Is this ableism?

Post Reply New Topic

A few days ago I was on Yik Yak. For those of you unaware, Yik Yak is an anonymous message board popular on college campuses. Posts on Yik Yak range from classroom antics to crude humor to hangout organization. So I am on this Yik Yak, an I send out a yak asking if there were any other autistics using Yik Yak. Within minutes, the yak was voted down to the point it fell off the board. I send out a follow-up yak in which I explain that I wasn't being a troll and was really looking for other autistics. Only thing I got was a reply reminding me to say 'people with autism' instead of 'autistics', and it wasn't long before that yak fell off too.

I have seen the term 'ableism' tossed around on Tumblr senselessly, therefore I thought almost nothing of it; I regarded ableism as a concept created by Tumblrettes to further their nonsense. This Yik Yak incident had me pondering ableism's existence, thinking 'maybe it really does exist after all'. But I am still not sure, whether it is ableism or just a misunderstanding (i.e., the other Yakkers did think I was trolling). Is this truly ableism, or am I overreacting?

I don't think you're overreacting. I'd be very ticked off in that situation.

That feel when somebody tells you what you can and can't refer to yourself as... (In reference to autistic vs person with autism)

God, I'm really getting angry at all the tut-tutting over using "person first language". When are they going to get the message that autistic people, more often that not, actually find "person with autism" insulting?
Probably never, because that would mean listening to us.

Sounds like nothing but political correctness taken too far.

Now I finally understand what ableism means. Able-ism. To me it was a blank word before this thread. Thanks. Well... now I feel dumb

Those ret*d, fag tumblrinas need to shut their whore mouths and stop complaining about their utter nonsense! *You have been banned from tumblr for offensive language and being cisgendered*



Seriously though... the yik yaks are just being rude. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I am dying, I am dying, I laughed so hard that I can see my abs. Aside from the slurs, I completely agree.

The Tumblrettas and the Tumblrinas are trully, in reality, driving the autism-Asperger's community into a deep, narrow ravine; the worst part is that they don't see it.

Sweet Jesus, I am glad that Wrongplanet is a haven to protect from the tumour that is the autism side of Tumblr! What a pleasant surprise. What's especially amusing is when these tumblrinas try to to talk about blind people's issues (when they themselves cannot use most functionality on tumblr due to accessibility problems), then tell you that you can't talk about autism problems because "you don't have autism"! What a wonderful place if you are a complete masochist.

Hey, how many people here have had their diagnosis erased? lol

To OP: It's technically discriminatory but how I'd deal with it is I'd say, "their problem, not mine" and bail. There are more accepting communities elsewhere on the internet. Honestly, it's their fault for buying into first/third person language BS anyways (how does that work again? LOL)

And yes, "ableism" is a thing, but it's been so bastardized by tumblrinas so much that I use the term "disability discrimination". It's more acute in disabilities that are harder to hide, so take advantage of the fact that you can obscure your autism. The "autism activism" on tumblr, in addition to a few very "special" individuals who have ruined our reputation on the internet (a certain pokemon/sonic crossover comes to mind... hm) so it's best to let yourself into their waters before making any sort of announcement like that.

It's absolutely ableism when neurotypicals tell autistics how to identify themselves. It's very condescending when they say they know better than us what we find offensive. I'd recommend a scathing response to that. I hate person-first language with a passion.

Even parents of autistics are considered ableist now because they are not radically neurodivergent. All of them, except if the parent themself is (or diagnosed themself as) autism spectrum. Ableism isn't taken seriously now because of the reason you put so perfectly into words.



I once encountered a special-needs volunteer who was so against the term autistic(s) that she made an effort never to use the word, even when it was the only grammatically appropriate word.

Compare "Arabella has autism, and she drives a Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG" and "Arabella is autistic, and she drives a Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG". Grammatically, it makes no difference. The word to describe Arabella which should be used is determined by Arabella herself.

Now compare "We're going to the mall in that guy with autism's Mercedes" and "We're going to the mall in that autistic guy's Mercedes". The former sentence implies that a group of friends are off to the mall inside a man, who has a Mercedes belonging to autism. The latter implies that a group of friends are off to the mall inside a Mercedes, owned by an autistic man. Which makes more sense?

I don't really mind it being used to describe me but there are times when it is absolutely necessary to say autistic.

Okay, so ableism is when you say that someone is not what they are? I'm confused.

And this whole grammar thing is people trying to fake empathy with something they know nothing about, I think.

But autism is definitely a taboo subject. I have brought it up in several situations only to be greeted by silence and averted faces (and a rapid change of subject.) I think the mainstream does not know quite what to make of us.

I've never heard/read about anyone being offended by neurotypical or typically developing child. Nobody is demanding you call them "children with typical development". The difference, I think, is based on the assumption that autism is something to be ashamed/embarrased about.

No, ableism is irrational discrimination against the disabled.

I don't think the ableism here is preferring person-first language, it's stopping someone from talking about autism. A few people hyperfocused on the one person who offered an explanation rather than the many who didn't. Most of what has been said in those posts can be safely ignored, it is the WrongPlanet equivalent of Fox News or the Daily Mail.

The people who don't understand the subtlety of the "person-first v. identity-first" debate are not bigots, they're just ill-informed.

I don't think people who use person first are necessarily ableist. It's just ableist when they tell autistics or other disabled people they don't have the right to choose how to identify themselves. In spite of everything I said, If an autistic person prefers person-first, I totally respect that.

Autism has become a controversial topic. You can't talk about it anymore without the possibility of offending someone. Someone told me you can't write about controversial topics and not have anyone take offense. So that means it's impossible and don't even bother when you write about it or say anything about it.

You can't say someone with autism without anyone getting offended or even say autistic person without anyone getting offended. You can't win. But I think however a person wants to be referred to as, respect their choice.