Autistic Voices

This post is just from my perspective and I obviously do not speak for all disabled people. If another disabled person prefers the term special needs, then I definitely value their choice and think that that language should be used for them.

I think that often people try to use the term special needs, differently abled or whatever other term, to avoid using the word disabled as they see it as something to hide from or something that needs to be ‘softened’ but I am tired of my disability being softened not just in language but in how I am expected to exist for the comfort of others.

"In this post, when I refer to the superhero narrative, I mean anything that compares autistic people to a superhero, suggests that autistic people have super powers or that autism itself is a super power. See the examples on the second slide.

I am just sharing my opinion as an autistic person as to why the superhero narrative is harmful however, I definitely do not police autistic people's use of language for themselves if they would like to describe their autism as a superhero etc.

"I am aware that when people use this phrase, they often think this is a compliment. They say this with the assumption that Autism is inherently bad a by saying we don't look Autistic, they are complimenting us. Although it can come from good intentions, the phrase can be harmful and to me, it feels like [it] is a product of the ablest society that we exist in.