RECLAIMING/INTERPRETING #ACTUALLYAUTISTIC

 

Dear Persons,

Our #ActuallyAutistic Guides are neuro-affirming, empowering, and radically inclusive. They’re 100% based on Autistic wisdom and experience. 

But the #ActuallyAutistic hashtag seems to have its detractors from a lot of different groups. 

Many neurotypical (NT) people, especially professionals in the neurodiversity space, feel it’s exclusive and/or overtly critical of NT perspectives and knowledge.

 

Some Autistic people feel it’s too radical, or makes Autistic people seem snarky or demanding. 

On the other hand, some people of various neurologies consider its usage favors Autistic people with lower support needs, and thus further others and marginalizes those with higher support needs. 

Others think the hashtag can contribute to toxic positivity and inspiration porn. 

Or find it too trendy. 

Or passé!

My co-author and I were not aware of all this controversy when we chose to use the hashtag in our titles. 

We liked its implications for centering Autistic wisdom and experiences, and it reflected our approach to research and writing (aside from my co-author herself, all people quoted and referenced in both books are Autistic). 

As I’ve become more aware of the ambivalent response to the hashtag, I remain comfortable with using it for two main reasons: 

1. RECLAIMING.

Reclaiming language has always been an interest of mine. There are so many words used to shame women, disabled people, Queer people, and people of color, for example. From my teen years, I have worked to destigmatize some of those words that applied to me, from within the population they were designed to other and demean. 

I suspect some if not most of the issues around the #ActuallyAutistic hashtag arise from this subtle othering pressure.

2. LITERALITY.

Well, I’m pretty literal. For me, this hashtag represents, um, that I am, and our contributors are…you know…actually Autistic.  

And we have plenty to say. 

It distinguishes us in important ways from neurotypical experts who also discuss neurodivergence. Yet it does not inherently stigmatize those professionals. 

It’s an equalizer. 

We interpret this hashtag to mean exactly what it says and proudly used it in our first two #ActuallyAutistic Guides. 

And we plan to use it in the third. 

Love,

Full Spectrum Mama