A Primer on Autism
Autism is a topic with many perspectives, each of which is important to fully appreciating its impact. We have therefore written primers on Autism from two different perspectives: one from an autistic self-advocate and another from a parent of a child with autism.
Primer 1: by Dora Raymaker, Self-Advocate
Like other marginalized people, every day autistic experience discrimination, dehumanization, exclusion, and ridicule. We are denied the essentials we need to survive, subjected to abuse without hope of recourse, disempowered from active participation in our own lives, and blocked from education, employment, and inclusion in the very matters which affect us most. Read More »
Primer 2: by Kristina Chew, Mother
"Are they going to take him away from us?"
That was the first thing Jim, my husband, said to me when I told him that the St. Paul Public School District had said that Charlie, our not yet 2-year-old son, had autism, in the winter of 1999. An image of toddler Charlie in a hospital gown, legs curled under him all alone, came into my mind. I shook it away and said "no." Read more »
Background Posts on Autism
-
Autism is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disability. Autism occurs in all countries in the world, in people of all ages, and is not a new disability. Autism may be more common than previously thought, meaning you have probably met at least one person on the autistic spectrum, even if you didn't know it. While all individuals labeled with an autism spectrum diagnosis are as unique as any other human beings, they share some characteristics typical of autism in common.
-
"The Autism Issue" is a topic rife with controversies today. It's hard even to speak of an "autism community," as there are tremendous differences of opinion simply about what autism is and who can speak about it. Dora and Kristina have identified ten topics that have sparked intense and fervent exchanges.
-
Joining a walk for autism; wearing an "autism awareness" wristband: How else can you make a real, concrete difference for an autistic individual, and for her or his family? Here's ten to try:
-
Ten essential readings, five each from Dora and Kristina.
-
Not all communication is best served through words or speech. Images, sounds, movements, and all manner of art can convey concepts that words alone could never express. Multi-media enables us to share perspectives and gain new understanding.
What Is Autism?
10 Autism Controversies
Top 10 Ways to Make a Difference
Top 10 Books and Websites
Top 10 Videos
Autism Issues Outside the U.S.
Autism Editor
-
Kristina Chew
- Jersey City, NJ
-
Kristina is a Classics professor in Jersey City, New Jersey, a blogger (formerly at AutismVox), a translator (of Virgil), and an advocate every day for her son, Charlie. A recipient of the Autism Advocate Award for 2008 from Autism New Jersey, she is currently writing a book entitled We Go With Him.
