30 Days of Autism Acceptance Day 26
April 26: Ways allistic people can better accommodate us
Normalization and acceptance of ASL, other signed languages, PSE, etc- everyone should know sign language. A lot of autistic people communicate using signs
Normalization and acceptance of AAC devices.
Keeping things more sensory friendly or having sensory friendly hours at businesses. Many movie theaters and businesses do have scheduled times where the businesses have dimmer lighting, less music, etc. Making this more common and effectively communicating it would be amazing. Even if the communication for it is a small mention on the website or a paper on the door.
Subtitles on videos. I will forever appreciate the YouTube channels that put effort into making sure they have accurate subtitles on all their videos. I know the subtitles are a distraction for others though, so having the option to turn them on and off is great.
Reddit (could be other sites as well, I’ve seen it a bit here) uses “/s” to indicate that they are done being, or were being, sarcastic. I love that. It’s really helpful and I wish it was more mainstream.
Assume best intentions. Even when interacting with people you don’t know/think are autistic, don’t assume malice. (Within reason. If someone is being aggressive it’s obviously malicious.) I can’t tell if/when I’m being rude. And it makes the world a kinder place.
LISTEN TO US. Please just listen to us.
Please for the love of god STOP TAPPING/KNOCKING/SMACKING MY EAR DEFENDERS WHILE I AM WEARING THEM. I wear them because everything is loud. You are making it more loud. You are entering my personal space to make it more loud. You are being an asshole. As a bonus, I might fucking backhand you if you do because sometimes I’m fighting to control a meltdown/overstimulation when I’m wearing them and I lash out on reflex when people get too close to me. Partially it’s a PTSD thing. (I’m working on the not lashing out part. I’m not excusing that behavior.)
Let me know (respectfully) if I’m being rude, irritating, or am making you uncomfortable. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.