#Support Autism

[amyyythestarry]

Bro my ELA teacher is ableist, and I have his class first thing. 💀

Today he got on these neurodivergent kids bc they forgot to bring their computers. He don’t know what they got going on, don’t shame them for accidentally forgetting something especially when it’s not even school yet.

He always got a major attitude.

I’m literally surrounded by ableist. Yesterday my mom said my little brother act like he got an illness, and he has a lot of ADHD symptoms ( To me at least ) and she always refers neurological disabilities as fricking illnesses. Bet she wouldn’t say that about blind people though. On top of that my dad obviously doesn’t know what executive dysfunction is. Like what the f**k.

[2003-playground]

Can we stop using "still lives with their parents" or "unemployed" or "doesn't have a drivers license" or "didn't graduate high school" as an insult or evidence that someone is a bad person? Struggling with independence or meeting milestones is not a moral failing.

[kenapiece-main]

Can you believe I'm having to make this meme even after successfully finishing up taxes and applying to job

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[zombblehh]

Shout out to the autistic who’s abilities have regressed as they’ve gotten older.

“You didn’t used to be like this when you were a kid.” I know please don’t remind me

[noisycowboyglitter]

Please Bee Kind: Personal Stories from the Autism Community

"Please Bee Kind I Have Autism" is a compassionate phrase that serves as both a gentle reminder and an awareness-raising statement. This message, often seen on t-shirts, badges, or other personal items, aims to promote understanding and patience towards individuals on the autism spectrum.

Buy now:19.95$ The clever wordplay using "bee" instead of "be" adds a touch of whimsy and memorability to the phrase, often accompanied by a cute bee illustration. This approach makes the message more approachable and less confrontational, encouraging positive interactions. For individuals with autism, this phrase can act as a non-verbal communication tool, helping to explain their unique needs or behaviors in social situations. It can alleviate anxiety by preemptively informing others about their neurodiversity, potentially leading to more accommodating and understanding interactions. For neurotypical individuals, this message serves as a prompt to be more patient, open-minded, and accepting of neurodivergent behaviors. It encourages people to approach interactions with empathy and to be more considerate of diverse communication styles and sensory sensitivities.

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This phrase is part of a broader movement to increase autism awareness and acceptance in society. By wearing or displaying this message, individuals and allies contribute to normalizing conversations about autism and promoting a more inclusive environment for everyone.

April is recognized globally as Autism Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This annual observance aims to highlight the experiences, challenges, and strengths of individuals on the autism spectrum.

Throughout the month, various organizations, schools, and communities host events, workshops, and campaigns to educate the public about autism. These initiatives focus on promoting inclusivity, dispelling myths, and advocating for better support systems.

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The puzzle piece ribbon, often in blue, serves as a widely recognized symbol for autism awareness. Many landmarks worldwide are illuminated in blue during this month to show solidarity.

Autism Awareness Month emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, intervention, and ongoing support for individuals with ASD. It also celebrates neurodiversity and the unique perspectives and abilities that autistic individuals bring to society

Autism gifts are thoughtful items designed to support, comfort, or celebrate individuals on the autism spectrum. These can include sensory toys like fidget spinners or weighted blankets, which help with sensory regulation. Educational resources such as books about autism or social skills games are popular choices. Personalized items like autism awareness jewelry or custom t-shirts can help promote understanding and pride. Noise-cancelling headphones or

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sunglasses for light sensitivity address common sensory challenges. Assistive technology devices and communication aids are also valuable gifts. These presents aim to enhance the quality of life, boost self-esteem, and show support for autistic individuals and their families.

[lightning-system]

As a medium/lower support needs autistic who works with young higher support needs autistic:

We all matter. We all have the same diagnosis. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

But we are not the same.

I can mask and might be seen as 'odd' or 'weird' in public. The students I work with are seen as 'dangerous' and 'practically little kids'.

I can go to university and work with accommodations. The students I work with likely will never live independently and a few might find jobs that support them but still pay them less than an abled worker.

I have full control of my finances. The students I work with aren't allowed to make independent financial decisions, even if capable.

If I say 'no,' I'm making a choice. The students I work with can't say 'no' without being labeled as defiant and difficult.

I can feed myself, bathe myself, and take care of myself with extreme challenges. The students I work with are unable to take care of themselves without high levels of support/one on one support.

I had an IEP in high school but was mainstreamed in classes. The students I work with take separate classes and some rarely get to interact with their abled peers.

Our experiences are fundamentally different. Higher support needs autistics will experience a specific type of ableism I never will, and can never fully understand.

Lower support needs autistics need to stop saying we understand what higher support needs autistics are going through and then present autism as only being disabling because of society/lack of acceptance because that is dangerous. We need to stop saying every autistic person is capable of everything if given the right support because that leaves out huge parts of our community who will never be able to do certain things, regardless of support.

We are worthy of existence regardless of our abilities.

Autism is a spectrum. It is not the same for every autistic person. Autism acceptance and advocacy has to come with accepting, acknowledging, and listening to our higher support needs peers.

[zebulontheplanet]

This is your reminder because some of y’all are fucking weird.

An adult who has high support needs is NOT the same as a toddler. A high support needs adult is NOT “functionally a child”

THEY. ARE. AN. ADULT.

High support needs people that are adults are fucking adults. Stop speaking of them like they aren’t. “Oh but they can’t do this independently and they act very childish” THEY ARE HIGH SUPPORT NEEDS. STOP IT.

[sodaslug]

big big reminder that high support needs / severe autism / level 3 autism folk aren't very straightforward narrow topic too . we rather big spectrum as well !!! some us need very specific type supports than another some us need multiple caretakers ect !!! and reminder that just because high support needs / severe autism / level 3 autism person learn to do or can do a task independently doesn't mean theyre lower needs now.

i know level 3 autistic guy with severe cognitive impairment who can unload and load dishwasher by self, set plates on table for meals and wash body most well independently but with supervised in the room for safety, but that dont make his support needs and autism level lower he still cant take care of himself by own, cant go out home by self, cant shop by self, cant drive, doesn't understand stuff same level others do, still need that carer for life.

so please remember autistic people who high need level 3 severe ect not monolith too we are all different, different interests, different abilities, different ways of supports too!!

[neurodivergent-willow]

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as my family are all considered carers for me,

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i receive disability benefits for my autism

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i have special needs so severe i cant even attend school

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i am nonverbal

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i can't regularly dress, bath, do grooming tasks without help or at all

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me after I've spent months of my life requiring 24/7 1-1 supervision

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i am housebound

"Autism isn't a disability" you tell me as i am officially diagnosed with nothing other than autism.

Maybe autism is a disability, and maybe you just don't want to accept you are disabled because of the stigma around disability? All autistic people are significantly impaired in areas of functioning, even if that makes you uncomfortable, that is the truth. And maybe you should spent 1 minute to go and read the diagnostic criteria for autism. That all autistic people meet.

Autism is a disability, and when you advocate that it's not, you are making real world harm, especially for people with substantial support needs.

They don't give disability services to non disabled people, so please, when your advocacy includes limiting services for those of us who need them the most, is it advocacy or are you just harming people who are already in positions that they can't advocate and be as loud as you.

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

keep get lot of “even though am only low support needs / only level 1 / verbal / etc… struggle a lot with autism…” n with either implied or explicitly said “not as bad as higher support needs / higher level / etc” “can’t imagine what it like for [ ]”

n as higher support need level 2/3 nonverbal autistic, want say:

yes of course be aware we exist n sometimes face extra stuff extra struggle extra ableism advocate with us be aware of experiences you may not have but

you all have just as much claim to autism & autism as disability as us

don’t need tiptoe around us

low support needs is support needs & level 1 autism is autism is disability. n struggle around that is true struggle valid struggle

don’t need be higher support needs level 2&3 semiverbal nonverbal severe autism etc to be struggle

compulsive anxiety of Must Make Sure Am Not Speak Over so say “even though only 1/LSN”, overly done, actually can feed into idea that only HrSN 2/3 struggle true struggle valid struggle n LSN level 1 not struggle enough not valid enough n so if struggle, must be HrSN 2/3. it actually water down downplay all amounts of support low/medium/high/everything in between, downplay all levels of autism 1 2 & 3

last thing want see is you all downplay self for so long n burn out n backfire, “what about me? why only about HSN level 3 nonverbal people?” n swing other way - this harm all autistics, you n us

confidently say “am low support needs autism n i struggle” “am level 1 autistic n i struggle” actually best way help all autistics, both you n me

[auschizm]

Here's a post for the autistic people who can't relate to the "autism is a difference, not a disability" movement at all. The nonverbal autistic people. The autistic people who need help with basic self care like eating, going to the bathroom, getting dressed and showering. The autistic people who need full-time supervision to stay safe. To the autistic people who can't go places alone or can't go places at all. To the autistic people who can't help having violent meltdowns. To the autistic people who don't understand social interaction at all. To the autistic people who'll never be able to study, work or live alone. To the autistic people who have to follow a very strict routine to function. You're all an important and valuable part of the autistic community. You don't deserve to be ignored, excluded or sacrificed in the name of a more palatable image of what it means to be autistic

[ps1demodisk]

Sorry I'm not low empathy autistic in the "mysterious loner boy who secretly cares about his friends and talks in a monotone voice" way and I'm actually just completely indifferent to the suffering of people I don't know personally and help strangers out of a sense of "this is the right thing to do" and not "I feel so bad for this person" or guilt.

I sit and listen to my friends even though I don't really care about hearing about their problems because I know they'll be upset if I don't, and despite the fact I honestly can't genuinely care about the issue itself, I care about the impact it's having on my friends and that's enough to make me want to help them through it.

Did you know that's actually an expression of empathy all of its own?

It will absolutely happen again I literally am not even sorry

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[spectralsnoot]

Y’all self diagnosing as low support autistic, you are valid. But let’s not pretend like high support need individuals don’t exist. Autism isn’t trendy, it isn’t “quirky”, it’s not a brag to be put on your profile to say “I think I might be autistic” for clout on the internet. Autism comes in many forms, and high support individuals probably don’t see their autism as a brag. Being nonspeaking, having a lack of control over your own motor function, needing assistance in most every aspect of your life, being stripped of your independence because otherwise you may be unsafe to yourself or others, being looked down upon by a society who views you as “retarded”….low support autism is valid and deserving of the same supports as high support autism, but to those of you that romanticize autism, whether you are autistic or not, please stop. Autistic individuals are beautiful, amazing, and so worthy of love no matter where they fall on the spectrum. But autistic individuals will always face challenges because of their neurodivergence by a society that as a majority is uneducated and lacking empathy. If you suspect you may be autistic, please pursue your truth. Maybe you became good at masking without knowing you were doing it, maybe you are “quirky”, etc. Be true to yourself.

However…

Romanticizing autism ignores the reality of the many many high support individuals who do not have that luxury. Love yourself but do not trivialize or erase the reality of our high support brothers and sisters.