Autism(Really)Speaks

Unlike the much-despised "AutismSpeaks" organization, AutismReallySpeaks is dedicated to advocating the voices of autistics, helping autistcs of all kinds, fighting the influence of Autism Speaks, and making a friendly group directed towards auties. This is a group made BY autistics FOR autistics. Disclaimer: We are not liscensed doctors or anything. Keep that in mind. We (both admins and followers alike) may not always agree on everything, and that's okay. We welcome healthy debate and discourse.

[sam05-7-deactivated20210215]

A few days ago, thanks to one Tumblr post the Autism Speaks page on Facebook went from 3.9 stars all the way down to 1.4 stars. It has started to become something of a victory in the autism community after many years of Autism Speaks trying to silence us.

However earlier this morning they decide to disable their rating system so that people would not notice their star rating and realize how bad they are. They did not bother responding, instead they choose to take the cowards way out and silence us once again.

So I urge everyone who reads this to spread the message and not let Autism Speaks get away with this, we cannot be silenced, we WILL not be silent. They are not going to get away this time.

[tarunadragon]

Another hashtag that hilariously backfired …

Also one of those tweets is from John Elder Robison, who USED to work for Autism Speaks until he left because he couldn’t support their message.

[thatautismfeel]

that autism feel when maaaybe that one food won’t taste quite so bad this time and OH GO D IT DOES

[autism-really-speaks]

Hi! I'm not sure if you remember me, but you took part in and advertised my online study a few months back, into autism, sociability and executive function? I made a promise to let you know when I was all done with it, and I am! In fact, I've been asked to publish it to an actual journal as an article, and am currently in the process of doing so! If you would like me to email over the dissertation I can do, as it will probably be a few months for it all to be finally published. Thanks :) x

I do remember you, and it's great to hear you've made such progress! I'd love to read it over when/if you send it; just email it to [email protected] ! -Volpe

[nowt-interesting-tbh]

Claiming the puzzle piece and letting us, the autistics, define it.

Looks like the puzzle piece logo for autism is never gonna leave because of ableism.

So we need to think of a positive meaning to the symbol and take it out of the hands of non-autistics and own it for ourselves.

The puzzle piece currently means that autistic people don’t fit in with others and are a “puzzle”. I am a PERSON not a “puzzle”. I also expect to treated like a person and not as a jigsaw of random crap.

I think we need to own the puzzle piece logo by changing its meaning to “part of a bigger picture” because autism is different in everyone so one person is not the whole picture but a part of something much bigger that when put together, creates something beautiful and something to be proud of. The symbol could also reflect how we think, how we are good at finding solutions and seeing things differently, how we see something and can connect with it in a way no non-autistic can. And as a woman on spectrum (Aspergers/ASD) I think that’s something to be cherished.

videogamesandrainbows autisticbooks autisticadvocacy autismgirl1 autismproblems autism-really-speaks neurowonderful neuroatypically-speaking what do you guys think??

[autism-really-speaks]

I’d think instead of the puzzle piece being all “These [autistic] people are puzzles” it should be more “Human beings are puzzles, and autistics are a vital piece of that puzzle; without them [us] we [humanity] wouldn’t be complete!”.  Something along that line, anyway.

-Volpe

[autism-really-speaks]

To all of the admins: to start this off, I am not autistic. I saw a video on YouTube the other day of a guy playing a song on his guitar and titled it "I wish I was Autistic". Is this ableist? :s

Uhm.. It can be, sounds like it is. However, I can’t say for sure until I see the video, myself. Do you have the link to it, per chance? 

 -Volpe

[jgamer-aspie]

Link in case tumblr eats the vid

Quite some generalisations in here, but he makes a few good points as well. I’m having a hard time of telling whether this song is ableist or not.

Here are his lyrics:

I wish I was autistic

‘cause then I’d have an excuse for being autistic.

Instead I’m just an asshole who won’t look you in the eyes.

If I was autistic then I’d have an excuse for being

a mildly autistic guy.

If I was autistic I’d have the skills that come with being autistic.

I’d memorize the dictionary or the first thousand digits of pi.

I would warn the world of earthquakes

by placing my face on the ground.

I would feel the sound.

I can’t concentrate

on the mouth noises you make

because your nose is just too fuckin’ shiny.

I’ve had difficulties

conforming to informal formalities.

What would a human do in this situation.

Have you noticed my hyperfocus.

I might be a little autistic.

I have a few traits that are characteristic

Stilted speech patterns, bad motor skills,

and an awkward aspergersy stride.

My filter is a little bit broken.

Some things shouldn’t be spoken.

I’d probably say cunt in front of the queen.

I might be on the spectrum.

I constantly, hopelessly seek perfection

in everything that matters to me,

I don’t give two shits about things that don’t.

If I’m not autistic I’m just a paranoid narcissistic

who sings self-indulgent songs about his own brain.

[autism-really-speaks]

I’m having a really hard time determining the same...   ;-;  For the most part, it seems ableist with the generalites and even exaggerations, but at the same time (like you said) there are a couple of actual points in there. I almost feel like this might be satire? For people who try to claim to be autistic but actually aren’t, and try to make up ludicrous reasons to why (pretty much said reasons/things in the lyrics)?  I don’t even know.  

-Volpe

[belessdifficult]

Aspergers community

Is the term “aspie” pejorative?

[autism-really-speaks]

It absolutely is not, if you’re referring to yourself or to the Aspie community/populous. If someone tries to use it in such a way, that’s different.. but, really, ANY word/phrase/term can be used in a negative context.    -Volpe 

[1324132413241324-deactivated201]

Sensory overload isn’t always rocking back and forth on the floor in crowded places. Especially if you’ve learnt to hide your traits. the most common situation i cant deal with is the kitchen in my own house. There are three lights and my eyes/ head start hurting. Theres the smells of coffee and milk and toast and i usually cant breathe properly. There are tiny crumbs and wet surfaces and you want to flap your hands to get rid of it. and i can hear next door using drills and hammers and it feels like those things are being used on my skull. If there are other people in the kitchen there just no hope because tap water sounds and knife against plate sounds and stirring tea sounds and talking sounds and microwave sounds and radio is loud and im not even going to get into the breathing/ eating/ footsteps/ general people sounds. The worst is the kettle but i usually leave if i know its going to be used.

“I can only speak for myself, but i have swarms of fire ants just under my skin. they are never not moving i am never not aware of them most of the time its just something I’ve gotten used to until something touches me in the wrong way and makes all of them bite. My skin burns, spreading out in ripples from the epper centre of me all of my cells are screaming and the only way to quiet them is flap, rock, twist, spin, drag shoe along floor, rub hand across hair. Notice the release of it. Do it again.” - Gabe Moses, Stimming.

[hazeybluesoul50s]

[autismteens-blog]

When someone is surprised by how much you know about your special interest(s.)

[autism-really-speaks]

This is hilarious because the .GIF is LITERALLY FROM MY SPECIAL INTEREST. :D 

 -Volpe

[autism-really-speaks]

To all of the admins: to start this off, I am not autistic. I saw a video on YouTube the other day of a guy playing a song on his guitar and titled it "I wish I was Autistic". Is this ableist? :s

Uhm.. It can be, sounds like it is. However, I can’t say for sure until I see the video, myself. Do you have the link to it, per chance? 

 -Volpe

[aspieangles]

are people born with autism? or can you gain more traits as you grow older?

People are born with Autism. However, some people observe a type of “Autistic Regression” sometimes. I think this is due to the surroundings of an Autistic individual, and not so much a “regression” (ie: showing more/stronger traits) as life goes on.

MusingsOfAnAspie has a good article on this. She talks about why the word “regression” isn’t an accurate one, and also discusses why “Autistic Regression” happens.

[madeofpatterns]

people will spend thousands of dollars on ABA and then say that a $300 AAC app costs too much. FFS.

[5000letters]

but it really is so important to find people who don’t lose patience with you or get angry if you’re being irrational or insecure or downright ridiculous, it is so so necessary to be treated with gentleness from loved ones and not to be made to feel like you’re irritating or a burden

[autisticarchive-deactivated2019]

When people tell me that I “must be a very high-functioning autistic” I always wonder whether it’s because they actually think that they have any kind of comprehension of how well I may or may not function in different areas - or if they simply can’t imagine that an autistic person who they’d consider low-functioning could be so… human? 

[positivedoodles]

[history-museum]

seen on my face book feed(Anti-vaccination, modern)

[itspuppiestho-deactivated202210]

“studies”

[infinitimatti]

who has ever thought this ever

[redgreenmage]

Don’t let your children drink water it might make them think drinking other clear liquids is okay do you want your child drinking bleach

[infinitimatti]

don’t let your children walk, it might make them think its okay to walk away from home

[copiasforeskin]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure not even people who use heroin believe it is beneficial.

[butchtransqueer-deactivated2017]

Don’t let your child breathe air. Studies have shown thatin the event of a fire, children who breathe in air are much more likely to breathe in smoke than children who’ve never breathed air.

[sharkchunks]

Don’t have a child. 100% of children grow up and die. You’re literally condemning your own children to die.