Very well said. I am late diagnosed and have experienced this and yes it isn't helpful and as you said near the end, about it being an expression of gatekeepers unresolved trauma being projected onto others. I am an abuse survivor and working through my own trauma and mindful of dealing with my stuff and not dumping it on others.
Yes, as an autistic, multiple times. I was criticized by autistics for not understanding sarcasm, being too sensitive and not tough enough and my friend wants to drop me because I have a different view about our local organization that she deems as ableist, even though I disagreed with some stuff they did. I think that with "low-functioning" autistics, doctors only want to get rid of their harmful behavior, not their way of thinking. But unfortunately some parents want to change their thinking and non-harmful behavior, too and they usually put them into ABA.
Sorry, this happened to you, Adela. I think what we're talking about here is people engaging in black and white thinking and being absolutist in their condemnation of perceived offenses, injustices, etc. This reaction does make sense, but at the same time, I feel there are more constructive and open-minded ways to discuss these important topics. ABA does get a bad rap, and I really appreciate the courage many autistic folks have shown in speaking up about their negative experiences. Recently I watched talks from a conference that featured ABA practitioners as well as autistic folks. What was conveyed during this conference is that some ABA practices (at least historically) definitely had the potential to harm. What was also shared is that the therapy has continued to evolve and a lot of those harmful practices are not the accepted standard now. So criticisms about some past practices are certainly valid, but not always generalizable to current ABA therapy. And sometimes they are the result of actions on behalf of bad and/or poorly trained practitioners. If there are parents out there who are trying to use ABA therapy to change their children's autistic identities, this is deeply problematic. Such individuals clearly could benefit from more education.
FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE WHO ALSO DEALS WITH THE SAME SHIT I DO you ever hear that dreadful “dude I’m autistic and I don’t struggle with that”? or “Im autistic and I don’t find this offensive”? omfg I thought I was the only one who hated experiencing this bullshit
The day I got my diagnosis I went on a board and said "I am now offically a person with Autism." What should have been a good coming out experience was ruined as apparently I said it wrong and got Gatekeeped on my ASD Faux pas. Needless to say I never went back to that forum. Thank you Essy for this as it needs to be said.
I am late diagnosed ie at 56yo now 59 yo. I joined many fb groups trying to learn and understand what it all means. I have unjoined many fb groups because of these 'gatekeepers'.
Very well said. I am late diagnosed and have experienced this and yes it isn't helpful and as you said near the end, about it being an expression of gatekeepers unresolved trauma being projected onto others. I am an abuse survivor and working through my own trauma and mindful of dealing with my stuff and not dumping it on others.
💯! I applaud your self-reflection
Yeah, online I’m not autistic apparently, but when I tell people in person they’re like “ahh..that makes sense now..”
Yes, as an autistic, multiple times. I was criticized by autistics for not understanding sarcasm, being too sensitive and not tough enough and my friend wants to drop me because I have a different view about our local organization that she deems as ableist, even though I disagreed with some stuff they did.
I think that with "low-functioning" autistics, doctors only want to get rid of their harmful behavior, not their way of thinking. But unfortunately some parents want to change their thinking and non-harmful behavior, too and they usually put them into ABA.
Sorry, this happened to you, Adela. I think what we're talking about here is people engaging in black and white thinking and being absolutist in their condemnation of perceived offenses, injustices, etc. This reaction does make sense, but at the same time, I feel there are more constructive and open-minded ways to discuss these important topics.
ABA does get a bad rap, and I really appreciate the courage many autistic folks have shown in speaking up about their negative experiences.
Recently I watched talks from a conference that featured ABA practitioners as well as autistic folks. What was conveyed during this conference is that some ABA practices (at least historically) definitely had the potential to harm. What was also shared is that the therapy has continued to evolve and a lot of those harmful practices are not the accepted standard now.
So criticisms about some past practices are certainly valid, but not always generalizable to current ABA therapy. And sometimes they are the result of actions on behalf of bad and/or poorly trained practitioners.
If there are parents out there who are trying to use ABA therapy to change their children's autistic identities, this is deeply problematic. Such individuals clearly could benefit from more education.
FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE WHO ALSO DEALS WITH THE SAME SHIT I DO
you ever hear that dreadful “dude I’m autistic and I don’t struggle with that”? or “Im autistic and I don’t find this offensive”? omfg I thought I was the only one who hated experiencing this bullshit
The day I got my diagnosis I went on a board and said "I am now offically a person with Autism." What should have been a good coming out experience was ruined as apparently I said it wrong and got Gatekeeped on my ASD Faux pas. Needless to say I never went back to that forum. Thank you Essy for this as it needs to be said.
Ugh I'm so sorry that happened to you. That kind of behavior is toxic.
Have you experienced some form of autism gatekeeping?
Or do you disagree with the points I've raised here?
It me :) all my life too. Buddhism helped me to accept things as they are.
I'm glad it brought you a sense of peace!
This is why I question the double empathy hypothesis. There is no more consensus in the ND community than the NT community.
I am late diagnosed ie at 56yo now 59 yo. I joined many fb groups trying to learn and understand what it all means. I have unjoined many fb groups because of these 'gatekeepers'.
great job 🙂 ... :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Yes, I don’t remember names well much less pronouns. When I use the “wrong” pronoun I’m treated like Hitler…
Yeah I struggle with names as well. If I can't remember pronouns, I force myself at the very least to remember (and use) first names.