#AutisticsSpeakingDay

[yesthattoo]

One Last Autistics Speaking Day.

I actually don't remember the start of Autistics Speaking Day (I'd just started my freshman year of college), but I've read about it.  I've participated a few times. I helped with the Tumblr for it, I think 2014-2016?  But as time moves on, the ways people engage in communities have changed. Yahoo groups were before my time. I began engaging in the age of blogs. I saw #AutChat start. I think we're in the age of social media, now, more so than stand-alone blogs. I'm not sure that's a good thing, but I think it's true. Facebook groups are where I'm most active, now.  I'm still speaking. Just... not usually orally, and not usually here.  (It's also relevant that I've been writing in places that aren't blogs or social media, but that's more the academic side of things than the everyday.)

[drashfaqhomeo]

**Autistics Speaking Day** is observed on **November 1st** each year. It was founded by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in 2010 to provide a platform for autistic individuals to share their stories and experiences in their own words. The day encourages everyone to listen and understand these stories from the perspective of autistic people.

To help autistic individuals in speaking, here are some strategies:

1. **Use Visual Aids and Sign Language**: Many autistic individuals are visual learners, so using visual supports like pictures, symbols, or sign language can be very helpful.

2. **Create Opportunities for Communication**: Surround them with language and give them chances to practice communicating.

3. **Use Modeling, Prompting, and Repetition**: Demonstrate how to use language, prompt them to respond, and repeat the process to reinforce learning.

4. **Focus on Turn-Taking and Imitation**: Encourage turn-taking in conversations and imitate their speech to show understanding.

5. **Pursue Speech Therapy**: Professional speech therapy can provide tailored support and techniques.

6. **Consider Augmentative Communication**: Use tools like communication boards or speech-generating devices to assist in expressing themselves.

7. **Create a Language-Rich Environment**: Surround them with books, conversations, and activities that promote language use.

Homeopathic Dr Ashfaq Ahmad

Umang Homeopathy Clinic, Mian Channu

0313-577-7790

#AutisticsSpeakingDay #AutismAcceptance #InclusionMatters #ListenAndLearn #DiverseVoices #Empowerment #AutismAwareness #SafeSpaces #VisualLearning #Homeopathy #DrAshfaqAhmad #HolisticHealth #NaturalHealing #HealthTips #HealthyLiving

[ldphilly]

#autisticsspeakingday https://www.instagram.com/p/CVvmsrxvoxp/?utm_medium=tumblr

[autisticsspeakingday]

Submitted by @butterflyinthewell, The Heart Asks For Pleasure First, a lovely music video

[awn-network]

Happy Autistics Speaking Day!

The submissions are now being posted! Follow along at @autisticsspeakingday or at https://autisticsspeakingday.blogspot.com/.

From the creators: “It is a blogging event that started in 2011 to battle negative perspectives about autistic people and amplifying autistic stories and narratives. There is no theme, there is no limitation on medium... For autistics, by autistics.”

[autisticadvocacy]

Today I am silent. That is it's own form of communication

[neurowonderful]

The problem is less that autistic people aren’t speaking, and much more that non-autistic people won’t stop.

Today is Autistics Speaking Day. I have something to say to non-autistic people. Can you listen?

Marvin and I went out to eat after protesting the 2014 Autism Speaks walk with ASAN Vancouver. From the moment we entered the restaurant, a patron sitting and eating with her family was openly staring at me and my wheelchair.

It seemed like this person really had a problem with me when I got out of my wheelchair to fold it up and sit at the only place we could-  the table right next to her and her family. The staring got really obvious then. When Marvin brought over our food and McStaringson saw that we were going to stay and eat there, she got very uncomfortable.

I was tired, 110% finished with non-autistics, hungry, and overloaded in all of my senses. In that moment I cared a sub-zero amount about looking non-autistic, or less obviously disabled. I just did my thing and ignored McStaringson. I made no eye contact with anyone. I didn’t force any facial expressions. I was rocking in my seat, and I very likely flapped my hands when I saw our food coming.

When she couldn’t take it anymore (and she didn’t last long) McStaringson leaned over and pointed me out to her family. From the table immediately next to us. She was upset. I could hear her very clearly, but I’m sure she wanted me to. She actually managed to convince her teenage kids and spouse to get up and leave their food, which none of them had finished, so that she could get away from me as fast as possible.

I never went back to that restaurant. It took a little time and a lot of gritting my teeth to be able to eat in public again.

I have tried to talk about this three times in the presence of non-autistic people. All three times I was met with disbelief, justification, or correction- as if I were wrong about the thing that happened to me. Perhaps you’re feeling bristly and defensive yourself. Perhaps you’re already composing a #NotAllAllistics response like the ones I have heard in real space.

“It couldn’t have been that bad.”

“I’m sure you misunderstood.”

“Maybe she was leaving for some other reason.”

“Well, don’t autistic people struggle with understanding facial expressions...?”

They spoke for me, over me. They were so unwilling to hear what I was saying or believe that ableism is a widespread problem to which everyone is owed some responsibility, that they denied reality and my experiences.

And yet, this is the same kind of person who expresses dismayed surprise when they are finally confronted with an act of violent ableism or obvious oppression that they can’t deny. The denial of our daily lived experiences is the foundation for more obvious forms of oppression, but they can’t see the link. That link needs to be pointed out and the silencing needs to stop.

It’s not so much that autistic people aren’t speaking. We are speaking. It’s that so few are listening, and the rest of you won’t stop speaking over us. Our voices get drowned out. Often this is intentional. Sometimes it is the result of a true ignorance about autistic people and our lives, or the wrong belief that autistic people need someone to speak for them. But allies can help fight this ignorance and slay that insidious lie.

When an autistic person shares their lived experiences, believe and support them. When we have something to say, listen. Value our knowledge. Share our words so they fly farther. Amplify our voices, no matter how we communicate. I would say that the Autistics Speaking Day hashtags are an excellent place to start.

#AutisticsSpeakingDay #ASDay

[iamthethunder]

Comfort someone who is struggling with Autistic identity or a tough day. Celebrate good things that happen in someone’s life. Add new people to your Facebook group and make a point of actually talking to them. Help a new advocate make plans and learn the ropes. Tell someone that Loud Hands is well worth a read. Handle new people’s mistakes gently. Remember that they’re trying to figure out how an entirely new culture works. Online or IRL, a little effort to help someone assimilate in a positive way isn’t just a kind thing that you do for one other person. It’s one of the best things you can do to make our community a welcoming place, something to which people want to remain connected throughout their lives. It’s one of the best things you can do for the longevity of our culture and community.

[assetbucky]

I am Autism

My autism doesn’t define me. I’m verbal and empathetic, and trusted out on my own...

My autism doesn’t define me. I have friends, impulse control, and motivation...

My autism doesn’t define me. I can do school work and make eye contact...

...except when I’m not.

...except when I don’t.

...except when I can’t.

and when I’m not, and when I don’t, and when I can’t, and when I won’t

That’s when they say

You’re not your autism. Don’t let it stop you. Don’t act autistic, don’t act retarded. Don’t be yourself.

My autism does define me. I’m nonverbal and have low empathy, and I shouldn’t be trusted.

My autism does define me. My friends all leave, I can’t fight my impulses, and I don’t get out of bed for a week.

My autism does define me. I’m missing every assignment and don’t look up from my hands.

It’s every part of who I am. It formed every aspect of my personality. It's how I move, how I feel. Without it, I’d be nothing.

I wouldn’t exist. Nothing is broken, and so can’t be fixed. None can be cured, remedied, repaired.

My autism does define me, and I am Autism.

[oneautisticperson]

Autistics Speaking Day 2019: On misunderstandings again

Well, it is the 1st November so Autistics Speaking Day has come around again meaning it is time to write my yearly blog post. In 2017 my post was about a lack of understanding on my part about several situations that had occurred throughout my life (Link is: https://oneautisticperson.tumblr.com/post/167004402567/autistics-speaking-day-on-understandings for anyone who is interested). This year, I want to highlight a few situations where non-autistic people have had misunderstandings about the abilities or preferences of myself/other autistic people based on information they think is relevant ….. but is not.

 I am a qualified teacher. I also do a significant amount of public speaking. When I was on teaching practicums, my supervisors from the university would often tell me that the staff at my school placements were worried about me. The staff at the schools observed that I was quiet in the staffroom at lunch and recess (and just quiet in general around the staff). To the staff, this was apparently a sign that I would struggle to speak loudly and clearly to students in the classroom.

 I was and still am somewhat puzzled by this. In the staffroom I have no idea what staff will discuss, I find it difficult to come up with something to say in response to what they have said and I have difficulty knowing when is a good time to say my response. In contrast, when I speak in front of a group of people – whether it be to a class or other setting – I have prepared my talk in advance, I know what I will be saying and I know when I have to say it. For me, these two situations are very different and are not connected.

 The idea that a person must be willing and able to engage in group conversations as a prerequisite for being able to present in front of a group is an assumption being made by some people in the teaching profession. Perhaps this assumption is correct for certain people but it is certainly not true for everyone.

 Concerning preferences, some autistic students prefer receiving information in written or visual format rather than verbal format. This preference will often be recorded in student profiles – as it should be. The problem is that some teachers see this listed preference and make an assumption that the student also prefers giving information in a written or visual format. This assumption might be correct but I have worked with several autistic students that prefer receiving information in written format but prefer giving information verbally. A person’s preferences for receiving and giving information may be different or the same.

 What is my point for this post?

Well the point is certainly not that autistic people always prefer communicating verbally and are fine with public speaking! That is certainly not true. Several autistic people do find public speaking difficult and prefer to communicate via written format in all circumstances. Communication/social interaction strengths and weaknesses are different for each autistic person after all.

 My point is that teachers, parents and other people working with autistic individuals need to critically think about the judgments they are making about the abilities and preferences of a particular autistic person. Are these judgments correct or have these judgments been made based on information that may not actually be relevant (and therefore are actually based on assumptions)? If the latter, how can the judgment be tested to see if it is true or false? I suggest asking the autistic person (and their family if appropriate) but what other ways could be used? The answer to that will depend on what judgments have been made.

 I hope this has given readers something to think about.

  Written by oneautisticperson aka Leeanne Marshall

[nekobakaz]

Participation buttons for #ASDay!

[autisticsspeakingday]

We’re already getting entries via the submission form, and they’ve all been wonderful! I’m getting them scheduled to reblog :) Thank you all! ~Corina

[awn-network]

Official Blog for ASDay To raising Autism awareness and Acceptance, and battling negative...

TODAY November 1, 2014 AUTISTICS SPEAKING DAY!!

[autisticadvocacy]

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