I honestly wasn’t going to write anything for April. I have been having a tough time putting pen to paper. But since it’s about to hit the ten year mark on my autism diagnosis, I decided to get something down to commemorate it.
Let me start by acknowledging something that the autistics who know, who really know, and dread this month know all too well: April is essentially a cash grab. April is a soapbox for well-meaning organizations and corporations to bank on us. We’re the inspiration porn, the example to strive for, the burden to be eased that’s big money to them.
And as April begins, I steel myself for the op-eds, the nuanced perspectives to elicit the sympathy that helps boost their clout and sales. The performances of this month are not lost on me— those discussions that have been framed about us, but not with us. I am not writing about that.
I just sincerely hope to hear more autistics who speak the unpleasant truths and have no audience: the autistic-led companies and organizations that carry on in obscurity, the autistics whose satire humors me as this month carries on…
Would I love to see an autistic freelancer get business and money over a puzzle piece organization? Absolutely. Would I like to see more autistics openly express their displeasure of this month and get center stage? I sure would.
If we must be heard, may it be a voice that the mainstream media would never acknowledge.
Because believe me, after only a couple of days, I already want it to be May 1st tomorrow.
I know I’m not the only one.
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9 Responses
Re: “The performances”, yep, that’s what a good proportion of it is, theatre.
Your perspective sheds light on the commodification of autism awareness emphasizing the need for genuine representation and recognition of autistic led initiatives beyond the superficial narratives perpetuated in April.
Skip Trace in Austin TX
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Your viewpoint clarifies the commercialization of autism awareness, highlighting the necessity of authentic representation and acknowledgment of autistic-led projects that go beyond the flimsy narratives spread in April.
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I just sincerely hope to hear more autistics who speak https://baldibasicsplus.com/
This is such a powerful and honest perspective—it’s a much-needed reminder that autism awareness should center the voices and experiences of autistic people themselves, rather Take Care Of Shadow Milk than turning their lives into a marketing opportunity.
I appreciate how you highlight the need to uplift autistic-led work and Space Waves Game honest perspectives instead of polished “inspiration” stories.