Autism Acceptance

EDITOR: As a result of the breadth and depth of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), persons on this spectrum, inclusive of those families living with autism, describe this neurological disorder / behaviour in a variety of ways. However, the fundamental similarities which place one on the ASD spectrum are the social and communicative or non-communicative practices of autistic persons. Persons living with autism interact “differently” in and with society: “differently” in the sense that the “established norms and patterns” of social interactions are not always the most comfortable for persons living with autism.

In 2021, The Autism Society of America as well as AUTISM SPEAKS, changed their slogan from ‘Autism Awareness’ to ‘Autism Acceptance’, and although I am not privy to the thinking which led to this change, I welcome it wholeheartedly. ‘Autism Awareness’ is relatively widespread in today’s world. More and more families have had to live with autism, thus research and funding directed towards the sometimes debilitating reality of autism have increased exponentially since 1911 when the term was first coined.

Beyond ‘awareness’, the acceptance of autism is crucial to the livelihoods and the families of persons living with autism. Acceptance of ASD extends beyond an understanding of the spectrum. It requires a rejection of feelings of pity for ASD individuals. Heartfelt expressions of “poor soul” and sadness directed towards us, though often well-meaning, are unhelpful and uneducated. We do not need pity. We need our differences to be accommodated and embraced in an informed manner. These differences need to be respected as part and parcel of the human spectrum from which we all receive instruction once we allow ourselves to be sensitive towards the diversity of human experience. We tend to pity others when we remain locked within our own perspectives of what is “normal”.

I recall when the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Autism Society, SAS, was launched in 2011, a radio personality at the time used his platform to state that the term ‘autism’ is only being used now because “certain people’s children are retarded”. Developmental retardation may be a feature of ASD. Yet, we need to recognise that adhering to pejorative concepts which frame our analysis of our human condition does indeed retard the progress of human development.
Autism Acceptance has been a long while in coming; let us embrace it and grow.

Autism Mum
Andrea C Bowman