Thread by @EricMGarcia

I really want to know why @ltcoff opened her felt the need to open her @todayshow piece with the story of a parent being berated. It makes it seem like all #ActuallyAutistic people are bullies and it makes it seem like we are all at war with parents.
today.com/parents/autism…

Also, it's not like Eileen Lamb is a normal mom. She is someone who has monetized her story, written books about it and has made a name for herself doing it. And why not portray how she's talked about autistic people?
today.com/parents/autism…

And also, the "war" narrative makes it seem like there are two groups of people with equal footing when there clearly isn't. One group gets sympathetic media portrayals, political connections and more corporate donations. Self-advocates don't. today.com/parents/autism…

Of course, I shouldn't be surprised NBC does this, given Bob Wright, the founder of Autism Speaks, was head of NBC Universal (he's since retired from both positions). The idea parents of autistic people are neutral actors is ludicrous.

And on top of that, the idea that #ActuallyAutistic people are at "War" with parents is a narrative that certain parent advocates give because 90 percent of parents are indefatigable defenders of their children's rights and autonomy.

Anyways, if @TodayShow wants to discuss this in a nuanced way, I'm literally a journalist who works at @independent, written about it for @WashingtonPost and @thedailybeast and wrote a whole damn book about this. Call me.
indiebound.org/book/978132858…

And now I know that so many people will say that I am proving their point or that I am somehow biased because I am saying this is a poor portrayal. But I'd argue the opposite. I think me being autistic and knowing the facets of this debate makes me well-equipped to report it.

Anyway, after you are done reading this trash piece, you can buy my book We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.
Indiebound
indiebound.org/book/978132858…
Bookshop
bookshop.org/books/we-re-no…
B&N
barnesandnoble.com/w/were-not-bro…
Amazon
amazon.com/gp/product/132…