Communication and “Autism Specialists”

by Amy Sequenzia From time to time I find myself writing about typed communication, and how Autistic typists are devalued by "autism specialists". There is a very vocal group of people - the "autism experts" or “autism specialists” - who refuse to accept that we can feel human feelings, that we can think complex thoughts, that we are people. "Autism Experts" and "Autism Specialists” Many, if not most of them are behaviorists, the ones who believe that everyone should strive to look as neurotypical as possible, and act as neurotypical as possible to have any value as human beings. They refuse

By |July 4th, 2016|Categories: Ableism, Amy Sequenzia, Autism, blog|Tags: , , , |1 Comment

Normalcy is an Ableist Concept

by Amy Sequenzia Ableism: we know it is everywhere and we know it is the reason why disabled people fight the normative society that chooses to make us invisible. The idea that we should try to fit a pre-determined, arbitrary way of doing things excludes disabled people by default. We are often ignored, many times abused, used as props for inspiration porn, and generally left out - unless we change how we do things, unless non-disabled people feel at least a little comfortable in our presence. Despite laws and general common sense, any accommodations necessary to make a little

Autistic Burnout

Each individual who has an autism spectrum diagnosis got that diagnosis based on deficits. That isn’t good or bad, but rather, simply the way diagnosing works. Diagnostic deficits are based on the social and expected norms exhibited by the majority of people. Deficits are determined by a significant deviation from this majority norm. And, if you deviate far enough from the norm you get a label. If you have a group of deficits that line up with the autism spectrum disorder label then you get that label.   Once an individual has the autism label, we begin teaching skills to

Talking to Autism “Advocacy” Organizations

I had the opportunity to speak, as a public comment, during a meeting of the Autism Society, Florida Chapter. It applies mostly to the National leadership because I think it is past time for some things to change. What I said might not have pleased everyone, and it might have made some angry. But I stand by the words - compliance is not my goal. It needed to be said though, not only to the Autism Society but to all organizations that say they “advocate” for autism. If an organization wants to help, it should not advocate for things Autistics

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