Hopefully this works, I’ve never tried to share a google drive link before so I’m not sure if I did it right. Anyway if you weren’t aware since the start of January I have been working on a magazine for my senior project that is meant for autistic people and by autistic people. I have received a lot of contributions from other autistic people on my blog in the form of submissions to sections like the positivity section for example, art for the art section, and articles. Most of the magazine was done via submissions from other autistic people. Except for the school advice section which I wrote based on my own experience, and the autistic celebrity and autistic character sections which I wrote myself after doing research. Last week I turned it in at the end of my final class (and I got an A on the magazine by the way 😊).
Like many people with my neurotype, I have a certain affinity for recognizing patterns, and here’s one that I’ve found: no one ever said that my writing was “real” before I knew that I was autistic, or before I started writing about my autism.
…There is something about the word “real,” though, that hits me specifically as an autistic human.
Today, the Centers for Disease Control released the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network report, which estimates the prevalence of autism in certain areas. The results indicate that better recognition of autism, and an encouraging reduction of racial and gender disparities in diagnosis, have caused rates of diagnosis to rise slightly in the communities surveyed. There is more work to do to address the diagnostic disparities that remain, and to ensure that autistic people in all communities receive the supports we need.
The report released today shows that the rate of autism diagnoses in the survey’s sample has increased to 1 in 59 children, or about 1.7% of the survey’s population. This new data is based on analysis of research done in 2014, which administered diagnostic tests to 8-year-old children in 11 communities across the United States. This is consistent with previous studies showing that autistic people make up 1-3% of the population. It is also consistent with 2014’s National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which found an estimated autism prevalence of 2.24% for that same year. The ADDM Network study is meant to be a deep dive look at autism diagnoses in a few specific communities, rather than a nationally representative sample – it is worth keeping in mind that the CDC does not intend the report as an estimate of autism prevalence in the general population.
As in previous years, the CDC found that better identification of autistic people contributed to an increased rate of diagnosis in the ADDM Network communities. In particular, the CDC attributes much of the increase found in this report to narrowing racial disparities in autism diagnosis. In the previous ADDM Network report, white children were about 20% more likely than black children, and 50% likelier than latinx children, to be diagnosed as autistic. The data released today shows that those disparities have been cut in half, to 7% and 22% respectively. The disparity in diagnosis between boys and girls was also reduced, from from 4.5:1 in the previous study to 4:1 in the most recent report.
While this progress is encouraging, there is still much work to be done. For instance, we recognize that clinicians are more likely to mistake autism for behavioral issues in children of color, particularly black and latino boys. These misconceptions can push children of color into the school-to-prison pipeline. Autistic women and girls also remain shockingly underdiagnosed, leaving many without needed services and supports. We must keep working to ensure equitable access to culturally- and gender-competent diagnosis. We expect that rates of diagnosis will continue to rise until diagnostic processes can accurately identify autistic people from all communities.
The findings of today’s report also underscore the need for a study on the prevalence of autism among adults. Autistic people of color, and autistic women and girls, are more likely to have a later diagnosis, so even as the disparities narrow, a survey of of 8-year-olds will not give us a complete picture. Many autistic people need access to long term supports and services into adulthood, and surveying autistic adults would help us better provide those services. It would also counter myths and help to show that autism is as common among adults as among children.
Autism is not a bad thing, and autistic people—of all ages, races, and genders—have always been here. The CDC’s research shows that our data is beginning to catch up to that fact. We encourage researchers, advocates, and the general public to join us in using this new data to ensure that all autistic people are accepted, included, and supported in our communities. Acceptance is an action – we invite you to take it with us.
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. We work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community, and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us. Nothing About Us, Without Us!
Our updated Tumblr URL name reflect the steps we’re taking toward our official name change on July 1, 2018. We will also be releasing a new mission statement, and transitioning to our new website URL. Here’s a snippet of what one of our moderators and community members, Court Alison, has to say:
“…As a person who is both non binary and autistic, I am really excited about this change. It re-affirms our commitment to the work we do and the community we serve. I didn’t have the names to put to my feelings and experiences when I was growing up. It was really challenging not knowing what made me, me.
As a young adult, with relief and pride I realized that I am autistic. Soon after, I learned what it means to be non binary. That happily fit perfectly too. It is my personal hope that the name change will ensure autistic non binary and transgender women of all ages will come to us for support and resources.
Not only does our name change express the ongoing inclusive nature of our work, but also that of the members of the community we serve. The name change is demonstrative of our commitment to inclusivity. This announcement is the first in the steps we are taking towards our legal name change.”
Image description: [pale purple and yellow background with dark text] This April, don’t support an organization that harms autistic people. [crossed out logo for Autism Speaks] Support one built by autistic people, for autistic people. [logos for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and the Autism Women’s Network]
1) I am autistic. There is nowhere that I end and autism begins.
2) Ordinary sights, sounds or touches may be difficult or painful for me. Please be understanding if I ask you to turn the volume down, turn the light off, or not to touch me without warning.
3) If I didn’t catch what you said, it may not be because I’m not listening. I sometimes have trouble processing spoken language, especially when there is background noise.
4) I like routines because I know what to expect. It’s best to not spring surprises on me.
5) Don’t ask me, “Everybody else can do X, so why can’t you?” I am not like “everybody else.” I may not even be like other autistic people.
6) I may have difficulty asking for what I need due to difficulties getting the words out or even just due to anxiety. I don’t mind if you ask me if I need something; just don’t do it every five minutes.
7) I learn better when I can learn MY way. Most people do, even those who aren’t autistic.
8) Just because I’m not making eye contact doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention.
9) Just because I’m autistic doesn’t mean I don’t want to have friends. However, I’m an introvert, and I need time alone to recharge.
10) Ask me about my special interest, but be prepared for a monologue.
it is really cool that there is now an official maori word for autism, created with input from autistic maoris, and it was specifically coined to be nonjudgmental
quote from article:
“In my experience, people with autism tend to have their own timing, spacing, pacing and life-rhythm, so I interpreted autism as ‘takiwatanga’, meaning ‘his or her own time and space’,” [Keri Opai] told government-funded Maori Television.
My laptop died last week and I’m raising money to help get a new laptop that is more reliable.
I am an autistic stay-at-home parent with multiple disabilities and no means to save money, and I need a laptop to stay connected to my friends, manage my media library, and do android development.
If all my followers donated 0.50 USD, I’d have more than enough. Please consider contributing and signal boosting.
They’re here! Because you demanded it, and because I love you – more neurodivergent/Autistic Valentine’s Day cards! Please feel free to use and share these as you will. Just do remember to give me credit, please ❤
[Image description: A series of six Valentine’s Day cards featuring bright watercolor backgrounds with complimentary coloured bars containing white text. The cards read:
Your stims are stupendous; your happy makes me happy
I would talk on the phone for you; please don’t make me
You’re on my red list; let’s get out of here
I want to know everything about you; do you mind if I take notes?
I want to spend time in parallel existence with you; let’s be alone together
Your echolalia is enchanting; let’s back and forth
This Black History Month, we’re featuring quotes from contributors from the AWN anthology All the Weight of Our Dreams: on living racialized autism (editors Lydia X.Z. Brown, E. Ashkenazy, and Morénike Giwa-Onaiwu)
Image descriptions from top down.
[First image text:
“Claiming a heritage and culture is not only about color. It’s about lived experience, attachment, feelings, tradition, home, and love.”
-E. Ashkenazy, “Foreword: On Autism and Race,” All the Weight of Our Dreams: on living racialized autism, an AWN anthology available now on Amazon
Background photo in low-saturation color is a group of tree roots]
[Second image text:
“I came to understand that autism was not something tragic or shameful…. I was born right the first time.”
-Finn Gardiner, "Letter to People At the Intersection Of Autism and Race,” All the Weight of Our Dreams: on living racialized autism, an AWN anthology now available on Amazon
Background photo of a blooming flower in purple hues]
[Third image text is
“We who exist anyway, Our selves proof of a revolutionary survival power. We who must keep breathing and breaking bleeding recreating.”
-Mikael Lee, “Revelation,” All The Weight of Our Dreams: on living racialized autism, an AWN anthology now available on Amazon
Background image is a grayscale dandelion]
[Fourth image text:
“Yeah, I notice. I notice that I’m different from other blacks because I’m autistic. I notice that I’m different from other autistics because I’m black I notice Do you?“
-COBRA, “Confessions of a Black Rhapsodic Aspie,” All the Weight of Our Dreams: on living racialized autism, an AWN anthology available now on Amazon
Background photo in low-saturation color shows the back of a person’s head and shoulders]
[Fifth image text:
“If I had a time machine and could go back to my school days, I wouldn’t try so hard to mold myself into a person whom I was not meant to be.”
-Kristy Y., “Burnout in Recovery,” All the Weight of Our Dreams: on living racialized autism, an AWN anthology available now on Amazon
Background is a faded photo of a chalkboard]
[Sixth image text:
“I’m Black. I’m a woman. I’m the child of immigrants. I’m a mother. I’m autistic. And I know there are more people like me somewhere.”
-Dee Phair, "Unpacking the Diagnostic TARDIS,” All the Weight of Our Dreams: on living racialized autism, an AWN anthology available now on Amazon
Background is a closeup photo of a small child’s hand holding an adult’s hand]
knitting in the dark 