a note on Autism for RFK…

Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?

(I hate to be political, but… f*** it.)

RFK’s ideas on Autism are straight from Hitler’s Nazi Germany…

Wear a star if you’re neurodivergent! The government’s going to eradicate you! Finally!

WTF?!?

Isn’t this supposed to be America?

Anyway.

A few important things RFK doesn’t understand:

1. Autistic people are beautiful, and Autistic people are valuable. We experience the world more fully and viscerally than anyone else. Sometimes, we find it hard to communicate how much we feel. If only you took the time and made the effort to understand, you’d realise how marvellous and powerful our differences are. 
2. There isn’t an Autism “epidemic.” The research on Autism is always improving, so our understanding of Autism is always improving. Just compare the DSM-IV and DSM-V criteria, or notice the increase in diagnoses of girls and women, or review the conversations that suggest ADHD and Autism may be sides of the exact same “coin”. Autistic people have always existed. But, thanks to advances in research and technology, you’re noticing us more now. (BTW, that’s a good thing!)
3. Autism is not a problem; the world is. Society isn’t designed to include and enable Autistic people. So long as mostly white, neurotypical men are the ones who research, report, diagnose, and legislate on Autism, Autistic people will struggle to exist in society. The more you design “the room where it happens” to accommodate us, the more we can show up and participate. 

TLDR: read up on Autism before you say stupid things. 

https://neuroclastic.com/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/?amp

thanks for reading!

❤ vl