Speak up for autism on Nov. 1st

[CelticRose]

Some very misguided people have organized a Communication Shutdown on Nov. 1st to "support" people with autism. They propose to do this by staying off of social networking sites on that day.

Please read the linked blog post by a woman diagnosed with autism, particularly the quoted paragraph, to see why this is a bad idea.
http://www.journeyswithautism.com/2010/10/22/speak-up-on-november-1st/

Whether we’re verbal or nonverbal, does telling people to stay off social communication networks really create empathy for us? The Internet is how we find one another. It’s where many of us feel heard. It’s where many of us feel most comfortable. Staying away from any form of online communication will not draw attention “to the isolation and intense loneliness experienced by those who are impeded from connecting socially with others.” We’re not impeded from connecting socially online. And we wouldn’t be impeded from connecting socially in the rest of the world if people had a little more empathy for how we feel and met us halfway. At any rate, it’s counterproductive to tell non-autistic people to stay away from online sites when so many autistic people overcome “isolation and intense loneliness” by connecting with one another online. How can anyone possibly develop empathy for us if they’re not even aware that we speak loudly and clearly in our online communities?

It has been suggested that Nov. 1st be made Autistics Speaking Day instead. If you're autistic, please speak out. If you are not autistic, please at least boycott the Communication Shutdown.

Thank you.

 

[Fnord]

I've tried to start a "Day Without an Aspie", but it seems that the more militant members of the Autistic spectrum community would rather have a confrontation or inconvenience the world (or both).

 

[CelticRose]

I've tried to start a "Day Without an Aspie", but it seems that the more militant members of the Autistic spectrum community would rather have a confrontation or inconvenience the world (or both).

The Hispanic community tried a similar economic boycott and it failed because too many people were afraid to lose their jobs if they took a day off of work, even if scheduled in advance. Since many people with autism have difficulty finding and keeping jobs, or are in jobs that don't have benefits such as paid time off, I don't think an economic boycott would be feasible for them either.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

The “Day Without an Aspie” was dumb idea, this communication boycott is a dumb idea, and so is the counter “speak up” idea.

I strongly suspect that I may have some form of autism. So what? It doesn't make me any better or worse than anyone else, and it doesn't give me any greater need to gratuitously call attention to myself.

Whatever such “day with…” or “day without…” or similarly dumb ideas anyone may try to promote, I will ignore, and will go about living my life that day exactly as I do every other day.

 

[CelticRose]

Here are some more blog posts on this subject:

http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/mt.php/2010/10/19/communication-shutdown-for-autism-a-bad-idea

I don’t know whether I’ll participate. But I’m certainly not participating in “communication shutdown”. You see, there are other people, besides autistics, who rely on the Internet for their social interaction, namely those who are bed-bound or housebound. Some of them are sick, in pain, and lonely, and the last thing they need is their friends cutting them off for a day, perhaps the very day they most need them, even if it is supposedly in aid of another group of disabled people. So, I’d like to say to people out there who’ve got friends in this condition not to cut them off by participating in this ill-conceived event, and if you do, perhaps you could visit a friend who was in need, or talk to them on the phone. Make it “open up day” rather than shut-down day.

This guy makes a good point. This "communication shutdown" will hurt anyone who depends on the internet for social interaction. I have a friend who's housebound, and he would be almost completely isolated if not for the internet.

http://womanwithaspergers.com/2010/...ay-is-a-bad-idea-and-what-you-can-do-instead/
http://astridvanwoerkom.wordpress.com/2010/10/23/speak-up-on-shutdown/
http://daisymayfattypants.blogspot.com/2010/10/no-im-not-going-silent-for-autism.html

 

[Fnord]

The “Day Without an Aspie” was dumb idea, this communication boycott is a dumb idea, and so is the counter “speak up” idea...

So, by your reasoning, oppressed peoples everywhere should just do nothing except shut up and get back to work.

Thank you, Mr. Bush. Say 'Hello' to Mr. Cheney for me, willya?

 

[Sledge]

It has been suggested that Nov. 1st be made Autistics Speaking Day instead. If you're autistic, please speak out.

And say what?

 

[Fnord]

The Hispanic community tried a similar economic boycott and it failed because too many people were afraid to lose their jobs if they took a day off of work, even if scheduled in advance.

That may be the official reason, but from my perspective (and that of many other non-hispanics I've spoken with), the 'real' reasons it failed were because on that day: (1) About a quarter of the vehicles were missing from the freeways; (2) Waitstaff and servers spoke English; (3) Shorter lines at the convenience stores; (4) More parking spaces everywhere; (5) No leaf-blowers or lawn-mowers roaring at sunrise; (6) Less than a 30-minute wait at the emergency rooms; et cetera...

The main reason that the "Day Without a Mexican" failed in its intended purpose was that non-Hispanics felt that they actually benefitted from it!

Since many people with autism have difficulty finding and keeping jobs, or are in jobs that don't have benefits such as paid time off, I don't think an economic boycott would be feasible for them either.

The people taking off from work that day don't have to be on the Autistic spectrum...

 

[Bob Blaylock]

So, by your reasoning, oppressed peoples everywhere should just do nothing except shut up and get back to work.

In my opinion, some people are much too obsessed with seeing themselves as “oppressed”, and using that as an excuse to spend their efforts calling attention to themselves, and creating a drag on society as a whole, rather than contributing as they should to society. And even worse, such people are often occupied trying to convince others in similar situations that they are also “oppressed” and should do likewise.

I have no use for such whiny parasites. If you are oppressed, it is only because you choose to be so. Perhaps its way past time you grew up, and acted like an adult instead of a whiny toddler.

Dennis: Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I'm being repressed!

King Arthur: Bloody peasant!

Dennis: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, Didn't you?​

 

[Pauliesonne]

As someone with aspergers, what do people expect me to say?

 

[Vic Vega]

Dp

 

[Vic Vega]

So, by your reasoning, oppressed peoples everywhere should just do nothing except shut up and get back to work.

Thank you, Mr. Bush. Say 'Hello' to Mr. Cheney for me, willya?

What people with aspergers should probably do is something constructive like raise money for research instead of organizing some dopey "day without" that no one will pay any attention to.


You lost me on the Bush/Cheney reference.

 

[CelticRose]

@Sledge and Pauliesonne: Whatever you think people need to hear about autism/Aspergers. Or if you're like me and aren't very eloquent, just post links and quotes galore.

Disclaimer: I may or may not be autistic. I have a strong suspicion that I am, but I can't afford to go to a doctor and find out for sure.

 

[CelticRose]

In my opinion, some people are much too obsessed with seeing themselves as “oppressed”, and using that as an excuse to spend their efforts calling attention to themselves, and creating a drag on society as a whole, rather than contributing as they should to society. And even worse, such people are often occupied trying to convince others in similar situations that they are also “oppressed” and should do likewise.

I have no use for such whiny parasites. If you are oppressed, it is only because you choose to be so. Perhaps its way past time you grew up, and acted like an adult instead of a whiny toddler.

Dennis: Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I'm being repressed!

King Arthur: Bloody peasant!

Dennis: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, Didn't you?​

From the link in the OP (sorry for so many quotes, but Ms. Cohen-Rottenberg says it so much better than I can):

We are silenced every time non-autistic people say we are silent.

We are silenced when “autism organizations” speak for us rather than including us.

We are silenced when the “autism community” isn’t led by autistic people.

We are silenced every time non-autistic people call each other “experts” and ignore the fact that we actually live the autistic experience every day.

We are silenced when people give to “autism charities” on our behalf, as though we are victims in need of rescue.

We are silenced every time we are ignored, in situations large and small.

We are silenced when people do not have enough empathy to invite us into a conversation.

We are silenced every time we are told we are “too sensitive” in the face of bullying, harassment, and social ostracism.

We are silenced every time that non-autistic people treat us as though we’re broken.

We are silenced by every act of disrespect, dismissal, and ignorance we encounter.

Bolding mine.

If you choose not to participate in this event, Mr. Blaylock, then that is your choice, but please do not belittle those who choose to participate. Attitudes like yours are exactly what we are speaking out against, i.e., those who assume that we can just "get over ourselves" and act like everyone else. We can't. For example, no amount of "attitude adjustment" is going to enable me to be able to follow a conversation when there are more than 2 other people involved.

BTW, I am no "whiny parasite". I have a job, and I do not receive any kind of disability funding. I manage to pay my own way even though I am consistently underemployed and have trouble keeping a job because a) I am incapable of making social chitchat, which seems to be more important to employers than doing the actual job, and b) I have so much difficulty communicating with so-called "normal" people that it's almost like we're speaking 2 different languages even though we both speak English. Yet when I lose yet another job I don't moan that I'm being "oppressed" -- I pick myself up and go find another job.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinions and are more than welcome to post them, but please keep the insults to yourself.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

If you choose not to participate in this event, Mr. Blaylock, then that is your choice, but please do not belittle those who choose to participate. Attitudes like yours are exactly what we are speaking out against…

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You are, of course, entitled to your opinions and are more than welcome to post them, but please keep the insults to yourself.

My attitude is that my condition does not make me any better or worse than anyone else, does not entitle me to any special treatment or recognition, and does not constitute any excuse for me to contribute any less to society, or to demand any more from society.

By making such a fuss over your condition, and how “oppressed” you are because of it, and what special privileges and recognition you think you are entitled to because of it, you are insulting everyone else who has this same condition, and who manages to live a fairly normal, productive life. You make us all look like entitlement-minded, self-centered crybabies.

 

[Damien Evans]

I've tried to start a "Day Without an Aspie", but it seems that the more militant members of the Autistic spectrum community would rather have a confrontation or inconvenience the world (or both).

As a student this isn't really feasible for me.

 

[Damien Evans]

What people with aspergers should probably do is something constructive like raise money for research instead of organizing some dopey "day without" that no one will pay any attention to.


You lost me on the Bush/Cheney reference.

What sort of research?

If it's for a "cure", count me out, because the only way we know that could "cure" aspergers syndrome would leave me no longer me.

 

[TubbaBlubba]

I'm not exactly sure what the rest of us are going to do in response to this.


I'm also not sure what the opposition to treatment to help you function in society is all about. I'm treated for mental disorders that help me function in society. So is everyone else. Aspies just like anyone else have a right to refuse treatment, but the vehement opposition to research is alien to me. If something leaves you unable to or impaired with regards to functioning in society, treatment is an obvious option.

 

[Damien Evans]

I'm not exactly sure what the rest of us are going to do in response to this.


I'm also not sure what the opposition to treatment to help you function in society is all about. I'm treated for mental disorders that help me function in society. So is everyone else. Aspies just like anyone else have a right to refuse treatment, but the vehement opposition to research is alien to me. If something leaves you unable to or impaired with regards to functioning in society, treatment is an obvious option.

Treatment for any conditions that come with it (anxiety etc.) I'm fine with, but when the only current way we know of that could "cure" aspergers would be massive brain surgery leaving you a completely different person I'm rather less ok with it.

 

[TubbaBlubba]

Is anyone actually suggesting massive brain surgery to cure Asperger syndrome?