Tag: perception

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Disability

Study Shows that Puzzle Pieces Evoke Negativity from the Public

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Morton Ann Gernsbacher www.gernsbacherlab.org [Image: M.Remi Yergeau, a white person   with shoulder-length blond hair, holding a sign that has a puzzle piece image with a red slash through it and the wording, “People not puzzles.”]  Why was the study conducted? They’re everywhere. On the lapels of NCAA basketball coaches during the Final Four. On a FOX reporter’s bowtie during the World Series. On bumper stickers, backpacks, bracelets, beer koozies, tote bags, and the background of a prime-time soap opera. They are puzzle pieces intended to represent autism (and autistic people). Symbolizing autism with a puzzle piece began with the UK’s National Autistic Society: “… designed by a [non-autistic] parent … It first appeared on our stationary and then on our newsletter in April 1963. Our Society was the first autistic society in the world, and our puzzle piece has … been adopted by all the autistic societies which have followed.”…

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Disability

The Effects of Stigmatizing Language on Suicidal Autistics

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M. Kelter theinvisiblestrings.com Photo by Boudewijn Berends, used under a Creative Commons license [image: head and shoulders of a person wearing glasses backlit by partially-lighted fog and clouds.] When it comes to online discussions about autism issues, I regularly interact with two realms. The first realm is one we’re all familiar with: the day-to-day articles and conversations and debates that take place regarding a wide range of spectrum issues. Causation, research, personal stories, opinions … just the usual autism topics that you come across as you scroll around blogs, and Twitter, and Facebook. The second realm consists of an invisible community. It’s made up of people who are absorbing every discussion, every debate, every article … yet they are not participating, not sharing their own ideas. They’re just there, quietly and attentively taking it all in. This second group is made up of suicidal autistics. This is not just an…

Disability

MIT

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Jess at Diary of a Mom www.adiaryofamom.wordpress.com A couple of years ago, I had a pretty incredible opportunity. I’d very recently found my voice as an advocate for my beautiful daughter, then just five years old, and so many like her who struggle daily with the challenges of autism. I had spoken publicly just once before, yet I found myself being asked to guest-lecture to a group of prospective neuro-psychs at MIT. I was terrified, but I knew there was no possibility of saying no. What follows is the post that I wrote about the experience. I share it here for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because I’d be hard-pressed to believe that I am the only one who needs the reminder that as parents, our experiences with our children are just as valid and valuable as the knowledge gained by scientists in a lab – no matter how esteemed…