Hi, this is a last minute blog post about my thoughts about Autism Awareness Week. It's not intended to be a professional statement, just a quick thought based on my own experience and what I've been hearing but I hope it'll help out in any way.
With that out of the way, I am someone who is on the Autistic Spectrum and in a quick summary, I have difficulties that requires support in some areas including social skills and understanding tasks given but I'm still able to have an enjoyable life and be nice to others as there are some positive traits with Autism including creativity and having a strong passion.
Whilst I rarely have occasions when I am mistreated due to my Autism, I have been hearing stories on how there are still some people who don't know what Autism is, along with other disabilities including Asperger Syndrome or ADHD or even being denied that they have Autism or other disabilities (especially if they are not shown on the outside as some maybe behavioural or mental based). It seems to be commonly occurred in job centres. As a consequence, people with disabilities may not be given the right kind of support they need or even be dehumanised just because some people are ignorant about Autism or don't really care. I have been hearing several cases when people are diagnosed late (and for that case, I say better late then never as now it'll be the time to work on the support you need from this point on).
So this is why more people needs to be educated and to be more aware of Autism and other disabilities to have not just awareness for people with Autism but to accept them for who they are, giving them the unconditional love and support they need to help them to accept themselves and to achieve anything life which they are capable of doing so (including Satoshi Tajiri who is the creator of Pokemon and Stephan Hawkings who we all know that he is a genius).
It's just like how LGBTQ+ community are fighting for their rights and acceptance and as someone who is gay and autistic, I say that we all should keep on raising more awareness and fight for our rights and acceptance no matter how difficult it maybe; all to make a better world for people on the Autistic Spectrum and other disabilities.
So when someone say that they are on the Autistic Spectrum, they are on the Autistic Spectrum so you should always listen to what they need for you to give the required support for them to be accepted.
To all carers, you are doing a good job as someone that the person who are on the Autistic Spectrum should be grateful for. Keep on supporting and loving them while fighting for more awareness and for their rights.
And for those who are on the Autistic Spectrum or happened to have other disabilities, never give up fighting for acceptance and no matter the difficulty, you are capable of achieving anything or at the very least, make the best use of your disability.
