Autism/Neurodiversity excluded from Diversity PSA
I have been noticing for a while that media campaign championing diversity (minorities, women, LGBTG+, etc.) always excluded neurodiversity and autism.
The following Lifewtr Life Unseen PSA, which I've been seeing in theatres for the past few months, is of particular note for a reason I'll explain shortly:
"We are the unseen creators" the ad proclaims; "because of our gender (women, trans), color of our skin (people of color), who we fall in love with (LGBTQ); our life's work may never be seen or heard." As always, the neurodiverse are notably excluded. But it goes even further with the line "or the ability of our bodies" (but not the abilities of our brains). With this line, Lifewtr is making a deliberate effort to emphasize that when they talk about people with disabilities, they specifically and exclusively mean physical disabilities only. As always, the neurodiverse are the unseen even among the unseen.
ASPartOfMe
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Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Posts: 34,672
Location: Long Island, New York
The following Lifewtr Life Unseen PSA, which I've been seeing in theatres for the past few months, is of particular note for a reason I'll explain shortly:
"We are the unseen creators" the ad proclaims; "because of our gender (women, trans), color of our skin (people of color), who we fall in love with (LGBTQ); our life's work may never be seen or heard." As always, the neurodiverse are notably excluded. But it goes even further with the line "or the ability of our bodies" (but not the abilities of our brains). With this line, Lifewtr is making a deliberate effort to emphasize that when they talk about people with disabilities, they specifically and exclusively mean physical disabilities only. As always, the neurodiverse are the unseen even among the unseen.
All too often this is still true
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
Even though I am "marginalized" and "oppressed," I don't feel I want to identify as being either one of those things.
If one stays stuck in those labels, it becomes very difficult to get out from under those labels.
I want to identify as being a better person every day through learning. And I don't want people to know when I feel "marginalized" and "oppressed."
Being a victim is the philosophical orientation which I seek to avoid at all costs----even though I might be a victim. My task is to become less of a victim.
Whenever my mother feels anxious, she doesn't want me to try to make her feel better. She wants to experience the "totality" of feeling anxious. I really don't get why.
If one stays stuck in those labels, it becomes very difficult to get out from under those labels.
I want to identify as being a better person every day through learning. And I don't want people to know when I feel "marginalized" and "oppressed."
Being a victim is the philosophical orientation which I seek to avoid at all costs----even though I might be a victim. My task is to become less of a victim.
If you are concerned only about improving your own life and no one else's, and if you are trying to do so without any help from anyone else, then there may be a point to minimizing a sense of "being a victim."
On the other hand, if your aim is to improve things for autistic people generally, or if you are seeking help with difficulties in which your autism has a role, then recognizing the ways that autistic people are marginalized is essential.
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- Autistic in NYC - Resources and new ideas for the autistic adult community in the New York City metro area.
- Autistic peer-led groups (via text-based chat, currently) led or facilitated by members of the Autistic Peer Leadership Group.
- My Twitter / "X" (new as of 2021)
Yep, that's a big problem.
The reason for it, IMO, is that our community is vastly under-organized, thus not yet able to function effectively as part of an alliance of marginalized communities.
IMO our community needs to become at least several orders of magnitude better-organized than it is now. (See Longterm visions for the autistic community.) In particular, one of the main kinds of organizations we need is a wide variety of career-oriented groups for autistic people (or neurodivergent people more generally) who work, or who want to work, in particular categories of professions / occupations / jobs. We also need more organizations of other kinds too, including basic peer-led support groups and hobby-oriented social groups, as well as advocacy/activist groups.
And we need leadership self-training groups, so that more of us will be able to build the other afore-mentioned kinds of groups -- and also to help the leaders stay in touch with each other, so our groups don't become just a bunch of isolated little silos.
I think you meant the "neurodivergent"? (See Neurodiversity: Some Basic Terms & Definitions by Nick Walker.)
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- Autistic in NYC - Resources and new ideas for the autistic adult community in the New York City metro area.
- Autistic peer-led groups (via text-based chat, currently) led or facilitated by members of the Autistic Peer Leadership Group.
- My Twitter / "X" (new as of 2021)
There would be "big money" in recognizing neurodiversity too if the autistic community community were much better organized. Organization is how a community (subculture) gets "big money," as well as political clout.
_________________
- Autistic in NYC - Resources and new ideas for the autistic adult community in the New York City metro area.
- Autistic peer-led groups (via text-based chat, currently) led or facilitated by members of the Autistic Peer Leadership Group.
- My Twitter / "X" (new as of 2021)
I've been told on multiple occasion that I am not allowed to identify as marginalized or oppressed.
_________________
"I'm bad and that's good. I'll never be good and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me."
Wreck It Ralph
If one stays stuck in those labels, it becomes very difficult to get out from under those labels.
I want to identify as being a better person every day through learning. And I don't want people to know when I feel "marginalized" and "oppressed."
Being a victim is the philosophical orientation which I seek to avoid at all costs----even though I might be a victim. My task is to become less of a victim.
If you are concerned only about improving your own life and no one else's, and if you are trying to do so without any help from anyone else, then there may be a point to minimizing a sense of "being a victim."
On the other hand, if your aim is to improve things for autistic people generally, or if you are seeking help with difficulties in which your autism has a role, then recognizing the ways that autistic people are marginalized is essential.
_________________
"I'm bad and that's good. I'll never be good and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me."
Wreck It Ralph
If one stays stuck in those labels, it becomes very difficult to get out from under those labels.
I want to identify as being a better person every day through learning. And I don't want people to know when I feel "marginalized" and "oppressed."
Being a victim is the philosophical orientation which I seek to avoid at all costs----even though I might be a victim. My task is to become less of a victim.
Whenever my mother feels anxious, she doesn't want me to try to make her feel better. She wants to experience the "totality" of feeling anxious. I really don't get why.
_________________
"I'm bad and that's good. I'll never be good and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me."
Wreck It Ralph
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