Autism Awareness Day / Month is a Joke!

Hi! I'm Orion Kelly and I'm Autistic. #ActuallyAutistic #orionkelly #autism #autismsigns #whatautismfeelslike #asd

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ABOUT ORION:
Orion Kelly is an #ActuallyAutistic vlogger (YouTuber), podcaster, radio host, actor, keynote speaker and Autistic advocate based in Australia. Orion is all about helping you increase your understanding, acceptance and appreciation of Autistic people.

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[shadowfox]

We don't need awareness. We need acceptance so we can work, live, and function. No one benefits from awareness other than the ones making money off of it.

[ismailabdelirada]

Coming up next: Poverty Awareness Month, where a panel of hereditary aristocrats hold a learned and lofty exposition to explain how paupers should conduct their lifelets, and how not to burden those with better, worthier and more financially stable lives to lead, and no time to waste on lesser beings.

[fatheroftherealm]

💯. And I feel the same about most “awareness” days/months.

[sarahwhittle]

For me it is like we have to change to be part of the neurotypical world. Not the other way around. For me sound, taste, and light is overwhelming. So I eat baby food, wear sunglasses, and spend most of my time in pjs. I look at the ground when I go out cos looking at peoples faces is like having needles pushing into my body xx

[moriontax]

Screw just awareness, I want acceptance. 😢😢😢😢

for 365 days!

[guardianexo]

Autism awareness month is like rainbow capitalism except everything is covered in puzzle pieces instead of rainbows

[roylapin]

I totally understand how you and many feel about this. While not everyone can do this, at my company we framed it as Autism Acceptance, part of a 3 step journey, from Awareness, to Acceptance, to finally Celebration.

My ERG (Employee Resource Group) is very clear in calling it Acceptance. Also, unlike the groups Orion is referencing, actual Autistic people are part of the leadership of the group (including myself).

That said so much education is needed. I'll still always say Acceptance and Celebration, but we can't forget so many people aren't even aware.

[sarahs]

Most of those autism organizations are "trying to find a cure, " which should be the first red flag for anyone. We obviously need awareness, acceptance, and accomodations for people on the spectrum. I have two boys who have ASD, and they're adorable, smart and funny. My only fear is that when they're no longer cute little kids, and they're having a meltdown in a public space and some "hero" comes along to quell the chaos and one of them ends up seriously hurt or worse, dead. That's where the majority of the public should be aware of autism, so everyone stays safe.

[willburbur]

autism education is good. awareness does nothing for me, people know im autistic, they still discriminate against me. If they knew what autism was or common expressions or effects autism can have on a person, then maybe they would understand more.

I dont need awareness, i need empathy

[blueyedsweetie]

As an American with ADHD/as well as self diagnosed with autism I am nearly 40 years old and I have been diagnosed with everything but autism and I’m stunned at how little we are supported by our so called “leaders” it’s stunning how indifferent they are to provide funding for more psychological evaluations available rather than the 2 year wait for a child with question of autism and I am not sure what to do but I know one thing is for sure these companies that continue to profit heavily from their awareness campaigns while also providing little support to the actual people who need it like those who are living in poverty and people of color literally have to suffer all their life and have no idea how to function as adults at least I don’t lol but I’m also In recovery and with pretty severe post traumatic stress disorder I don’t know how I can relate to the people who provide my health care they just dismiss me as a hypochondriac smh 🤦‍♀️

[AIRL-asteroid]

Totally agree with this. I love how you put my thoughts into words. Most ignore the “month” because it’s not as cool as pink morning tea for breast cancer awareness. Anything with awareness in its label means it doesn’t actually help anyone. We have a number of such organisations. I even did fundraising for one. But if you need anything like support, help with work, help with daily tasks or finding shelter, nah. Talk is cheap. And awareness is lazy. We need to discuss here ideas that we actually need. I will start. 1. It should be mandatory for students and all workers esp. managers to study and at a higher level, receive certification for the ability to positively interact. Practical work included. An AUTC (Autism certified) person can add it to their CV. The AUTC would be a requirement for all teachers, managers (esp in Government), lawyers and police etc. Next?

[renakawaiichan]

I literally saw Autism Speaks branded shirts being sold at Walmart. One of them even said “I love someone with autism” and all I could think was, “If you’re buying this shirt, you actually hate someone with autism “

[AussieLuke-uqhh]

The NDIA spends equal to that of our defence force annually. Things have never been worse for people with disability in general

[itsallgravy]

But we should spread awareness. It helps people realize that not everyone has the same brains. When people are aware, they have a better choice to choose kindness 💙

[adolfohernandez]

We need people to be educated about autism.

[mechaishida]

‘Awareness’…well, as Orion touched upon, it’s certainly not about spreading awareness, it appears to be a perfunctory effort to ease the consciences of terminally unaware people.

‘I bought a hoody, so I support autism!!’

Ooook…yes, that goes to a multinational ‘charity’ that needs to pay its neurotypical board members…

How about addressing the real issues, and appropriating funding to autistic people living in misery, poverty and actual isolation, because they can’t function within the crushing parameters that society has set, no matter how hard they’ve tried. How about helping parents and carers? How about helping kids with autism to access groups and therapy to actively enable them to gradually progress and grow, instead of being sidelined and forgotten about! How about actual person-centered approaches that fit the needs of the individual, that legislation actually puts forth?

Funding diagnoses, funding therapy, funding support workers (aptly trained I may add) to offer some shred of solace to the autistic community. Help finding suitable employment, help finding suitable training programs…the list is endless.

Instead of all this pompous, facile, virtue signalling faffing about, with ‘awareness’, because let’s face it, the governments, the medical industry, working industries and society at large, DO NOT CARE. No real change can be effected!

[EllyinAdelaide]

During autism awareness months groups run special training days for educators and members of the public, service providers have open days, not for profits raise funds to deliver programs and autistic voices are highlighted. It has only ever been a positive for our family.

[mlr]

@orionkelly this Comments thread is GOLD in terms of hitting so many nails on the head. Hope you will archive it and use it somehow to start the discussion in a wider community. The discussion happening here is the discussion that needs to be happening in a greater context - not necessarily with the 'public at large' but with those in schools, government, public services, etc. Thank you for all you do, whether you signed up for it or not. ;-)

[etcwhatever]

Its more important to give teachers, doctors and hr specialists short courses on neurodivergent conditions and to enforce support into law than do these awareness month thingies. I agree man.

[JDMimeTHEFIRST]

I saw that sign and it angered me. As if we are a disease to be aware of. Then people must have complained because they changed it to acceptance 😒. Not good enough at this point. Imagine if they had gay acceptance day. No, I want autism appreciation/pride month or bust.

Accommodations and not being discriminated against constantly would be great. How about neurotypicals education week where they have to learn about autism from autistic people and the things we go through.