“I celebrate every autism diagnosis!” declares a post circulating among autistic self-advocates. I read this in several ways. First, the positives. Diagnoses help individuals receive services and supports. For many people, a diagnosis also helps understand struggles. Diagnoses also ensure, with disclosure, some legal protections. The negatives exist, too. Believe…
Category: Advocacy
Posts on advocacy, including organizations and public policy.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an ineffective family of “therapies” with a dark, disturbing origin, which I’ve written about several times. Notice that ABA is not named Applied Behavior Therapy. It’s not what I’d consider therapy and it isn’t really presented to parents and caregivers as therapy. Mental health therapies help…
Podcast Episode 0063; Season 04, Episode 27; April 20, 2021 John Ordover is a man of many talents. A creative consultant, a writer, an editor, and a stand-up comic. He’s even appeared as an extra in some of my favorite television shows. John also advocates for the autistic community as the father of an…
“What has changed since you started blogging in 2007?” The question from a Facebook follower prompted me to skim the older posts and compare them to now. What has changed over 13 years and a bit? What has remained the same? Have my attitudes changed dramatically, or only a little?…
A Facebook follower asked why I do not use “Au” after my name to indicate I support the Au manifesto, the Autism Union statement of ideals. Do I not support the 10 points? Do I not like the community members? Is there something wrong with Au? What does the Âû…
Podcast Episode 0062; Season 04, Episode 26; April 2, 2021 It’s that time of year again. Yes, it’s time for my annual rant against Autism Awareness Month and all that goes with it. Though, personally, blue is one of my favorite colors so I’d like to keep the blue. Darn, I…
Podcast Episode 0057; Season 04, Episode 21; February 23, 2021 Quoting from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network: Disability Community Day of Mourning In the past five years, over 700 people with disabilities have been murdered by their parents. Every year on March 1, the disability community gathers across the nation to remember…
What does it mean to be autistic? Like many diagnosed later in life, I turned to books for some answers. The autistic label was applied to me during my first year in a doctoral program. That was also the academic year I started this blog. Among the books I read…
As I mentioned in a recent podcast, I’m trying to engage more online and, once the pandemic passes, I hope to return to public speaking. (Virtual appearances are always an option, if your organization would like to hear my perspectives.) Some autistics are actively engaged in activism, with large numbers…
Recently, I spent several days coding a research project on facilitated communication (FC). I watched videos accompanied by eye-tracking data to mark who was watching a tablet as letters or pictographs were touched. This post reflects my efforts to gather opposing research on FC and to properly compare the FC…