Cheshire CatThere is zero legitimate justification for gatekeeping Autism.
Those who gatekeep Autism tend to be extremely ill informed, ableist, prejudiced, self-serving, illogical, or trying to maintain the Autism industry.
We welcome people to present a rational and well thought out reason to gatekeep Autism because we accept that there are things we don’t know and invite expanding knowledge AND empathy …
But every claim we have seen (off the top of our heads) is grounded in one or more of the following:
- ignorance
- ableism
- faulty logic
- self serving (direct or indirect)
- maintaining the status quo
And is not about what it should be about …
Which is serving the best interests of Autistic people.
So … we welcome anyone to justify gatekeeping Autism to us … but please don’t claim that we are “emotional” or “not listening” or “rejecting your idea” if we point out that your view is based in grounded in problematic constructs.
- ignorance
This category is so broad but one example is this ignorant belief that Autistic people are supported by society and every “new” person who is Autistic takes away that support from “real” Autist.
The truth is that there is no legitimate support for most Autists.
- ableism
A massive amount of Autism gatekeeping is from bigots who can’t accept that Autistic people can exist outside of their preconceived notions of what an Autistic person should look like … this is pure bigotry.
- faulty logic
Another huge category and overlaps ignorance quite a bit but so many Autism gatekeepers base their stance on flawed logic …
One example of flawed logic is similar to voter fraud “protection” laws.
A lot of voter fraud protection laws strip access to voting from thousands (millions?) of legitimate voters based hypothetical fears that a few individuals might game the system.
This similarly applies to Autism gatekeepers.
If you gatekeeping Autism on the fear that hypothetically a person somewhere is taking advantage of the Autism label, you are harming multitudes based on your irrational fear.
- Self Serving (Direct)
*Some* Autists gatekeep Autism because they want to have more direct control of the Autism narrative and other self-serving reason.
Any Autists claiming another person isn’t Autistic really needs to check themselves and their internalized ableism.
And ask themselves why it bothers them that another person claims to be Autistic.
The Autistic spectrum is vast …
Of course … some of these Autists are Dereks and have been told by others that their Autism is “legitimate” Autism and that others manifestations are frauds.
- Self Serving (Indirect)
These are Non-Autistic people who benefit in some way from the “Autism is tragedy” or similar narratives.
These are often caregivers of some form that are trying to control the limited support for Autistic people …
Or it’s completely self-centering.
It’s important for indirect Self-Serving Autism gatekeepers to project Autism as a tragedy so that they receive the adulation for others AND their own cognitive, that they are saints and get attention for it.
- Maintaining Status Quo
The multibillion dollar Autism industry is based on the narrative that Autism is a tragedy and and it must be eradicated either through direct or indirect eugenic extermination.
The destruction of Autism myths and the Neurodiversity movement and the acceptance of Autistic people as valid human beings are all ideas in direct opposition to a multi-billion dollar industry that abuses disabled children for profit … of course they are going to gatekeep.
Note:
Our invitation to talk about any potential justification for gatekeeping Autism is an invitation to speak openly and publicly on the matter on Twitter for all to learn from.
We will not discuss this matter privately for a multitude of reasons.
3wombats@autismsupsoc I for one am grateful for helping my understanding
Aaron@autismsupsoc Most of the support #autistic people get is from...other autistic people. So the more of us there are, the better off we are.
astrogeek@autismsupsoc In the UK, the NHS is the major gatekeeper with diagnosis taking 2-3 years for adults, after doctors try to discourage getting a diagnosis. And I don't expect there is much help even after the diagnosis. Depressing. If only mental health was treated as a health issue rather than inconvenience.