Presumptions of deficit can be damaging, embracing rather than masking autism can open the door for happiness, and piercing ASMR supercuts found in Harry Potter #takethemaskoff

August 2, 2018August 7, 2018

“I have seen some autistic people argue that blaming society for our difficulties is shirking personal responsibility and that we should be aiming to ‘improve’ ourselves. This stance says a lot about their conceptualisation of autism: If one sees autistic people as deficient or lacking in some way compared to non-autistic people then it is understandable that one would believe that acting more like a non-autistic person is “self-improvement.”

I do not see autism that way at all. All humans learn and develop over their lifetime, and that is a positive thing. Why should autistic people be any different? It should be obvious that autism acceptance is compatible with personal development. I saw a really lovely phrase on Twitter once: “We do not grow out of autism, we grow into it.”

I do not just accept I am autistic, I embrace it. Autism is intertwined into every part of me and influences everything I do and feel. I would not be me if I were not autistic, I’d be an entirely different person.

Do autistic people suffer? Sadly yes, lots of us do. Do we suffer from autism? No, I do not think so. That is why I do not hate autism.”

— Shona Davison, Why I Do Not Hate Autism

★ Masking happens when people hide or ignore their autism, sometimes escaping a diagnosis well into adulthood. It can help autistics advance socially and professionally without the stigma and presumptions that come with it, but masking can also do serious harm to quaility of life, mental health, and happiness for the person. Understanding that an ASD or SPD brain is not broken, but works differently that the majority can lead to better self-confidence and environmental awareness that encourages more complete self-care. If you, or someone you know, might be masking challenges in the areas of social interaction and communication, sensory issues, restricted interests, or repetitive behaviors, contact an established and respected autism center in your area.

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From the Maker:

“You might have noticed that Harry Potter made several appearances in my previous ASMR videos. There were so many great scenes I could have chose, so I thought I’d put them all together. Thanks for watching!”

FunWithGuru (2018) Harry Potter and the Unintentional ASMR. Retrieved from Youtube, https://youtu.be/jHRGlq6QRZ0.

Chuckles

The way these Harry Potter covers combine into 1 image. from r/mildlyinteresting

Sources

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