Our Mission
Have you noticed how limited the depiction of autism is in the mainstream media? when was the last time you saw an adult autistic featured in a documentary? how about a character in a soap or drama series? doesn't that seem a bit... odd. I mean, they make the effort to tell us that autism is a "lifelong developmental disorder", and then...what? do we all just drop dead at the age of 18 (or, if we're really lucky, 21)? or maybe we just stop being cute enough to push up the ratings.
When someone over the age of, say, 12 is shown, they always seem to fit one of two rigid stereotypes. Type A is non verbal and expected to stay that way. His current carer is struggling to find long term supported living arrangements as he becomes bigger, stronger and harder to manage at home. we are meant to pity him, and empathise with the carer(s). Type B is an amazing young scientist with no friends. he may be taking certain exams early, and is expected to get the best grades (at least in his prefered subjects). He says he wants friends, or even a girlfriend; but the tone of the programme questions his understanding of these concepts. We are expected to admire, or even envy, his talents... but again, he is the subject of pity.
While we're asking ourselves these questions, what about the lesser-spotted female autistic? Little girls are at least as "cute" as little boys. Of course, Autistic girls are rarer than Autistic boys, but we still exist. I enjoy watching documentaries, and due to my natural interest in autism I've seen maybe 80% of the autistic documentaries broadcast on British television in the last decade or so, but I only remember seeing one female Autistic featured. The documentary followed 3 BOYS as they dealt with the usual adolescent issues. One of these boys went on a blind date with a girl who, shock horror, had a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome. That's it. She probably had less than 5 minutes of airtime.
So, why does it matter? It matters because this is what informs most people's ideas about autism.
I have been told, and I know others have too, that I can't really understand my own sexuality (or, sometimes that I can't even have a sexuality) because of my autism. The autistic identity is so routinely infantalised that this view is not surprising.
On "outing" myself as autistic, I regularly receive the response "but you seem so normal". at best, they think telling me I'm able to hide my true self is the ultimate compliment, at worse, they are accusing me of lying to gain sympathy.
When I discuss the process of developing a strong, autistic identity I am expected to justify it with examples of when my neurology is better, for me or for the rest of society. This can, in my view, be traced directly back to autistic adolescent "Type B", as described above. The tragedy of this last one is that I've heard it many, many times, from the lips and keyboards of autistic people convinced that autism "ruined" their life.
These are just the minor issues that directly affect me, a verbal, "High Functioning" autistic woman. I know that much worse things happen to those who can't talk, who are seen by many as subhuman. I have heard stories of such people, often children, dying; either at the hands of quack "therapists" or their carers. I believe it is the endemic hostility towards autism, perpetuated by the media and by society as a whole, that is responsible for these deaths.
I hope that by documenting the prejudice faced by autistics every day, we can open up people's eyes and challenge the harmful stereotypes.
Please tell us about your experiences, whether it's personal or in the media, or you're autistic, a Cousin, carer or ally; whether it's a throwaway comment or an under-reported scandal, wherever you are in the world.
When someone over the age of, say, 12 is shown, they always seem to fit one of two rigid stereotypes. Type A is non verbal and expected to stay that way. His current carer is struggling to find long term supported living arrangements as he becomes bigger, stronger and harder to manage at home. we are meant to pity him, and empathise with the carer(s). Type B is an amazing young scientist with no friends. he may be taking certain exams early, and is expected to get the best grades (at least in his prefered subjects). He says he wants friends, or even a girlfriend; but the tone of the programme questions his understanding of these concepts. We are expected to admire, or even envy, his talents... but again, he is the subject of pity.
While we're asking ourselves these questions, what about the lesser-spotted female autistic? Little girls are at least as "cute" as little boys. Of course, Autistic girls are rarer than Autistic boys, but we still exist. I enjoy watching documentaries, and due to my natural interest in autism I've seen maybe 80% of the autistic documentaries broadcast on British television in the last decade or so, but I only remember seeing one female Autistic featured. The documentary followed 3 BOYS as they dealt with the usual adolescent issues. One of these boys went on a blind date with a girl who, shock horror, had a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome. That's it. She probably had less than 5 minutes of airtime.
So, why does it matter? It matters because this is what informs most people's ideas about autism.
I have been told, and I know others have too, that I can't really understand my own sexuality (or, sometimes that I can't even have a sexuality) because of my autism. The autistic identity is so routinely infantalised that this view is not surprising.
On "outing" myself as autistic, I regularly receive the response "but you seem so normal". at best, they think telling me I'm able to hide my true self is the ultimate compliment, at worse, they are accusing me of lying to gain sympathy.
When I discuss the process of developing a strong, autistic identity I am expected to justify it with examples of when my neurology is better, for me or for the rest of society. This can, in my view, be traced directly back to autistic adolescent "Type B", as described above. The tragedy of this last one is that I've heard it many, many times, from the lips and keyboards of autistic people convinced that autism "ruined" their life.
These are just the minor issues that directly affect me, a verbal, "High Functioning" autistic woman. I know that much worse things happen to those who can't talk, who are seen by many as subhuman. I have heard stories of such people, often children, dying; either at the hands of quack "therapists" or their carers. I believe it is the endemic hostility towards autism, perpetuated by the media and by society as a whole, that is responsible for these deaths.
I hope that by documenting the prejudice faced by autistics every day, we can open up people's eyes and challenge the harmful stereotypes.
Please tell us about your experiences, whether it's personal or in the media, or you're autistic, a Cousin, carer or ally; whether it's a throwaway comment or an under-reported scandal, wherever you are in the world.