A wonderful time at Autistic Pride
Hello there! Callum Brazzo here, continuing to make Autistic Lincs.
This week, we continue our theme of Autism Acceptance Month with some more autistically-centred events happening around and outside of the county as well as some new projects.
First and foremost, I wanted to bring your attention to 15 Years of Napoleon Dynamite, an afternoon brought to you by South Holland Arts Centre and Autistic Led.
It’s the inaugural collaboration of the centre and my autistic adult support group and is event centred around the film Napoleon Dynamite, which doesn’t outright state it’s about an autistic person…but it could be… and that’s interesting and a definite discussion point.
We will explore this and there will be a special performance from me alongside a few other activities to embrace the day and make a real difference to autistic people’s lives.
For more info, call South Holland Arts Centre on 01775 764777.
Back to other business!
Currently typing this in Liverpool Street station, London, I am reflecting on the autistic community and how it converged on 14th April to Charlton House and Garden in Woolwich. The event? Autistic Pride.
I, alongside so many others, performed for the purpose of sharing our narratives in our own ways.
There was poetry, music, speeches and even a manifesto reading from an emerging political party’s organisation led by autistic people (Neurodivergent Labour!)
I was very emotionally charged by the poetry and whilst it’s impossible to pick a favourite, a stand-out was certainly Janine Booth’s newly-crafted poem about 40 autistic people who have died or been mistreated nonetheless called Narrative Verdict.
Agony Autie spoke about embracing the stim.
Stimming, as I think I have mentioned before, is self-stimulatory behaviour which regulates and soothes thoughts and emotion and, well, sometimes it just feels GOOD. It was a powerful speech because it gave yet another autistic perspective on autistic voices that are pushed out, drowned out and stifled by those that speak above us or speak FOR us.
I have been to Autistic Pride events before in Hyde Park but this was the first organised by Autistic Inclusive Meets also known as A.I.M. which is a London-based charity I have linked before and think very highly of.
Emma Dalmayne, the CEO, even mustered the confidence to sing and conclude the event with The ABA Song,which is a vital piece of our narrative.
I could say SO much more about the event but I will link the event page below.
So by the time you’ve read this, I will have been back staying with my grandmother and this is symbolic.
It is symbolic because what happens outside of Spalding, outside of Lincolnshire, matters. We’re part of a bigger picture and this knowledge gives me strength and validity to this column, the support group… and to me.
We, as autistic people, are enough and our narrative is valid… but my grandmother will pass away. And this is symbolic of our responsibilities as youth to create the future we will inherit and generations to come will inherit. It’s a generation game.
I do not mean just autistic people but EVERYONE.
Henceforth, I return to Spalding feeling revitalised, refocussed and ready, whether it’s to permeate films such as Napoleon Dynamite with autistic perspective and share that event, or host Autistic Pride events in London, Lincoln, Cambridge… Spalding?
The answer to all this is to listen, not division, or division…but acceptance.
Further reading and events:
autistic led autistic adult support group
Contact me via facebook @CallumBrazzo, twitter @CallumBrazzo and through Letters to The Editor.
Ciao for now
