Episode 2.5: The Problems with Functioning Labels
In this mini-episode, Jeanne (she/her) talks about how splitting autistics between “low” and “high” functioning does immense harm, and how these and other labels are used to justify abuse. Additionally, these functioning labels over-simplify an autistic person’s capabilities and limitations, leading to assumptions about support needs that lead to some autistics losing all personal rights due to only minor communication struggles or lack of body control, while leaving other autistics struggling with limited or no accommodations because of assumptions around their “functioning” level.
Episode 2: Autistic Communication
Autistic communication has historically been heavily pathologized and seen as deficient/lesser, but recent studies have found that autistics are often just as capable at effective communication with each other as non-autistics, we simply use language differently. Likewise other studies are finding that bias by non-autistics can be a major contributor to social disconnects between autistics and non-autistics. By studying autistic communication techniques directly, rather than only in contrast to non-autistic communication techniques and assuming any differences must be deficiencies, we can better understand autistic communication and the unique strengths it can have. Jeanne is joined in this episode by previous guest and disability advocate Morgan Leander Blake (they/them), whose omnibus book of poetry written during 2020, These Cold Equations, will be out later this year. Follow Morgan on Instagram and YouTube.
Episode 1.5: The Harms of the Deficit Model of ASD
In this mini-episode, Jeanne explains how the prevailing narrative of autism viewed exclusively as a deficit causes immense harm to autistics by vilifying their behaviors and ways of thinking, which encourages abuse (both intentional and unintentional) by caretakers and support professionals, and causes depression, anxiety, and self-loathing in autistics who internalize this hatred of autism.
Resources and Recommendations
AWN provides community, support, and resources for Autistic women, girls, transfeminine and transmasculine nonbinary people, trans people of all genders, Two Spirit people, and all others of marginalized genders. The website includes resources for autistics, parents of autistics, and extensive information about autism, especially from the perspectives of people who are often not included in autistic stereotypes around gender, race, and age.
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is also on both Facebook and Twitter and seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism and to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us. The website includes a wide array of resources around autistic research, support, and community.
The Autisticats: Three autistic young adults, figuring out life and sharing our experiences as neurodivergent people.
The Black Autist: The Black Autist is a blog where posts are focused on #autismacceptance and issues & news surrounding autistic #peopleofcolor
AutisticSciencePerson: (They/Them), Autistic late-diagnosed grad student in neuroscience.
Kerima (Vaccine Equity) Cevik: Creator of #AutisticWhileBlack, #AutisticAphorism. Blogs & speaks on neurodivergence, race, & facilitating for their high support needs autistic offspring.
