I don't have time for an incredibly well written, witty post. With this kids still on holiday break and hubby at home the last few days my time has been spoken for. I do however, have a small favor to ask everyone in the autism community. See that picture above the post? Stop using it as a stock photo for autism. Please, just stop. It is degrading. It is humiliating. It is stigmatizing. It is perpetuating stereotypes. It doesn't represent autism. It doesn't represent anything other than outdated, misconceptions of what autism was thought to be. I'm tired of seeing it attached to 1/3 of every news article, or otherwise information about ASD. Do you want people to treat your autistic child with respect, love and kindness? Sure you do. We all want that for our kids. Then, please portray them as possessing those qualities and deserving those things. Insist that others use respectful images and words in association with autism. No, this doesn't mean that Autism is a bed of roses and always should be spoken of as such. Just remember you are the ones that are telling the world what it means to be autistic. Ask yourself before sharing and speaking... is this a representation of how I want others to view my child/loved one?
Thank you.
