How to end the hate epidemic
I like to have a mixture of fun and formality when Autistic Lincs comes around but this week is pretty serious stuff.
In September, a book called How To End The Autism Epidemic by JB Handley, gets released to the public and first and foremost I reject the messages that underpin the book supported by Chelsea Green Publishing. Messages such as proposing 'what’s causing the autism epidemic, the lies that enable its perpetuation, and the steps we must take as parents and as a society in order to end it'. That quote in itself is historically inaccurate and makes a mockery of my proudly autistic identity. If the autistic NEUROLOGY was to 'end' it would likely mean that Einstein, Mozart, Emily Dickinson, Michaelangelo, Newton, Darwin and many others would not exist.
Is a dead child better than an autistic child who can thrive with the right tools, experiences and people?
If your answer to that question is 'Yes,' please read on.
I have never wanted to communicate through this column as an entire community but I certainly do feel, as an autistic man, that I can represent my part in it and amplify others' voices within our community. It is in this autistic capacity that I say that autism is not a disease.
It saddens me that such impoverished thinking, as we can read about in last week's column For All The Taboos In China, can lead to ableism and ignorance in abundance with this kind of book. Books have worldwide power and we should choose wisely the stories that we read.
The influence that Mr Handley holds as co-founder of Generation Rescue with Jenny McCarthy in the USA is strong and he is likely to hold other positions of power, at the very least in what is often known as the 'anti-vaxxer' community, however, it is crucial to state here that I dismiss this idea that autism is something to be 'rescued' from.
JB Handley and those who align with his views may see this as free publicity and I guess that it is but it is worthwhile for me to shine a light on hateful opinions at best and dangerous practices at worst like refraining from vaccinations and encouraging ACTUAL diseases (killers) like measles to return.
Sure, there are sensory and social differences in a world that was not built for autistic people but generations of autistic people have proven that we can not only exist but THRIVE if acceptance, compassion and authentic and tangible collaboration are some of the components of our shared worlds.
Autistic people online and offline have the answers to the 'problem behaviours' seen by loved ones, teachers etc.
Will you reject the stories of hate and division and embrace and love our autistic identities?
Will you choose to read our autistically-driven stories?
There is a petition on Change.org against the book being promoted in bookshops and online. Please support autistic people, sign and share!
https://www.change.org/p/chelsea-green-publishing-boycott-j-b-handleys-hate-epidemic-against-autistic-people
Contact me on Facebook and Twitter @Callum Brazzo, call or text me on 07528 810 172 or go to callumbrazzo.com to connect with me.
Until next Tuesday!