Autism rights movement

The autism rights movement is a movement demanding better legal protections for autistic people and their caregivers.

Overview

The autism rights movement wants the autism spectrum to be accepted by society as a difference in ability to function in daily life. It does not believe autism to be a mental disorder needing treatment.^[1]

The autism rights movement is controversial to some members of the public due to deep-rooted ableism in society. There have been voices arguing against the common perception that most autistic people are intellectually troubled.^[2]

There is fear that professionals, such as social workers, may try preventing autistic people from getting married or having children. Members of the movement also believe that autistic people should not be treated differently from others.

Goals

The movement has a variety of goals:

Opposition to cures for autism^[1]
Training of life skills for autistic people^[3]
Higher acceptance of autistic behavior^[4]
Recognition of autistic people as a minority group^[5]
Creation of more social networks and events for autistic people to attend as they are able^[6]

Rationales

Autism rights activists are sometimes called neurodiversity activists.

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a word for how everyone's brains are different. Autistic people have different brains to people who do not have autism. People who do not have autism are called neurotypical people. The word neurodiversity is preferred to autism as it is not saying that autism is a medical condition. Neurotypical is used rather than "normal" as people tend to equate "normal" with "better".^[1]

Related pages

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Solomon, Andrew (25 May 2008). "The autism rights movement". New York. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008.
↑ "The autism rights movement". Synapse.org.au.
↑ Mission Statement. Aspies for Freedom.
↑ Mission Statement. Archived 2013-04-21 at the Wayback Machine Autism Acceptance Project.
↑ "Declaration From the Autism Community That They Are a Minority Group" (Press release). PRWeb, Press Release Newswire. 18 November 2004. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
↑ Autism Network International presents Autreat. Archived 2001-12-14 at the Wayback Machine AIN.

[Solomon-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Solomon, Andrew (25 May 2008). "The autism rights movement". New York. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008.

[Synapse-2] "The autism rights movement". Synapse.org.au.

[AFF-3] Mission Statement. Aspies for Freedom.

[AAP-4] Mission Statement. Archived 2013-04-21 at the Wayback Machine Autism Acceptance Project.

[UN-5] "Declaration From the Autism Community That They Are a Minority Group" (Press release). PRWeb, Press Release Newswire. 18 November 2004. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2016.

[Autreat-6] Autism Network International presents Autreat. Archived 2001-12-14 at the Wayback Machine AIN.

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