Nov. 1st, 2018 09:25 am
Amplifying Autistics
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nightengaleskndI’ve stopped reading books about autism written by non-autistic people.
Neurotribes? I’ve read two dozen reviews. I haven’t read the book. Yes, I know it’s well researched and well written. I’m not convinced it has a lot of information that would be new to me. And I’m tired of reading books about autism written by non-autistic people. Also, I’m tired of the calls for quotes on autism now going to Steve Silberman. Yes, he’s done some good ally work. Yes, it’s better than the quotes going to Autism Speaks. No, it’s still not OK.
Uniquely Human? I skipped that one too. I’ve read other Prizant. He talks a good talk, but he still clearly sees non-autistic ways of communicating and playing as superior. He’s not as much of an ally as he tries to say he is.
I still read research articles written by non-autistic people. I have to stay up to date for my work. I don’t always know the neurotype of researchers, anyway. Maybe someday, I can extend my policy to research.
But I’m very loudly not reading any more books written by non-autistic parents and professionals. When people ask if I have read this book, or that one, I say no and tell them why. Of course, I’ve usually read half a dozen reviews written by autistic people and can generally have an informed conversation about the book. Which I haven’t read and don’t plan to.
For every piece of information I have to share with a parent of an autistic child, I look for an autistic source. Sometimes I find one, sometimes I don’t. Anyone recommend a good book on toilet training by an autistic person?
And of course, to some extent, my job description is “sharing information about autism with parents of autistic children.”
Just getting started? Try “The Real Experts.” All the authors are autistic people, writing about what they wish their parents had known when they were kids. Oh, and most of them have blogs for further reading.
Need some help with visual schedules? Try Judy Endow’s blog. She’s an autistic LSCW. Is she the parent of autistic kids? Um, I think so, but she’s an autistic LSCW who does mental health counseling and school consultation. That’s why you should read her. She has the visual support 102 level stuff, like how to make a schedule if things keep changing. Warning, once you start reading her blog, it’s sort of a rabbit hole in there.
What about echolalia and scripting. What about echolalia and scripting? It’s language. No really, it’s language. It’s a way of building, using and developing language. You might need to make a translation guide. Also, you might want to think about using your kid’s skill in scripts to help write his own scripts. No, telling her to “stop scripting” isn’t going to give her more spontaneous language. It will tell her that you only care about what she has to say if she says it your way. Here, read some of Bev Harp’s stuff. She’s an autistic social worker who scripts. Yes, I said, she’s an autistic social worker who scripts. No, the two are not mutually exclusive.
Karla Fisher is on the case with specific suggestions to improve your kid’s IEP or 504 plan. Yes, she’s autistic.
Pushing eye contact is a bad idea. No matter what your kid’s speech-language pathologist says. Mel Baggs here to tell you more.
And don’t stop your kid from stimming, either. No matter what your kid’s behavioral therapist says. Julia Bascom here to tell you more on that one. Start with Quiet Hands, the blog post that started the revolution. Then read Loud Hands. That’s the revolution in 408 pages.
How do you tell your kid about autism? Ask ASAN. Or Landon Bryce.
Should you tell your kid about autism? Yes. Here, Chavisory tells you why.
I’m not openly autistic at work. One reason is to keep myself from becoming the story. The story shouldn’t be “one unique autistic person who holds a professional job and can explain autism from the inside!” But that’s what I’d risk becoming. Instead, for right now, I’m trying to amplify other autistics. Not one unique autistic person who holds a professional job and can explain autism from the inside, but the whole collection of autistic people who write thoughtfully on aspects of autism and can provide specific information and strategies based on their experience and expertise. Not all are employed, but many are, and not just as computer programmers, either.
Envision an autistic future for your child, I say, nonverbally, with each recommendation. Envision an autistic future for someone who scripts, who doesn’t make eye contact, who flaps, who may need support moving forward.
And I feel pretty good about this way of autistic speaking, too.
Neurotribes? I’ve read two dozen reviews. I haven’t read the book. Yes, I know it’s well researched and well written. I’m not convinced it has a lot of information that would be new to me. And I’m tired of reading books about autism written by non-autistic people. Also, I’m tired of the calls for quotes on autism now going to Steve Silberman. Yes, he’s done some good ally work. Yes, it’s better than the quotes going to Autism Speaks. No, it’s still not OK.
Uniquely Human? I skipped that one too. I’ve read other Prizant. He talks a good talk, but he still clearly sees non-autistic ways of communicating and playing as superior. He’s not as much of an ally as he tries to say he is.
I still read research articles written by non-autistic people. I have to stay up to date for my work. I don’t always know the neurotype of researchers, anyway. Maybe someday, I can extend my policy to research.
But I’m very loudly not reading any more books written by non-autistic parents and professionals. When people ask if I have read this book, or that one, I say no and tell them why. Of course, I’ve usually read half a dozen reviews written by autistic people and can generally have an informed conversation about the book. Which I haven’t read and don’t plan to.
For every piece of information I have to share with a parent of an autistic child, I look for an autistic source. Sometimes I find one, sometimes I don’t. Anyone recommend a good book on toilet training by an autistic person?
And of course, to some extent, my job description is “sharing information about autism with parents of autistic children.”
Just getting started? Try “The Real Experts.” All the authors are autistic people, writing about what they wish their parents had known when they were kids. Oh, and most of them have blogs for further reading.
Need some help with visual schedules? Try Judy Endow’s blog. She’s an autistic LSCW. Is she the parent of autistic kids? Um, I think so, but she’s an autistic LSCW who does mental health counseling and school consultation. That’s why you should read her. She has the visual support 102 level stuff, like how to make a schedule if things keep changing. Warning, once you start reading her blog, it’s sort of a rabbit hole in there.
What about echolalia and scripting. What about echolalia and scripting? It’s language. No really, it’s language. It’s a way of building, using and developing language. You might need to make a translation guide. Also, you might want to think about using your kid’s skill in scripts to help write his own scripts. No, telling her to “stop scripting” isn’t going to give her more spontaneous language. It will tell her that you only care about what she has to say if she says it your way. Here, read some of Bev Harp’s stuff. She’s an autistic social worker who scripts. Yes, I said, she’s an autistic social worker who scripts. No, the two are not mutually exclusive.
Karla Fisher is on the case with specific suggestions to improve your kid’s IEP or 504 plan. Yes, she’s autistic.
Pushing eye contact is a bad idea. No matter what your kid’s speech-language pathologist says. Mel Baggs here to tell you more.
And don’t stop your kid from stimming, either. No matter what your kid’s behavioral therapist says. Julia Bascom here to tell you more on that one. Start with Quiet Hands, the blog post that started the revolution. Then read Loud Hands. That’s the revolution in 408 pages.
How do you tell your kid about autism? Ask ASAN. Or Landon Bryce.
Should you tell your kid about autism? Yes. Here, Chavisory tells you why.
I’m not openly autistic at work. One reason is to keep myself from becoming the story. The story shouldn’t be “one unique autistic person who holds a professional job and can explain autism from the inside!” But that’s what I’d risk becoming. Instead, for right now, I’m trying to amplify other autistics. Not one unique autistic person who holds a professional job and can explain autism from the inside, but the whole collection of autistic people who write thoughtfully on aspects of autism and can provide specific information and strategies based on their experience and expertise. Not all are employed, but many are, and not just as computer programmers, either.
Envision an autistic future for your child, I say, nonverbally, with each recommendation. Envision an autistic future for someone who scripts, who doesn’t make eye contact, who flaps, who may need support moving forward.
And I feel pretty good about this way of autistic speaking, too.
Actually Autistic blogs search engine
If you search for "toilet training" there are some extraneous results from non-Autistics (because some blogs on the Actually Autistic Blogs List include non-Autistic contributions). One toilet-training post by an Autistic is https://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/2007/01/15/gone-to-pot/ There are also forums on the subject on wrongplanet.net.