Thread by @TruthAutistic

I’m confused… because I see parents label themselves as “autism mom” and I get offended by a neurotypical person using their child’s diagnosis as an identity.
Our diagnosis isn’t neurotypical peoples identity.
#autism #autistic #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAcceptance

https://twitter.com/sensorystories_/status/1645089309710594049

When you use a disability or condition as your identity that you do NOT have it’s called identity appropriation.

Parents calling themselves “Autism Mum” “Autism dad” “Autism parent” is offensive and harmful As they’re using their child’s Autism diagnosis as their own identity when they have no right to. What if the child doesn’t want people to know they’re Autistic? They’re outing their… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Imagine if children went around using their parents diagnosis as their identity, I guarantee the parents wouldn’t like that as it’s their personal private information. And it’s still just plain weird. “Bipolar son”, “ADHD daughter” like if we all started doing it, it would be… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

I understand that Autism is a big part of a parents life too and these parents go through lots that other parents don’t go through. But it’s still not necessary to use your child’s diagnosis as an identity because you’re going through more than other parents do.

Why can’t people just have conversations instead and talk about being a parent to an Autistic child if they want people to know? There’s no need to use your child’s diagnosis as your identity.

The harm this causes to Autistic parents and how Parents that are not Autistic do not experience being Autistic and by them using Autism as an identity when they aren’t Autistic themselves diminishes/ minimises what Autistic parents experience and go through.

It makes it harder finding support and being understood also when you’re an Autistic Parent as everything is targeted at parents that aren’t Autistic and groups, therapy or other support often isn’t inclusive of Autistic parents.

I’m going to add this link in to Autistic Mama’s post she made on the same topic that is a must read
autisticmama.com/shouldnt-use-a…

also another link to an article written by a disabled person that is very insightful metro.co.uk/2022/04/19/par…