#then don’t use the rainbow infinity symbol

[lesbian-honey-lemon]

this autism acceptance month I would like for everyone making posts/art to STOP using the rainbow infinity symbol to represent ONLY autism. The rainbow symbol is for ALL NEURODIVERGENTS. This includes disorders completely separate from autism such as Down Sydrome, ASPD, NPD, schizophrenia, Angelman Syndrome, and many other disabilities. It is not a symbol for autism in specific. The Autism Colors are red and gold (red for Red Instead, gold for AU)

Please use red and gold infinity symbols for when you talk about autism specifically, and save the rainbow symbol for when you talk about neurodiversity in general.

[crabussy]

it’s autism acceptance week!! some information and reminders for our non autistic allies:

- autism speaks is horrendously harmful to the autistic community. I won’t go into it here but research it if you’re curious!! don’t support them or donate to them.

- “light it up blue” and the puzzle piece symbol are both disliked by the majority of autistic people, as they were both coined by autism speaks as well as the ironic fact that blue lights can be extremely unpleasant and painful to autistic people with sensory issues. The puzzle piece implies that we are a puzzle to be solved, which removes agency from autistic people and is generally hurtful and disheartening.

-autism acceptance week > autism awareness week!! this one doesn’t need too much explanation, acceptance is always better than just awareness (:

- better symbols to show your support include the rainbow infinity symbol!! this symbol was coined by neurodivergent people and is a much more appropriate and appreciated choice than the puzzle piece.

- asperger’s is a term a lot of autistic people are trying to phase out of language used for ourselves, as it was coined by a man who was extremely involved with nazis and has roots in eugenics. It's origin is complicated, but overall it's a label most autistic people dislike for many reasons.

- high functioning and low functioning are also labels we are trying to get rid of as they remove agency from autistic people with high needs and diminish the chance of accommodations for low need autistics. (low needs is the new high functioning and high needs is the new low functioning!!) these new labels address the needs of autistic people without referencing functioning abilities, which are often arbitrary as our needs are more important than our ability to process things (:

- autistic people are sexy and awesome and deserve your patience, respect, and support!! want to show your support in the little ways? ask your autistic friend questions about their special interest(s) or hyperfixations!! try to up your use of tone tags, as they’re necessary to many autistic people. and just be normal about us!! dont act like we’re special or more worthy of attention than others, and don’t ignore us or throw us under the bus. happy autism acceptance week!!

please reblog to share this so it reaches more people (:

[ipso-faculty]

Proposing new meanings for the Disability Pride Flag stripes

I love the design of the disability pride flag made by @capricorn-0mnikorn (in consultation with many disabled people!). It’s beautiful, elegant, and distinct. I love the symbolism of the diagonal stripes.

But the more I think about the meanings of the five diagonal stripes, the more uncomfortable I am with them. So I'll explain my discomfort and then give proposed alternative meanings.

For those unfamiliar, these are the meanings that capricorn-0mnikorn gives:

The White Stripe: Invisible and Undiagnosed Disabilities

The Red Stripe: Physical Disabilities

The Gold Stripe: Neurodivergence

The Blue Stripe: Psychiatric Disabilities

The Green Stripe: Sensory Disabilities

With additional and helpful context here! 💙 Like a lot of disabled people my disabilities don't all fit neatly into these boxes, but I recognize some disabled people see themselves in these categories. I do appreciate the symbolism of it being the most common flag colours / internationalism plus the intent of representing diversity amongst the disability community.

Here’s what doesn’t sit well with me:

The yellow was chosen for the neurodiversity stripe because gold = Au = autism (and also as a fuck you to autism speaks, a sentiment I agree with 💯). 

So autism is used to represent all of neurodiversity. Even though the 2018 AutisticsUK campaign to associate gold with autism was explicitly motivated by the idea that neurodiversity is larger than just autism and autistic people should have our own colour/symbol distinct from the rainbow infinity used for general neurodiversity.

One specific disability is effectively being given a whole stripe (autism) while the other four stripes are based on abstract ideas: red is associated with body -> physical disability, blue is associated with the mind (and is “opposite” to red) so -> mental disability. This is reasonable but it’s inconsistent. (And I am very much the kind of autistic who gets bothered by internal inconsistency 😅)

The Deaf community has been using cyan blue for ages (since at least 1999, probably older) and they have been so vital in disability rights history. I feel if any single disability deserves to get an entire stripe to themselves it should be them.

I appreciate the honestly that assigning green to sensory disabilities was because “that was the color that was left over” but it still feels wrong given how vital blind & deaf people have been to disability history. 

Blue for mental/emotional disabilities also misses that the Mad Pride movement has been using purple as their colour since at least 2013. 

If all five stripes were disconnected from actual disability-specific pride flags I think I’d be okay with it. What sets me off is the inconsistency: autism gets the privilege of its own chosen colour but not other disabilities? (Also: autism isn’t the only disability that uses yellow!)

My proposal for new meanings

I propose each stripe represent a different cause of disability, and the associated model(s) of disability that go with that cause:

Red: disability due to injury / the debility model of disability - e.g. injury due to armed conflicts caused by colonialism, injury due to gun violence in a country which fails to regulate gun safety, preventable illness due to sociopolitical neglect 😡🩸

Yellow: disability due to natural differences / affirmative models of disability - e.g. autistic people who lead lives that take advantage of their autistic traits, DSPS folks who are able to work night shifts and take pride in doing so 😄🌟

Blue: situational disabilities / critical models like the social model, social construction model, political/relational model, and radical model - e.g. a Deaf person who feels their only disability is that people don’t speak their signed language and don’t provide captions/etc 🗣️♿️

Green: disability due to illness / biomedical models of disability - e.g. people with conditions like ME/CFS and Long Covid who actually do want to be treated/cured 🤢🦠

White: disability caused by unknown or other factors / other models such as the human rights model - e.g. somebody with a poorly-understood and/or undiagnosed illness who is fighting for access for accommodations and medical care 👀🤍

People may relate to multiple stripes! Whether it’s for the same disability or for having multiple disabilities. Like the old meanings, the intent is to showcase our internal diversity. 🌈

It’s been my experience of disability community that attitudes about disability tend (in general) to be linked more to when/how we were disabled rather than mental/physical/sensory/etc. For example, people like me who were disabled from a young age tend to understand our disabilities differently than people who acquire disability later in life.

Colour choice justifications:

Red as disabilities caused by injury: keeping with capricorn-0mnikorn’s association of red with the body plus the common associations of red with blood, violence, and anger. I want to explicitly include the debility model of disability because a lot of white disabled people tend to forget or gloss over how disability is used as a weapon against racialized & Global South folks.

Yellow is associated with optimism and pleasure as well as enlightenment (such as in the Deaf flag) and so I connect it to the affirmation model of disability (which is the opposite of the charity/tragedy model). From there I associated it to disability due to natural differences, such as congenital neurodivergence. I want yellow to still be something that fellow autistics could still see themselves in the flag for! 💛 And I want intersex people who see their intersex variation as a disability to be able to see themselves here too because being intersex is natural 💛 

Blue as disabilities that are social/situational in nature, like Deafness being a disability in situations where signed languages are unavailable. I wanted Deafness to actually be under blue this time. 💙 

Blue has also been used for disability writ large for a long time now and so this one being the one associated with the Social Model feels most historically connected to me. I’m also including newer critical/postmodern models like the social construction model and radical model which also posit that disability is a social category rather than a deficiency of individuals’ bodyminds.

The social model is generally contrasted with the medical model - viewing disability as a medical problem. A lot of disability activism is focused on de-medicalizing our bodyminds and challenging the idea that we want to be cured. 

But there are chronic illnesses like ME/CFS, long covid, and cancer where the people who are disabled by them do actively (and vocally) want to be cured! And they belong to the disability community too.  Green was picked for illness because green has been used to symbolize sickness (e.g. the 🤮 emoji). And biomedical models like the traditional medical model and the more recent biopsychosocal model are thematically connected to disability being due to illness.

For white, I want people who are undiagnosed and/or who feel the invisibility of their disability as important to again be able to see themselves in this stripe. 🩶White is also the catch-all “other models” because of white being the sum of all colours in an additive colour model. Models like the human rights model I see as being appealing to disabled people who are feeling invisibilized by society.

For each stripe I've included both a cause of disability and a model of disability. The causes are concrete, and easy to understand. The models of disability are more abstract and not everybody will know them (especially ableds). But a flag gives us an opportunity to teach others about us and I think it's a great opportunity to increase awareness of the different views/models of disability. 🖤

Overall, I tried to keep as much of capricorn-0mnikorn’s reasoning/associations alive in my new proposed meanings as I could. 💜 I hope people who see themselves in a given stripe of the original flag will see themselves in this scheme as well. I hope people who didn’t see themselves in the original scheme find these options more inclusive. ☮️

[zoobiefish]

So, I nearly missed out on Auctober again, whoops! I am now 9 days behind, woohoo 😂😅 I’m an Autistic university student, so I may not always have the spoons to commit to this daily challenge, or at the very least I may not be able to draw something for each prompt…I may have to just write a little blurb about what that day’s prompt means to me lol But ideally I would like to contribute as many pieces of art to this challenge as I can! For now though, to catch up on all I’ve missed, I’m going to make individual short blurbs for the prompts I’ve missed thus far:

Day 1: Autism Plus

For myself, in addition to being Autistic, I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, EDNOS, and generalized anxiety. I also suspect I may have hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome). Fun stuff!

Day 2: Infinite

The most popular symbol for Autism Spectrum Disorder to my knowledge is a golden infinity ♾ symbol (sometimes I see a rainbow-coloured one in use as well, though my understanding is that the rainbow infinity symbol is used for neurodiversity as a whole). For a long time, the infamous puzzle piece 🧩 symbol was used to represent ASD—but most Autistics HATE this symbol!! I recognize that I don’t speak for all Autistic people, but this is the common opinion on the puzzle piece symbol and the one I share as well: The puzzle piece symbol is problematic because it suggests that Autistic people are inherently “missing a piece” or that we are “a puzzle to be solved.” Plus, this symbol is used by the evil corporation Autism Speaks. I would prefer not to go on a rant right now about why they’re evil; if anyone is curious, I would recommend doing research on why Autistic people HATE Autism Speaks. But the short version is that they support eugenicist policies around Autism and seek to eradicate us from existence. They treat us as non-humans under the guise of doing “charity work”—they are absolutely NOT a charity. Do NOT support Autism Speaks under any circumstances—any supporter of Autism Speaks (or as most of us spell it, “Autism $peaks”), is NO friend of mine!

Day 3: AuDHD

This is a fun little term I’ve seen in the Autism and ADHD communities! It’s a portmanteau of “Autism” and “ADHD” in case it wasn’t obvious heh! I myself do have AuDHD; it’s a very common comorbidity! It’s certainly…an interesting experience because the two often conflict with each other, as if I have 2 wolves fighting within my brain 🤪

Day 4: Music

Music is one of my favourite coping mechanisms. If I’m understimulated or need inspiration (especially for art or writing), I’ll put on some fun, energetic music to get the juices flowing and will dance and/or pace around the room to get the energy out of my system! If I’m overstimulated, relaxing videogame soundtracks are often my go-to—especially music from The Legend of Zelda, Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing etc. Another aspect of my being on the spectrum is that my thoughts are very vivid and visual. Often times when I hear music, I can’t help but see colours, shapes, images, and even stories with characters and whatnot going along to the music. It gives me great ideas for animatics and artwork! I love this fun little bonus feature in my brain haha 😛

Day 5: Verbose

This one is rather interesting for me. I find when I feel safe around a person or I have just TOO much energy to control myself, I WILL talk—and talk—and talk—etc. I feel so bad for those who fall victim to my “infodump sessions”—but just know that if I do that to you, it’s my way of showing affection. If I talk and never seem to shut up around you…I probably really like you (platonically) 😁 Other times however, I am dead silent. This is usually around people I’m uncertain of, don’t know well enough, or I may just be burntout/too tired to talk 😅

Day 6: Individuals

As the saying goes: If you’ve met ONE (1) Autistic person, then you’ve met ONE (1) Autistic person! We are NOT a hivemind, people!! Just because I’m not like your “friend’s cousin’s aunt’s 3-year-old stepson” doesn’t mean I’m “not Autistic.” The stereotype with Autism is a white cishet dude—but we are just as diverse a population as any other demographic. We all have our differences and similarities, but we are unified in our shared diagnosis—and that’s it!

Day 7: Neuroscope

Ah yes, the “superpower” Autistic people seem to have in which we can all “sense each other” 😂😂😂 I find this to be scarily accurate actually—the majority of the people I’ve become friends with at uni turned out to be Autistic, and long before they mentioned they were on the spectrum I was able to tell. The funniest part though is that they all the said same thing about me! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Day 8: Non-Speaking

So of course Autism is a spectrum, and among the ways in which Autistic people can differ from one another is whether we possess the ability to verbally speak or not. I do not want to talk in length about what being “non-speaking” means as I am not non-speaking myself and don’t wish to talk over those who are. What I do know though is that some of us are unable to verbally speak and may use alternative methods to communicate (whether through the use of sign language, AAC devices, or other means), which are equally valid methods of communication that deserve to be respected. Once again, I must iterate that I am fully capable of verbal speech and I am in no way non-speaking myself. That being said, sometimes I do have a reduced capacity to speak or feel it takes far more physical effort to speak when I am tired, stressed, overwhelmed, in sensory overload, or in the midst of a shutdown. This does NOT mean I am non-speaking—that label is exclusively for Autistic individuals who cannot verbally speak at all. I’m not sure what the proper terminology is for my specific situation (if anyone knows of it, I’d appreciate if you let me know in the comments!) but because of these situations, I am currently trying to learn ASL so I can still communicate in some way during these episodes.

And that’s it for now! I am hoping to have a drawing done by the end of today for Day 9, but we shall see! In the meantime, check out @autiebiographical on Tumblr! They are the one who started Auctober in the first place to my knowledge and they create amazing comics and other content that educates people on Autism Spectrum Disorder! Happy Auctober y’all!

[fractals-and-symbols]

Communication cards!!! (pt.1)

pt.2 here

feel free to use these. We don’t mind as long as you don’t clam you drew them :3 and you can change them however you want, we don’t care

also if anyone wants any edits feel free to ask. Especially text edits because those are really easy

All these images were drawn by me except for the rainbow infinity symbol and the paws which I found on the internet

[tobysbliss]

tommy strangleetomz here with a few reminders!!

april is autism ACCEPTANCE month, not autism awareness month!

autism is not a disease that needs awareness brought to it & it should not be treated as such!

RED INSTEAD!! Not blue!

do not use the puzzle piece symbol for autism, use the rainbow infinity symbol!

and lastly, DON’T SUPPORT AUTISM SPEAKS!!!

[showtimeatfreddys]

ITS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH BITCHES

HAPPY AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH TO ALL MY FELLOW AUTISTIC PEEPS!!!! I plan on making some art work for this month, but idk when it’ll be done, so hang tight.

To celebrate this wonderful month here’s some educational fun facts!

(1) While the puzzle piece is the most common symbol for autism, it is actually preferred by the community to use a rainbow or golden infinity sign, due to the ableist history of the puzzle piece. Namely, it was popularized by Autism Speaks, which is an ableist company whose views are extremely harmful to the community (I won’t get into it here, but it’s BAD)

(2) The Autism spectrum isn’t linear. There isn’t a “more” or “less” autistic, as there are so many facets to autism that vary person to person. The spectrum is more like a color wheel, with each color representing a different trait (eg, sensory, social, memory, motor, etc). The idea that there is a linear spectrum is mostly based on the “how well can you mask your traits so they don’t affect other people” mindset. (One person may struggle more with motor but not social, while another struggles with sensory but not motor, etc)

(3) AFAB people are frequently under/misdiagnosed. Because their traits present differently from boys (who were the only people studied in most autism studies, especially the ones that made the diagnostic criteria) their traits are often missed. Oftentimes, they are diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, AVPD, anxiety, or even eating disorders, and have to self advocate for a diagnosis to be pursued. I myself wasn’t diagnosed until I was a teenager (after over a year of personal research and self advocacy) while my brother was diagnosed at 5.

That’s all for now! Happy Autism Acceptance Month and have a great day!

[warriors-pride]

Genderfluid sapphic xenogender lesbian Moth Flight with ADHD and ace bi lesbian christmasgender autistic Hollyleaf :3c

(If you could I'd prefer if you used the gold infinity symbol instead of rainbow for Hollyleaf but if you cant do that then you can just do rainbow ^^)

(Also sorry if any of this goes against your rules I reread a bunch and I think this request is fine?)

(And um, for christmasgender could you use this flag? tumblr.com/ belinhagamer999/701550442834018304/make-a-gender-related-to-christmas-please-and (added space bc I don’t really wanna go off anon fkhfbhkf))

[deviantartdramanow]

Whelp, I have whole new reason to hate clarifucker even more than I did now:

https://www.deviantart.com/origins-of-clarity/status-update/Repost-from-MintyTreats31-958610395

Archived: https://archive.ph/zIcbw

People, I’m autistic (high-functioning) and I absolutely fuckin’ HATE the puzzle piece symbol that others use to define us.

If you use the puzzle piece to define us autistic people, then you don’t care jack-shit about us. By using the puzzle piece to define us autistics, you support that shitstain of an organization called Autism Speaks, who wants people like me DEAD.

I myself ain’t proud of the fact that I have Autism, but I can’t say I’m happy to have it either, so I accept it.

Please use the rainbow infinity symbol to define us as a whole instead. Thank you.

-DBS (DizzyBeforeSunset)

.

[noisycowboyglitter]

Stand Out, Don’t Fit In: The Importance of Embracing Your True Self

"Why Fit In When You Were Born To Stand Out" is a powerful mantra that encourages embracing individuality and celebrating uniqueness. This phrase challenges the societal pressure to conform and instead advocates for self-expression and authenticity.

Buy now:19.95$

The statement recognizes that each person has distinctive qualities, talents, and perspectives that make them special. It suggests that these unique attributes are not flaws to be hidden, but strengths to be showcased. By standing out, individuals can contribute their singular viewpoints and abilities to the world, potentially driving innovation and positive change.

This philosophy is particularly relevant in a world that often values conformity. It reminds us that diversity in thought, appearance, and approach enriches our collective experience. Standing out can mean pursuing unconventional dreams, expressing oneself through unique fashion choices, or simply being unapologetically true to one's beliefs and values.

Buy now

The phrase also implies a sense of purpose - that each person is "born" with inherent qualities meant to differentiate them. It encourages self-discovery and the courage to live authentically, even when it means going against the grain.

However, it's important to note that standing out doesn't necessarily mean being loud or attention-seeking. It can be as simple as quietly pursuing one's passions or kindly standing up for one's principles.

Ultimately, this motto inspires confidence and self-acceptance, promoting a world where diversity is celebrated and individuality is valued.

The autism puzzle piece is a widely recognized symbol associated with autism awareness. Originating in 1963, it was created by the National Autistic Society in London. The puzzle piece represents the complexity of autism spectrum disorder and the diversity of individuals affected by it.

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However, this symbol has become controversial within the autism community. While some view it positively as representing hope for understanding and connection, others criticize it for implying that autistic individuals are incomplete or need fixing.

Many autistic self-advocates prefer alternative symbols, such as the rainbow infinity symbol, which represents neurodiversity and acceptance. They argue that these alternatives better reflect the idea that autism is a natural variation in human neurology rather than a puzzle to be solved.

The debate around the puzzle piece highlights the ongoing discussions about autism representation and the importance of listening to autistic voices in these conversations.

Autism gifts are thoughtful items designed to support, comfort, or bring joy to individuals on the autism spectrum. These can include sensory tools like fidget toys, weighted blankets, or noise-cancelling headphones to help manage sensory sensitivities. Educational resources, such as visual schedules or social stories, can assist with

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daily routines and social interactions. Gifts may also cater to special interests, providing books, games, or collectibles related to a person's favorite topics. Comfort items like soft clothing or calming lights are often appreciated. The best autism gifts are personalized, considering the unique needs and preferences of the individual recipient.

[craftydesdesign]

Actual autistic people don’t like the puzzle peace to represent autism because it’s associated with Autism Speaks which has a problematic history with autism and many people se it as an autism hate group. Autistic people use/prefer the rainbow infinity symbol instead

- from an actual autistic person

I mean no disrespect or any hate I have an autistic child myself I know that some people like the puzzle piece pattern and now I know that some people don't and I have no problem making a different design as well. I will make a design with the rainbow infinity sign and see how people like that.

[marshmallow--3]

Re your learning about autism post from an autistic friend:

Autism speaks is an organisation aimed at “curing” autism - it facilitates the idea that being autistic is bad and something that needs fixing. It is also run by what we refer to as “autism parents” aka the types of parents who only talk about how hard done by they are by having an autistic child and how it makes their life really hard and makes them an inspiration, rather than ever thinking about their actual autistic child.

Similarly the puzzle piece symbol, whilst used by autism speaks, is also a symbol generally used for autism with the idea that autistic people are “incomplete” or “missing parts” because they experience life differently than neurotypical people. They are “missing a piece of the puzzle” meaning they are lacking in some area just because they are autistic.

And i actually don’t know much about the colour blue but whenever i see positive symbols of autism it is the rainbow infinity symbol.

All in all - symbols and organisations aimed at eradicating autistic people, “fixing”, or “curing” them are negative. Being autistic is something that some people experience. It means they experience life differently, not incorrectly. Perpetuating the idea that there is anything wrong with us or we are broken is offensive to our identities, and we should celebrate our experiences without having to justify our existence.

Hope this was helpful!

It really was, thank you so so much for your answers, I don't wanna start off on the wrong foot or offend anybody so it's good for me to know these things, you've been a massive help 💖

[tobysbliss]

since april is autism acceptance month i would like to say a couple thingss;

don’t light it up blue, red instead

do not support autism speaks

we need acceptance; not awareness

listen to autistic people’s voices

do not use the puzzle piece symbol, use the rainbow or gold infinity symbol instead

and also remember that if proper research has been done, self diagnosis is completely VALID. Getting properly diagnosed with autism can be difficult, as it costs a lot of money —can be thousands of dollars— and because it can take months until someone may actually see a specialist.

[autisticsuperpower]

Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month is Here Once Again! 🧩💚

So here we are once again.

Another April and another Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. 

Now in recent years, this month has been the talks of debate around the disability community.

And since April’s an important month, it’s time for me to speak my mind around certain Autistic topics.

So here we go.

First topic: If you’re not officially diagnosed, don’t go around saying you’re Autistic.

Don’t assume that you do when you don’t know 100% that you do.

There’s been a LOT of toxic Autistic trends going around social media, saying things like “If you like weird things, you’re Autistic” or the whole “Autism Challenge” that I discussed about on this blog.

And even though that there are signs that you MIGHT be Autistic doesn’t give you the green light.

Get the official diagnosis first.

Saying that you’re Autistic when you’re really not is extremely offensive to the Autism Community.

Secondly: My views on Autism, especially mine, still involve the puzzle piece. 🧩

Yes, I’m one of the rare few, but it is what it is.

Sorry, but not sorry.

I’ve been a puzzle piecer ever since I fully revealed I’m Autistic, and I’m sticking with it.

I’m not gonna have people tell me how to view my Autism.

Especially from my own community.

I know myself well enough to know I am neurodivergent, but I don’t need to always be called that.

I prefer to be Autistic. 

It was what I was formally diagnosed with, and it’s what I’m continuing to stick with.

No need to tell me that I need to have an rainbow infinity symbol. That’s not me OR my Autism.

See me as green. And see me as a puzzle piece.

Not because I’m mysterious, and or a lost cause. 

I’m not that at all.

But because I’m a constant work of progress. 

My puzzle piece is that I have more life chapters to write. 📝

I’m growing and learning everyday.

I’m continuing to speak my mind.

And like Natasha Bedingfield once said, “The rest is still unwritten”, meaning there’s more to come.

No need to throw articles at me on why I need to adapt to the times. You don’t like my views, don’t read my blog then.

We all have our rights to our stories and our truths.

And I’m sticking to my puzzle journey, whether people like it or not. 🧩

Now another thing about this month: Both Acceptance & Awareness are just as important.

Yes, the Autism community needs more acceptance, but in order for that, we need more awareness.

How can acceptance be a thing, when a lot of people don’t know much about Autism?

We need to have those discussions, like Autism is not a curse or a terminal disease.

Yeah, it’s a disability, but it can also be a super power.

It’s my super power.

And it allows me to be open and honest with the world.

How can I make sure that people are accepting me for being Autistic if they don’t even know what Autism is in the first place?

Well, let’s start here:

Autism is officially defined as a “disorder that impacts the ability to communicate or interact”.

Now examples:

Not the greatest eye contact, occasional difficulties around social settings, or not being able to always understand social cues.

And let’s not forget the different levels of Autism.

Some Autistic people only need some support, whereas some other Autistic people will need lifelong support.

Now I’m all for acceptance, which I have been advocating for years.

But people need to be aware of what Autism is and how life works for us.

So those are 3 things to keep in mind with this month.

Keep in mind that each Autistic individual celebrates Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month differently, but every one of us deserves the same level of respect and understanding.

With that, one thing left to do:

Happy Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month! 🧩💚

[autisticarmys]

Some housekeeping rules for this blog.

There is not to be ableist language or comments used. If they are made they will be deleted and the account blocked

Allistic people are welcome here but you are not to speak over Autistics.

Please add tone indicators if they are asked for. And please be truthful with them

This is also a safe place for other marginalised groups, Any hateful comments towards these groups will be deleted and no one is to speak over them on their oppression

Questions are more than welcomed as long as they are genuine and respectful

The puzzle piece symbol is not to be used here. Please instead use the rainbow infinity

All neurodivergant people are welcome here but please don’t talk over discussions about conditions you don’t have

Self-diagnosis is valid as long as you do research

This is a safe place for all ages so please keep conversations appropriate for all ages within reason

The term Aspergers is not to be used on this page

Slurs and derogatory language will not be tolerated, such as; cr*pple, re*ard, stu*id, id*ot, d*mb, sp*zz etc. if you are told something is derogatory language listen to them.

Put appropriate Trigger warnings (tw) or content warnings (CW)

[bestie-enthusiast]

So, April is autism acceptance month, and I’ve decided to spread some information for the NT (Neurotypicals) who might not know what’s okay and what’s not okay in regards to supporting ND (Neurodivergent) in their homes or community.

1. AUTISM $PEAKS IS A HATE GROUP, NEXT FOR AUTISM IS A HATE GROUP. No if ands or buts, they speak over us in harmful ways, DO NOT donate to them.

2. Do nottttt “Light it up Blue” This is a motion started by Autism Speaks, do do #RedInstead

3. DO NOT use the puzzle piece symbol, it is another product  of Autism Speaks trying to “cure” us and make us feel like we don’t fit it

4. DO USE the rainbow infinity symbol, it is widely supported as a harmless symbol to support ND

5. DO NOT try to “cure” or invalidate ND people at all!! We are not toys or accessories,

6. DO try to educated yourself, do independent research on how you can make a difference.

Thank you!