links to get you started!

- http://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Autism_Speaks_Flyer.pdf
- http://goldenheartedrose.tumblr.com/post/17644810872/so-whats-the-problem-with-autism-speaks
- http://www.theanchoronline.org/top-stories/2013/02/04/the-complete-idiots-guide-to-an-autistics-worst-allies/

Love, Kitty =◠_◠=

sempermemoriahabet:

I’ve been thinking about my cousin Gabriel a lot lately and today I saw a facebook that made me think of him even more. It was a post about not wiping out autism because it’s an ableist notion and basically sends the message that autistic people are something to be wiped out. Of course, it references how it has enriched peoples lives. That being said, those are the high functioning autistic people who are privileged in a way my cousin will never be: they can speak.
My cousin will never speak.
My cousin will never have a job.
My cousin will never live independently.
My cousin will not have a fulfilling life.
My uncle cries whenever he talks to us about it and my uncle doesn’t cry.
There is an autism epidemic right now. Autism isnt something fun and inspirational unless you’re someone with “a special talent who somehow makes it” that just isn’t how it usually works out. I want to fight autism, not autistic people. I love my cousin dearly and he’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, but that being said, I also want what’s best for him, and if that includes finding a cure to autism, then so be it.

I can tell that you love your cousin a lot, and that your heart is in the right place. Unfortunately the attitudes you currently hold towards autistics are ableist and hurtful. If you really love your cousin, and really want him to live a joyful, fulfilling life, take a moment to read this post and think it over.

In the able-bodied world there are two concepts that, while flawed and inaccurate, somehow persist in the discussion about disabled people. The first is the way of looking at disabilities through a purely medical lens- this is known as the “medical model”. I won’t get into it now, but I would encourage you to do your own research into the medical model vs social model of disability. The second just as harmful idea is the idea of “high functioning” and “low functioning”.

When it comes to the lives of Autistic people, labels like “high functioning” or “low functioning” are inaccurate and ableist. The HF/LF labels are inaccurate because a single Autistic individual’s “functioning level” will naturally fluctuate over the course of years, months, weeks, or even over the course of one day. The HF/LF labels are ableist because they are outdated and dehumanizing, and often used to discredit the voices of Autistic advocates. Laura Tisoncik said it well- “The difference between ‘high-functioning’ autism and low functioning is that high-functioning means your deficits are ignored, and ‘low-functioning’ means your assets are ignored”.

As well as encouraging you to re-think the HF/LF attitude, I’d encourage you to educate yourself about Autism. Just because an individual never speaks out of their mouth does not mean that they will never communicate. Carly Fleischmann is a non-verbal Autistic advocate. No one thought she could even understand what was happening around her, let along read and write, but when she was ten years old she typed out her first sentence on a laptop and since then has been communicating through typing. She recently graduated from high school and will be attending post-secondary in the fall. There are many, many other non-speaking autistics (like Amanda Baggs, Dora Raymaker, Ido Kedar and many others) who communicate through other methods like type to text, facilitated communication, etc. It is so important to assume competence- just because an individual can’t speak verbally doesn’t mean they have anything to say.

I know you care about your cousin a lot and want him to be happy and have a good life. And he can have a good life! With the right tools and assistance he has the potential to communicate and do so many awesome things! And the wonderful thing is that you can be a part of helping to make that happen for him- by saying no to the myths and misinformation about Autism and saying yes to acceptance and education. I’d encourage you to take a look at the links below for more information on functioning labels, non-verbal Autism and presuming competence.

Love, Kitty

http://www.autismacceptancemonth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/whyacceptance.pdf

http://www.autismacceptancemonth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/myths.pdf

http://flappinessis.com/he-proved-me-wrong-on-autism-and-presumed-competence/

http://www.autismmind.com/?SERVICE=BLOG_ENTRY&TG_KE_BLOG_ENTRY=10117

http://blog.autismspeaks.org/2011/04/26/ido-kedar-speech/

bennobody:

I’m writing a screenplay and I really want to give autism justice without over dramatizing it. I would like help understanding it further because the only knowledge I’ve gained is from a Louis Theroux documentary and Rain Man. 

1) How severe can it be?

2) In severe cases is an autistic person required to have a lot of care from others (e.g. family, professional care)

3) Main negative characteristics and some characteristics that can be portrayed as positive?

Thank you :)

I would highly reccomend that you watch “Loving Lampposts”. It is a documentary and available to watch for free on snagfilms.com. I’d also really reccomend finding some of the blogs by Autistic people here on tumblr and giving them a read through. If you like television, there is a show called Community that has been praised by many autistics for its character Abed Nadir, who has Aspergers. Finally, I suggest the book Carly’s Voice, which is the story of a non-verbal human female finding her voice.

If you only do one thing I would suggest watching “Loving Lampposts”. It presents a lot of information, gives plenty of time to Autistic speakers and is enjoyable to watch. Good luck!

Love, Kitty =◠_◠=