Thread by @karen_muriuki

Thank you all for your support guys for yesterday's event despite having technical issues since it's my first time using @TwitterSpaces which I'm still learning to navigate

Anyway I'd like to highlight an event that I'm angry about even now. Yesterday PAABA had an online event on Facebook which seeks to promote ABA in African countries including Kenya 🇰🇪

When my fellow autistic friends commented on the fact that they've refused to work with #ActuallyAutistic people, their comments are deleted and worse still they're blocked

This is a classic example of westernised ableism and neocolonisation that is being indoctrinated to parents and practitioners in Africa by introducing abusive practices such as ABA

As an autistic person of color and an African myself, I'm particularly very upset about this. Why would you silence autistic people in Africa who are simply advocating for disability and human rights?

What is it that you fear hearing from African autistics? Are we a threat? We're simply telling you to do the right thing and just simply listen and learn from us. That's all

I've endured some form of ABA myself back in the 80s and 90s and by that time autism was not known here. It was a very traumatic experience that I want to forget

So here's the thing, listen to what autistic people say work for them and start learning
#ListenToNonspeakers
#nothingisaboutuswithoutus
Lastly Abide by the CRPD