Thread by @NortherlyRose

#Thread
Seldom seen and seldom heard: the marginalisation, minoritisation, and under-representation of many #ActuallyAutistic people.
Some personal reflections on why this happens, and what we can do about it.
#AutismAcceptanceMonth
1/

The first thing to say is that I acknowledge my own privilege.
I’m white, I have two degrees and a professional qualification.
I work part time.
I get emotional support from my partner and family. I’m having psychotherapy.
All of these things help to insulate and protect me.
2/

The fact that I only discovered I was #ActuallyAutistic late in life undoubtedly harmed me.
For nearly six decades I had no frame of reference to make sense of things.
It’s impossible to disentangle the abuse I suffered because I was neurodivergent, and because I was a woman.
3/

But I didn’t experience additional discrimination due to racism or LGBTQIA+phobia.
For much of my career professional status gave me a position of power.
I occupied a platform of privilege, even though I was subordinated to contemporaries who were white, middle class and male.
4/

I’ve reached the life stage where #ageism starts to have an impact.
Older autistic people are virtually invisible. Just look at the line up for most #autism projects and events.
The same is true for black and brown autistic people, and those from other minoritised communities.
5/

The usual excuse is that we were ‘hard to find’, to which I’d respond: “what steps did you take?”
We’re not ‘seldom heard’ because we’re ‘hard to reach’, it’s because involving us isn’t seen as a high enough priority.
Representing diversity is an essential; a non-negotiable.
6/

When I attend autism events as part of the audience I play ‘Bingo’ as regular speakers pop up presenting on some new topic.
One invitation leads to another, but getting on board in the first place usually requires networking.
And you have to be seen as someone who’ll ‘fit’.
7/

Networking relies a lot on self promotion.
That’s why I struggle with LinkedIn and my relationship with social media is bittersweet.
Many important autistic opinions get suppressed by algorithms.
And when people object to this they risk being accused of envying ‘influencers’.
8/

So what can we do to make sure that representation of autistic experiences and perspectives is as diverse as possible? I’m
#AskingAutistics
to find out what other
#ActuallyAutistic people think.
Here are a few ideas to get the conversation started.
Be aware of our privilege.
9/

That may mean stepping back from an opportunity ourselves so it can be offered to someone in an under represented group.
Challenging lack of diverse autistic representation whenever we witness it.
If we seek to involve autistic people we must design in inclusion factors.
10/

Think about where and how we advertise opportunities.
Make it easy for a diverse range of people to apply.
Don’t expect people to give up their time without financial compensation (many people can’t afford to volunteer).
Diversify existing spaces and create new possibilities.
11/

Try not to keep on asking the same autistic people to get involved.
And if you’re someone who gets asked back repeatedly think before you accept invitations.
Has the opportunity been advertised?
Should it be?
Could someone else bring a different and more diverse perspective?
12/

One of the best books I’ve read was on the McDonaldization of society.
It included suggestions on subverting the fast-food culture that has taken over our lives.
Like buying a coffee in McDonald’s then staying for hours.
I write long #Twitter threads instead of pithy tweets.
13/

Twitter seems to be becoming increasingly polarised as it becomes more commercialised.
For some people Tweeting is an important part of making a living.
It’s essentially ‘work’.
There’s nothing wrong with this, but it can make other people feel overshadowed and excluded.
14/

People with few followers see larger accounts getting far more attention and it doesn’t seem fair.
The algorithms are the real problem here.
What I loved about @Twitter when I first started was the serendipity.
It takes the joy out of it when what I get to see is manipulated.
15/

I was prompted to write this thread by several similar conversations starting up in different places.
As #ActuallyAutistic people who are minoritised and marginalised as whole communities, we should challenge the insufficiently diverse representation of autistic perspectives.
16/

As @obrerx says, the point isn’t at all to personally slam larger accounts. “It's to point out that we don't have to conform to the structure that is pushed on us by Twitter, social media or the established mindset of our social environment. We can try to lift each other up”.
17/

We should
“…lift each other up. Lift up those unheard voices. If you can stand being on twitter, spend some time everyday searching the #actuallyautistic tag and lift up people making excellent comments but who are ignored.”
@obrerx
#AutismAcceptanceMonth
#AutisticTwitter
18/end

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