The Politics of Autism Published at Blogcritics

Bravo, that needed to be said. I am the father of an 11-yr-old with autism. Thanks so much for the very well reasoned piece. Not bad for a retired stripper!

Margaret, I really enjoyed your article. I would like to read it in a video on Youtube, giving you full credit. I think it is quite powerful. Of course, I respect your wishes either way. Please use my email address to respond.

I commented where the article was published, over on blogcritics.org, but it’s worth reiterating praise where praise is due. D o’C put his finger on what makes your essay so effective. And I’d *love* to see what Christschool could do with the text!

MET, I think it’s an unfortunate mistake to assume that proponents of neurodiversity acceptance belittle or disrespect your family’s — and your sister’s — struggle. We don’t.

Margaret, if you do take up the topic idea I commented on over at blogcritics.org, I think you’d do an excellent job of it. Don’t worry about not having thought of the idea first — go for it! And let me know if you do: I think the urgency of getting autism organizations and their rank-and-file to focus on the *constructive* things they can do to improve the daily quality of life of autistic people and their families is so important that I’d like to see if we could run it in the newsletters and on the websites of the autism organizations I’m active with, Autism Network International (http://www.ani.ac), the Autism National Committee (http://www.autcom.org), the Asperger’s Association of New England (http://www.aane.org), and (yes, even — perhaps especially) the Massachusetts chapter of the Autism Society of America.

Thank you for this. I’m not sure of your connection to the Autism community, but you put in words what many of us have been trying to say.

The politics are dividing and essentially conquering our efforts to learn and understand.

Autism is the new Homosexuality when it comes to understanding.

“Only when the many shapes of personhood are recognised will justice and human rights be possible.” – A.M. Baggs -In My Language
Margaret you wrote an amazing commentary. It certainly stirs up people.
I had a drama teacher tell me once that most people are motivated by one of two things. I think that it pertains here in the struggle to understand the politics of autism. The two things that motivate people are love and fear. Most of what drives us is fear. Fear of God, fear of retribution, fear of our parents, fear of the unknown, there are a lot of things in the world to be afraid of. Lust and greed fall under fear. So does hate and loathing. Maybe some of our actions are motivated by both love and fear. I’m sure parents that lash out at your blog love their children too. I think that what’s important to remember about a political movement of people(even if we are in total disagreement with each other) whose mission is to change something, is: That IT needs changing. You got to have both extremes sides to balance out and come to a middle understanding on a command ground. I believe that a someday a change is going to come. The world is going to accept nuero- diversity. At least blogs like yours and video’s like Christchurches are creating controversey and dialog, which is a step in the direction of a new way. Keep on shaking things up Lady.