Autism "Awareness" Month is upon us... but those of us in the autistic community prefer Autism ACCEPTANCE over Autism Awareness.
Today is largely seen as a day of frustration, silencing, and opposition to the autistic community.
Parents and other carers speak over us, they use symbolism (like the puzzle piece) which demean and dehumanize us, and nobody is really made aware of anything other than fearmongering statistics and the color blue (which was specifically selected to represent autism being something which allegedly "affects" boys more than girls - not actually proven - and completely erases nonbinary autistic people). Nothing about "autism awareness" actually helps us.
Go out on the street and ask 100 people if they are aware of autism. I guarantee most will say yes. Now ask them what it means to be autistic and what autistic people need for inclusivity to truly happen. Completely different scenario - very few will have accurate responses, if any. Why? Because "awareness" is a marketing ploy to make people feel sorry for us and make parents fear for our future... so hey, donate money to this autism-related organization or buy this product/service to help the kids with autism. Autism "awareness" has become an industry, built on the backs of the autistic community.
Just like ABLE Coffee Roasters is using "awareness", the puzzle piece, and the color blue in their marketing. They are exploiting their autistic employees to make customers feel good about patronizing their coffee shop... they're relying on human nature to part people from their money, in the name of seemingly "doing the right thing". It's gross and it needs to stop.
Autistic people are not your pity party. We are not your excuse to feel better about yourself. We don't want awareness. We want ACCEPTANCE! We want to be included... and not as a tokenized marketing gimmick.
Please join us in celebrating Autism ACCEPTANCE Month...
- Follow autistic writers and content creators online.
- Elevate autistic voices.
- Encourage friends & family to NOT "Light It Up Blue".
- Encourage friends & family to not use puzzle pieces to represent autism/autistic people.
- Support organizations created BY autistic people FOR autistic people (The Autistic Self Advocacy Network and The Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network are both fantastic).
- Encourage friends & family to sign this petition and help us stop ABLE Coffee Roasters from exploiting their employees and demeaning the autistic community... and help us show other businesses these practices are harmful to the autistic community.
Thank you for your support and let's try to reach 500 signatures ASAP!
- Jennifer (aka Giraffe Party)