There is the heart-swelling feeling of being part of a child’s development; watching them move through life. There is the comfort in our future in knowing that our world reaches our future generation. There is the earnest feeling of knowing that our work matters. There is nothing more important than connecting with a child.
Each year I have the privilege of inviting individuals who support the value and intentions of Love & Autism means. This year each of our speakers embody what it means to embrace the power of authenticity.
Using arbitrary and limiting labels of high functioning and low functioning, with the intent to help one get a “better picture of the person with autism”, is not only insulting, but dehumanizing. Pathologizing reinforces a deficits view of autism. These labels serve no one. No human is all one thing. We each have good days and bad. We all have struggles and strengths.
Autistic rights are a human rights. Autistic rights are not just a charity cause to make those in the neuro-majority feel good for ‘helping out some kids’. All of us, together, need to care about the rights of autistic people.