It’s April and you know what that means…Autism Acceptance Month!!
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But this year is different for an entirely important reason because according to the Centers for Disease Control, the ratio of diagnosis is 1 in 36. You heard that right, 1 in 36. Families and children and even adults who have not been lately diagnosed need the support system that they need to navigate autism and accept that autism is a gift and not a curse.
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However, the revelation that this new ratio was made public doesn’t fully get through to those who refuse to believe that they are affected by autism/neurodiversity. My passion as a self-advocate and public speaker has led me down different paths and some of those paths have not been easy. It’s been far from easy sailing which requires a great deal of determination, confidence, empathy and above all…self-acceptance.
While most families and individuals have embraced their autism diagnosis as a part of their identity, others have not. I mean, take a family who has noticed odd behaviors in their son or daughter. They get a diagnosis of autism and immediately go into denial. They jump to conclusions and declare that their son or daughter will never amount to anything in life.
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Mr. Noodle from “Sesame Street”
This is true if an individual is low functioning or right in the middle. But, just because someone is low functioning, non-verbal or middle of the spectrum, everyone can make an accomplishment. Of course, people like me have talked to families, educators and other professional en masse and have said that no matter what the accomplishment, it’s still an accomplishment.
Now, I want to use an example in the form of Mr. Noodle from the Sesame Street Segment, “Elmo’s World.” This Charlie Chaplin esque character is representative of a neurodiverse child or individual because he is non-verbal and behaves in a similar manner to an neurodiverse individual.
Instead of a parent, family member or teacher, he has Elmo and children talking off screen to encourage him to complete a task whether its tying shoes, putting on a jacket, or eating properly. Mr. Noodle tries and tries like a neurodiverse individual and he eventually accomplishes the goal.
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Now, as I explained in my three part blog about why we shouldn’t judge neurodiverse individuals because they watch childish shows or cartoons, we cannot forcefully take away something that not only makes them comfortable, but also helps them learn how to complete a task or resolve a specific life situation.
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Case in Point?
Linus Van Pelt from the Charlie Brown franchise. He carries around a blanket which is childish according to his older sister, Lucy. But the blanket has helped him overcome challenges such as in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” where he turns his blanket into a headdress for the Christmas Play. Linus also uses the blanket in the same special to hurl snowballs at cans sitting on the edge of a brick wall. Those moments, while insignificant or showing no purpose in the eyes of neurotypicals, are accomplishments..
Lucy Van Pelt currently represents those who want their neurodiverse loved ones or friends to get rid of something that they love because they view it as childish or insignifcant.
Now as for Lucy Van Pelt, she is the representation of those who are in denial about being around someone on the spectrum because they will never amount to anything or have any accomplishments whatsoever and will force the individual to “be normal” thus causing more harm than good by any means necessary.
Lucy can also represent more than just a sibling as shown…she could also represent a parent, a teacher or someone who claims to know everything about autism according to them.
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That brings me to my last character example…the know-it-all from “The Polar Express” (2004). He is a kid who claims to know everything about anything to the point where he shows no patience nor no humility for anyone. He wants to toot his own horn and it takes someone like Santa Claus to bring him back down to earth.
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All these examples are what is going on in our society and culture. Awareness is one thing…Acceptance is another. If we can accept that neurodiverse individuals of all levels can achieve an accomplishment, no matter how big or how small, then we can take another step forward towards gaining acceptance for all individuals on the autism spectrum.
We still have a long way to go…and the journey never stops!!
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Catch you all later!!
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