What would Acceptance Mean for Me?
Autism Acceptance Month is over now. We have made a lot of progress, but we are still trying to get acceptance all year, including April. A lot of people in the community have made great posts on what acceptance means, but I think Iâm going to write a post from a more personal perspective.
What would Acceptance Mean for Me?
People wouldnât think Iâm weird when I stim via echolalia, body movements, or using my stim tools.
People wouldnât laugh overtly when I do something outside of social norms.
People wouldnât blame me for having a meltdown.
People wouldnât treat me like a little kid who doesnât know anything.
People wouldnât tell me to grow up when I still like cute things and Disney.
People wouldnât dismiss my struggles because they can do things much harder and for longer than me.
People wouldnât force me to eat foods I know I couldnât and wouldnât mock and make me feel bad for having difficulty eating.
People wouldnât treat me like a fuddy dud because I donât like to do things as much.
People wouldnât force me to make eye contact and recognize Iâm still listening even when Iâm not looking at them.Â
People wouldnât devalue my special interests and make me feel bad about them.
People wouldnât try to take away who I am and say it is bad that Iâm autistic.
Instead of lashing out, people would correct me calmly and gently when I do something âwrongâ.
I would have access to therapy that is knowledgeable of how autism works.
People would try to understand the full meaning of whatever Iâm saying.Â
People would be clear with the words around me so I donât get confused.
People would be okay if I wasnât up to talking at the moment.
People would try to find alternate forms of communication when I was nonverbal.
People would be understanding of my sensory issues and when they notice Iâm getting overwhelmed, try to change it so it doesnât go too far.
People would be understanding of the jobs I can do and the jobs I cannot, so I would get something that is the right fit for me.
People would be understanding of my struggles with executive dysfunction and wouldnât tell me Iâm lazy.Â
People would be understanding of my anxiety.
People would be understanding that sometimes I donât like to go out as much or be with a lot of people.
People would give me plenty of warning before any new event because they know broken routines are upsetting to me.
People would gently remind me so that I take care of myself because itâs hard for me to feel my internal cues.
People would respect me as a person with full autonomy.
People would respect me even if they see me as âlow-functioningâ.
People would believe my struggles even if they see me as âhigh-functioningâ.
People would believe me when I say Iâm autistic without seeing it as a bad thing.
People would see my unique ideas and thoughts as worth considering, even if odd.
People would understand I cannot help the way I am and the way I act.
If I was fully accepted, all of how I exist as an autistic person would be respected, understood, and recognized.
Day 30 of Autism Acceptance Month 2018
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