Autism rights movement
The autism rights movement is a movement demanding changes for autistic people and their caregivers. It wants the autism spectrum to be accepted by society as a difference in ability to function in daily life. It does not believe autism to be a mental disorder needing treatment.[1]
The autism rights movement is sometimes controversial due to deep-rooted ableism in society, arguing against the myth that most autistic people have low intelligence.[2] There is fear that professionals, such as social workers, may try preventing autistics from getting married or having children. Members of the movement also believe that autistic people should not be treated differently from others.
The movement has a variety of goals:
- Higher acceptance of autistic behavior[3]
- Training of life skills for autistic people[4]
- Opposition to cures for autism[1]
- Creation of more social networks and events for autistic people to attend as they are able[5]
- Recognition of autistic people as a minority group[6]
Autism rights activists are sometimes called neurodiversity activists. Neurodiversity is a word for how everyone's brains are different. Autistic people have different brains to people who do not have autism. People who do not have autism are called neurotypical people. The word "neurodiversity" is preferred to "autism" as it is not saying that autism is a medical condition. "Neurotypical" is used instead of "normal" because people tend to equate "normal" with "better".[1]
Related pages
changeReferences
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Solomon, Andrew (25 May 2008). "The autism rights movement". New York. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008.
- ↑ "The autism rights movement". Synapse.org.au.
- ↑ Mission Statement. Archived 2013-04-21 at the Wayback Machine Autism Acceptance Project.
- ↑ Mission Statement. Aspies for Freedom.
- ↑ Autism Network International presents Autreat. Archived 2001-12-14 at the Wayback Machine AIN.
- ↑ "Declaration From the Autism Community That They Are a Minority Group" (Press release). PRWeb, Press Release Newswire. 18 November 2004. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2016.