The Role of “Autism Positivity”

Autism positivity can be difficult to pitch. After my first-ever online comment regarding autism, I was attacked for stating that my personal experience had been more about discovery than tragedy. Many people believe that autism positivity dismisses the very real challenges associated with spectrum disorders; however, this is not the intent. Autism positivity is part of a movement to accept autistic individuals, as they are, and encourage a sense of self-worth. To achieve this goal, two important things need to happen:

The language we use to discuss autism must change. Tragedy-narratives and deficit-models contribute to the public’s infantilization or “othering” of autistics. When autistics are regarded as less than a person with typical neurology, it allows for harm, even in the name of treatment, as in the case of the Judge Rotenberg Center. High-functioning and low-functioning labels associated with autism are derived from a subjective ideal of “normal” and are also problematic. Most importantly, dialogues about autism should include and be guided by autistic people.

People should recognize that autism is not a disease.
It is a neurological variation. Many autistic people will need a variety of supports, and some will have serious impairments. But autism can also bring a tremendous set of strengths–intuitiveness, deeply focused thinking and attention to detail, enhanced pattern recognition (visual, auditory, numerical, social and scientific contexts), individualism, etc.–often referred to a the “upside of autism.” Autism is pervasive and cannot be cherry-picked. Treating an autistic person as though they need to be fixed can emotionally damage relationships, particularly between parent and child. Another important factor is for people to realize there is no credible evidence to support the claim that autism is caused by vaccines. (The 1998 study in question has been retracted for fraud, and the doctor–who has never been able to reproduce his results–was stripped of his medical licence, but in many ways the damage has been done.)

These two suggestions are just a couple of small steps in the right direction. The stigma and shame associated with disability, and autistic behaviors or “stimming” in particular, is troublesome, but it can be overcome. Autism positivity is about removing shame. Autism acceptance is not about denying disability or the need for accommodations; it’s about accepting that people are different. And that’s okay.