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Want to Be Autistic in Public? You Better Ask For Permission to Speak up
On how the world sees Autistic people
A while ago I was watching an activist on Autism give an interview on a tv show. I follow her on social media, we have exchanged messages a few times, and I admire how she spreads awareness about Autism (especially adult diagnosis), shares her personal struggles, and even gives lectures about it.
Watching her I thought “I wish that was me.” There’s something in the self-confidence she has in telling her story that I truly admire. There’s got to be something really special about unapologetically being who you are, in public. Except, that’s not really the world we live in, is it?
A few weeks ago, that same girl posted on Instagram about feeling burned out, and needing to take a break from social media. She deals with too many hate messages and comments, she said.
I was watching «Nannette» by Hannah Gadsby the other day. This is a stand-up show that turns into an emotional show about how comedy can be used to put minorities down, and how Hannah used it to put herself down. Even if I don’t fully agree with her perspective, it’s hard not to feel her words, one by one:
Do you understand what self-deprecation means when it comes to someone who already exists in the…
