Autism
Being Autistic is a nightmare (sometimes, actually, a lot of the time). This isn't because being Autistic is inherently good or bad, but rather because we are a minority group, and as such experience direct and indirect oppression from the privileged majority. Given that the world is designed
Autism
When considering our potential, we often think in finite terms. Normativity has dictated that which a human can be. We are also bound, in principle, by the finite nature of our mortality. Thus, we are limited by both cultural and biological variables. However, the limits of what a human, a
Autistic Community
As you may have noticed from my most recent blog post, I am somewhat down a rabbit hole at the moment. In my previous article I discussed Zeno's paradox of plurality and how it applies to the dehumanisation of Autistic people and the double empathy problem. Today I
Autistic Rights
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
Autistic Pride
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
Autistic Rights
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
Autism
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
Addiction
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
Autistic Rights
For quite some time now, the neurodiversity movement has spoken about the harmfulness of behavioural techniques. These techniques are used to prevent the outward indications of the Autistic neurotype. They are generally aimed at children, and almost always lead to significant harm being done. The use of such techniques belongs
Autistic Rights
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
Autistic Pride
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
eugenics
Edit to add disclaimer: Despite Simon Baron-Cohen telling us that there will be a police presence, A member of the protest team has since spoken to Cambridge Police and confirmed that no police presence is booked for the protest, although they may now send one or two officers to make