The ability to express one’s authentic autistic self is much more complicated than an individual choice to unmask. Dr. Amy Pearson explores why this is, and what we can do in order to make the world a safer place for autistic people.
Autistic children only get one childhood, and they deserve properly qualified and properly experienced professional teams. Teams that consider autistic ways of communication, ethics, human rights, and potential harms very carefully indeed.
Too often, people cause the “behaviour” that they blame on “real autism.” And it’s often their own approaches that need changing.
Food is an important part of life. Instead of using food as a “positive reinforcer,” or diets as part of a cure attempt, parents can use food and conversations about food to connect with their autistic children.
It’s time for non-autistics to accept their share of the burden of social reciprocity. It’s time to admit that the world has not been meeting us half-way. It’s time for people to learn to be more willing to accept others who are different from them.
