Teen nonspeaker Anantha Krishnamurthy compares the treatment of progressive science during the Renaissance era to modern autism science— and it hits hard.
April is for affirmation, inclusion, empowerment, and accomodation! Center Autistic voices. Unlearn ableist concepts. Actively dismantle ableist and neurobigoted structures and systems. Seek out advocates,
“Little Black Autistic Girl, what will the world do with you? Will they forget you? Will you go down in history as an overlooked and unsung hero that deserved more recognition while they were around?”
“From picking your afro because the motion is soothing, to twerking and playing with your braids, to repeating that one itch-scratching line in the rap song you love over and over again… It’s the way that you put on lipgloss even though you just put it on three minutes ago because the motion is soothing.”
“This poem is about a girl in a song and another girl who lives on a planet of perpetual music. To see my life you must also let the music take you.”
“Our desire to stim? We use Soca, Bachata, Dancehall, and Salsa as a cover, allowing the rhythm to put out the fire we have in our brains. And thanks to our Caribbean cousins and siblings, we learn how to be style icons.”
“If I am trying to make eye contact, words go out the window. They make no sense. Ditto if there’s a lot of background noise, or if I’m busily trying to type out a response on my AAC.”
Genesiz has been diagnosed and reevaluated for autism several times since age three— every time she comes across a provider who doesn’t believe her.
Wolfheart Sanchez explores the character Bruno from Disney’s Encanto as being relatable to autistic people for many reasons.
Lauren Melissa Ellzey is multiracial and autistic. She always felt that the world divided her into what was Black or white, autistic or not. She encourages mixed race autistic teens to see and embrace their whole authentic selves.