Thread by @autismfeelslike

I am struggling to see the difference between ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBTQ+ people, which seeks to make them ‘straight’ and ‘ABA therapy’ for autistic people, which seeks to make us ‘neurotypical’.

Both are a way of being.
How is one universally banned.
The other praised?

Maybe banned is the wrong word - condemned possibly more accurate due to laws. But both are abhorrent.

Every time parents praise how their little Timmy or Sally is ‘making eye contact’ or not stimming due to ABA - IMAGINE the reaction of others to them praising conversation therapy - “omg Timmy didn’t get turned on by looking at hot men!! Conversion Therapy is Amazing’.

You don’t choose to be LGBTQ+ - you just ARE.

and you also don’t choose to be autistic - you Just ARE.

We KNOW conversion therapy has seriously dangerous mental health implications for those that have had to experience it.

Experts caution those who attempt to change someone’s sexual orientation.

So WHY are we allowing people to attempt to change someone’s orientated thinking?

I just cannot wrap my head around how this is allowed. How autistics are having their voices silenced. How we are constantly told that we are wrong for speaking out against these abuses. How it’s a profession of ‘merit’. How it’s amazing.

Wake the hell up. Listen to #ActuallyAutistic voices. I’m outraged that parents are allowed to put their children through this. Outraged. #AutismParent’s Would you send your young LGBTQ+ child to conversion therapy sessions and brag about it?? Publicly praise it? Fight for it?

LOVE IS LOVE. I’m so upset about this. I am so upset about it. I’m so angry for my communities. I’m so hurt for us all 🌈

Sending your child to ABA therapy is NOT putting your child first. You are putting your bigoted selfish needs for ‘normalcy’ above the needs of your child. You are causing them emotional distress. You are setting them up for a lifetime of internal self hatred. #ActuallyAutistic

#ActuallyAutistic people would do ANYTHING to stop young children going through some of the things they have. The pain. The trauma. The distress. The lack of compassion. The lack of understanding. Listen to us when we tell you the pain ABA therapy causes.