Thread by @shannonrosa

When autism awareness is deployed as a weapon—especially without autism understanding or acceptance—it enables ignorant crusades like anti-vaxxer autism martyr parent pity parties, instead of emphasizing how to get autistic kids/adults/famlies needed supports. A thread, again! 1/

Parents who believe autism causation conspiracy theories are unlikely to have epiphanies about doing right by their autistic kids any time soon, as they are mostly of a certain class and certain inability to believe that money can't buy happiness. They feel cheated and angry. 2/

And it is my duty to call out my kind when they embarrass us all in their clueless unexamined privilege: Not only regarding the irony of speaking out about vaccines when they have no experience with vaccine-preventable diseases thanks to growing up in a vaccinated cocoon… 3/

…but also because most “autism parents” who promote autism causation/cure hooey don't seem to realize that not all families have the funding to pursue expensively bogus autism "recovery" pseudoscience. 4/

And by their polluting of those autism information waters, these “autism parents" may lead people who don't have financial wiggle room to make choices that endanger their autistic kids' health and well being, as well as their families' economic health. 5/

If you find yourself best by autism curebie parents, your best bet is to counter them instead of engaging them, as arguing with people about their cultish beliefs is rarely effective. Instead, provide legitimate info for those listening on the sidelines, who need reassurance. 6/

And if you yourself are autistic, use your Magical Blocking Powers. You are under no obligation to field insults from Autism Parents who could benefit from your insights, but instead choose to insult you for having the audacity to be able to put words on a screen. 7/

And for parents who bash autistics while claiming to be their kids’ voices,
per @slooterman: "Just because someone has difficulty voicing a coherent opinion, it doesn’t mean you get to hoist [them] up like some kind of grotesque ventriloquist dummy"

thinkingautismguide.com/2017/05/you-ar… 8/

I am the parent of a high support autistic adult. I have limited patience for parents who use their kids SO like my son to invoke victim status for themselves, instead of learning how to better their kids’ lives.

I am here to help, but I’m not here to suffer autism fuckery. 9/9