On Being “Aut” about Disability
May 12, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Positive and cautionary words about the popular portrayal of disability in Clearly, Frankly, Unabashedly Disabled in tomorrow’s New York Times:
The public image of the disabled is increasingly “informed by actual experience of disability rather than an imagined understanding of it,” said David T. Mitchell, an associate professor of disability studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Mr. Mitchell, who is also a filmmaker, uses a wheelchair because of a neuromuscular condition. His 1995 documentary, “Vital Signs: Crip Culture Talks Back,” focuses on the concept of a cultural identity.
But, he cautioned: “We shouldn’t go too congratulatory yet. Our progress is largely a measure of the fact that we were so regressive for so long.”
The article does not mention autism and confuses it with a “mental disability” in referring to the American Idol contestant—-”Special Olympics athlete with a mental disability”—who Simon Cowell teased about his weight in a televised audition earlier this year. We’ve still a ways to go before we can say “Clearly, Frankly, Unabashedly Autistic”—-how “aut” are you about autism?
For many autistic persons autism is a mental disability.
There is nothing wrong with saying that.
I’m always “aut”. It just makes my life easier if whoever at the gym or wherever is saying “isn’t the girl in the lightening leotard kind of strange?” and whoever they say it to knows it’s ok to say “actually, she’s normal for an autistic person, and you may want to reserve judgement until you see her floor routine” or whatever. Hiding is an unneccessary pain in the heiney.
Harold
for many blacks , being black is a health is disability – increase lukemia, increase chances for heart disease shorter life span. For some even retardation is a way of life
Are We going to cure blackness or leukemia? why must curing Mental retardation be equated with curing autism?
We just got back from an afternoon in NYC—walked around Central Park and Columbus Circle; Charlie, as ever, attracted attnetion without doing anything in particular, just being his good old self.
it was good, as always, to be “aut.”
We don’t hide it, but I’m not making him wear t-shirts that say “i’m autistic”, either. I figure he can make that decision when he’s older. I’ll stick to wearing my own: “Proud of My Autistic Son!”
Ah, but Kristina, I imagine Charlie attracts attention wherever he goes ‘coz he’s so darn cute and he seems to have this amazing essence that shines through…even on the internet! I miss NYC…used to live there eons ago (pre-Niksdad, pre-Nik, pre-LOTS!!)…nothing like spring in Central Park. Sigh…
Wish you could have been there!—-Charlie made his way over some rocks to a playground. He is usually not around kids who don’t have special needs; he seemed to be taking in their presence, waited his turn for a slide…….. He does (well, I am his mom!) have a striking face. Something about his size and lack of language and just the way he holds his body attracts notice—these are not like other 9 or 10 year old boys. Hope you enjoyed the day—–one thing I don’t do as much as I did in the past is explain humming or interesting pacing with “he has autism.” Charlie speaks for himself.