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Overview
In this module, you will UNLEARN:
1) Unlearn from Autistic Advocates as they share some myths related to Autistics.
2) Recognize some common misconceptions about Autistics.
3) Become better equipped to understand and counter the impact of harmful tropes and stereotypes.
You are encouraged to reflect in your Autistic Insights and Reflections Journal throughout this section.
Rationale:
Have you ever hear any of these? We hear them daily.
Have you ever hear any of these? We hear them daily.
"You Don't Look Autistic"
"You Don't Look Autistic"
"It's not that loud." (or bright, or prickly, or sour, or sore..)
"Everyone's a bit Autistic".
"You can't be Autistic. You are not like my son.""
She's 'non-verbal' and can't understand. I speak for her."
"Autistics have no empathy."
"We need to teach social skills and eye contact so they will fit in."
"You can't be Autistic. You have a career and a child."
"There is an epidemic of Autism. It must be in the water or those vaccines"
Autism Acceptance Week Blog by Papyrus:Prevention of Young Suicide(April 2024)
Yikes!
In the spirit of #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs, this module provides a variety of videos, articles and other content created by, for and about Autistics related to some of the myths which are pervasive and harmful to the Autistic Community. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but a concerted effort has been made to provide a sampling of the robust diversity of experiences within the Autistic community, while equipping you with some resources to understand and combat stereotypes, tropes and misconceptions.
To help broaden the narrative on what you (and those within your sphere of influence) may know about Autistics, I want to emphasize:
1) the importance of prioritizing Autistic voice when seeking and selecting resources, and
2)the need to amplify those within the Autistic community who have historically been most marginalized, namely Non-Speakers and Autistics who are also members of groups who are racialized, members of the 2SLGBTQIA community or are otherwise marginalized .
Explore and Reflect!
As you review the videos, blog posts and other resources, you are encouraged to reflect in your Autistic Insights and Reflections Journal, or here are the some prompts to help get you started:
UNLEARN: Demystifying and Mythbusting (Module 1)
Have the resources provided helped you discover misconceptions you may have had?
How do your existing practices align with what you are learning in this module? Next steps?
Watch Quinn Dexter explain how Prejudice Wears Many Faces.
We are not all Rainman, Dr. Shaun Murphy or Sheldon.
Quinn's YouTube channel and educational videos on Autistic truths are always thought-provoking.
Watch In My Language by Mel Baggs.
Being a Non-Speaker does NOT equate to being a non-thinker.
You will not forget this video.
"The first part is in my "native language," and then the second part provides a translation, or at least an explanation. This is not a look-at-the-autie gawking freakshow as much as it is a statement about what gets considered thought, intelligence, personhood, language, and communication, and what does not". -Mel Baggs
Graphic by Rebecca Burgess . You can also download an explanation of the Spectrum Wheel,
Listen to Morenike Giwa Onaiwu chat with Not An Autism Mom's Meghan Ashburn on Advice for Parents of Newly Diagnosed Children
#ListenToNonSpeakers #PresumeCompetence
Watch See Us, Hear Us, a short documentary film featuring Jordyn Zimmerman, a Non-Speaking Autistic advocate, in CommunicationFIRST's first episode of this series (2022). Visit the See Us, Hear Us Campaign .
Read Advice for Parents from Matthew Rushin's Mom
Most of the resources in this learning experience are from Autistics, but parents like Lavern Rushin who choose to learn from the Autistic community are great allies!
Hear from Venessa Swaby and Ann Memmott on Intersectionality and Autism and how it is addressed in the National Autism Trainer Programmed that was developed in the UK.
Listen to Cambridge’s youngest Black professor Jason Arday on Autism, racism, and learning to read at 18 as a featured guest on Ways to Change the World Podcast
Read Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Autistic: The Media Needs to Stop Devaluing My Life to hear about the impact of stereotypes on racialized Autistics.
Watch Lyric's video on the 10 Biggest Myths and then access the Flash Cards to check your understanding:
Autism Myths Debunked, A Practice Set for Becoming an Authentically Informed Ally
(Please note: If accessing the free version of Kahoot outside a school, you may experience ads during the use of the Flash cards.)
The Puzzle Piece Controversy
Every April especially, puzzle pieces emerge as part of "Autism Awareness" campaigns by those trying to show support for Autistics. However, Autistics did not choose the puzzle piece (just like they did not choose to light it up blue) symbols and there is a complicated history surrounding it. It's important ou need to know about so you can understand why the majority of Autistics (who know the history) do not
Listen to this International Clubhouse Room organized by Ask Autistics to hear why Clubhouse Ditched the Puzzle Piece
You can download the app here using your mobile device.
Autism Fact vs Fiction, by Different Minds, One Scotland
Stop Trying to "Cure" the "Epidemic". Acceptance is the cure.
We Don't Treat Autism by Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
TNC has countless helpful infographics related to Neuroaffirmative practice and is run by an Autistic Speech and Languages Therapist
The Problem with Behaviourism:
Read about Applied Behavioural Analysis and the controversy surrounding it.
Find Autistic created resources on some better ways than ABA.
This is a big one so I've reserved a page to itself.
Who is missing empathy here?
In 2013, after ongoing evidence that Autism Speaks (often spelt with dollar signs, (e.g., Auti$m $peak$) was not speaking FOR Autistics and not responding to Autistic concerns, Autistic author and advocate, John Elder Robinson resigned, sharing this article containing his resignation:
Read John Elder Robinson's Resignation Letter to Autism Speaks.
AutismSpeaksFlyer2021.pdfThe vaccine myth
Although the harmful myth that Autism is caused by vaccines has been thoroughly debunked, here is handy tool for when you need to explain this to someone else.
Research fraud catalyzed the anti-vaccination movement. Let’s not repeat history.
Friendly reflection reminder...
Journalling in your own way will help you on this journey, whether on paper, in words, digitally, through music or art. Here is the Autistic Insights and Reflections Journal as well as some prompts for this module:
UNLEARN: Demystifying and Mythbusting (Module 1)
Have the resources provided helped you discover misconceptions you may have had?
How do your existing practices align with what you are learning in this module? Next steps?
Which resources or tools can you use in your school or workplace to help debunk myths about being Autistic?
Which myths do you need to explore further?
Anything you want to bookmark or add to your to do list?
With the above in mind, what is you next best move towards allyship?
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