Thread by @WeAreAutastic

As with "Love On The Spectrum" before this, I'm needing to take frequent rage breaks as I screen #AsWeSeeIt. The infantilizing. The do-gooding. The dismissiveness. Perpetuating that we are odd, difficult burdens only serves to make the audience feel good about themselves.

For the record, casting authentically is great. Great! But without us in creative positions, the narrative is still the same old othering we've seen forever. #AsWeSeeIt

Further, just because autistic people are included, does not magically absolve productions of responsibility. We too live within this "normal", are exposed to the same belittling messages then believe we are less. Being autistic doesn't grant powers of transcendence. #AsWeSeeIt

Autistic advocates exist because we are working every day to change this narrative. We critically deconstruct social norms to lay bare what others cannot readily see. We can light the path to a better way as did the LGBTQ, feminist, and antiracism advocates before us. #AsWeSeeIt

So far, there's been an abundance of non-autistic people apologizing for autistic people. We're apparently the vortex at the centre of all life's problems. Super. Let the nominations roll in.
#AsWeSeeIt

So many "supportive" characters providing exactly zero actual support. And non-autistic people can't see that. So much trying. So much pushing in the wrong direction. Modeling such harmful behaviors that audiences take on board.
#AsWeSeeIt

We can't have stories centred on us because we're told by the gatekeepers that they don't make sense, aren't relatable. They make sense *to us*. Newsflash, there are MILLIONS of us, most have no idea we're autistic but when we see ourselves, we relate.
#AsWeSeeIt

The message at the close of the pilot is "then don't be your true self." That pretty much sums it up, huh? You want us to accept you? Mask. You want to have a good life? Mask. We see your trauma and struggle but hey, as long as you make eye contact, we're good. #AsWeSeeIt

Oh, and the cutesy derpy music. Always gotta have that.

Really, #AsWeSeeIt is a portrayal of two cultures colliding. Milton's double-empathy on display. Thing is, only one culture can see what's happening.

If this feels like yet another uproar from the community when we should be grateful, consider that there's precious little about us & we're barred from making change. Outcry is what we have at hand. So yes, I will keep shining light & seeking inroads to a better way. #AsWeSeeIt

To make sure y'all know I see the good bits too, the #AutisticAAPI and #AutisticWhileFemale representation is *really* good to see. It's not enough to balance the cis white autistic men and the "I belong everywhere" white woman but it's something.
#AsWeSeeIt #ISaidWhatISaid