How come most movements focus on autism pride?

Post Reply New Topic

I am wondering, why is it that most autism movements focus on pride? It's fair to say that while I do accept my autism for what it is, I think it's stupid to be "proud" to have autism or any other disorder or identity. I don't like the identity politics of "pride" movements. I don't believe that we should have discrimination laws or other stuff to coddle only a certain identity group.

Shouldn't there be a movement that takes a more realist view on autism? There are both advantages and disadvantages to being on the autism spectrum. Not to mention, there will always be a few idiots out there who like to ridicule others, and it's not worth stamping out entirely.

Considering that Suicide ideation and depression are much higher for autistics then not only the general population but people with one or more medical conditions or psychosis, pride is the opposite of the main problem. The Autistic Pride movement is a reaction and overreaction to the stigmas that are partly the cause of the stark mental distress experienced by most autistics. It is meant to be a counterbalance to these problems.

While there are a few Autistic supremicists in the Autistic Pride movement most involved do acknowledge Autism has good and bad elements. While I am personally not proud or ashamed of how I was born, I do not begrudge the Autism Pride movement for trying to change the very negative view about autism that has been predominant and is still widely held by NT's and autisics.

Some people are trying to put forth an autism acceptance and pride movement, to basically match the gay pride and acceptance movement.

Rather than autism being viewed as a disability and disorder, they want it viewed the same as an ethnicity, religion or orientation, in the diversity tolerance movement.

The latest autism symbol is a rainbow ribbon that's similar to the LGBTQ flag.

"Autism is the new Gay" slogan etc.

I'm waiting for someone to give me a pin that says "Autistic Lives Matter".

I'd say it's a disorder because it's caused by a malfunctioning dysfunctional brain. And a disability because people with a neurological handicap are disabled. That's what autism is. It's the same thing as having malfunctioning crippled up legs, except it's the brain's neurology that's crippled up. That's autism.

I agree that I see it as a disorder. I'm also part of the Deaf community and think that people attempting to compare the two simply don't understand Deaf culture and pride.

The thing is, Deaf pride is about how sign language removes the barrier (plus some adjustments with alarms). If the world was set up around visual information Deaf people wouldn't be held back. It wouldn't even be an adjustment.

The same can't be said for most cases of autism, by nature of the fact that it has to cause difficulty. Same of ADHD too - I'll always have executive function difficulties and need help around it or else need a treatment.