I have seen it on shirts before, I think it’s a regular slogan in the ABA approved “autism treatment” complex. I think ABA / Autism Speaks / corporate autism advocacy in general is pretty slimy, and I think this phrase is situational at best and can be really harmful when it’s foisted upon people by their caregivers. It’s literally labeling people.
Etsy has a lot of hats with that phrase on it, though it’s unclear how much of that is edgy ironic humor vs. a genuine attempt at an accessibility aid. While I was there I was unfortunately introduced to this monstrosity and I thought I’d share:
CW: unholy American Nationalism / Autism Speaks hybrid
I just… sometimes t-shirt designs really make me wonder whether just anybody should be allowed to make them.
Unsolicited rant: I understand the impulse parents have to make it visually obvious to strangers that their kid isn’t acting typically because they’re neurodivergent, not because their spoiled or whatever random shit rude people will say to parents of ND kids. But it also seems unfair to a kid to not give them the option of privacy, and it feels like approval-seeking to me, which should never be a guiding concern in parenting any kid. Doubly so for ND kids.
Yeah, it gives me the “performative allyship / treating autism like an inconvenient disease” ick when it’s applied to kids. If an adult wants to wear an explainer that’s their prerogative. Putting it on a kid just feels mean and othering, especially if it’s in a general public context where it can invite unwanted pity, or condescension, or outright cruelty. Being an autistic kid is already hard enough.
I have seen it on shirts before, I think it’s a regular slogan in the ABA approved “autism treatment” complex. I think ABA / Autism Speaks / corporate autism advocacy in general is pretty slimy, and I think this phrase is situational at best and can be really harmful when it’s foisted upon people by their caregivers. It’s literally labeling people.
Etsy has a lot of hats with that phrase on it, though it’s unclear how much of that is edgy ironic humor vs. a genuine attempt at an accessibility aid. While I was there I was unfortunately introduced to this monstrosity and I thought I’d share:
CW: unholy American Nationalism / Autism Speaks hybrid
I just… sometimes t-shirt designs really make me wonder whether just anybody should be allowed to make them.
Unsolicited rant: I understand the impulse parents have to make it visually obvious to strangers that their kid isn’t acting typically because they’re neurodivergent, not because their spoiled or whatever random shit rude people will say to parents of ND kids. But it also seems unfair to a kid to not give them the option of privacy, and it feels like approval-seeking to me, which should never be a guiding concern in parenting any kid. Doubly so for ND kids.
Yeah, it gives me the “performative allyship / treating autism like an inconvenient disease” ick when it’s applied to kids. If an adult wants to wear an explainer that’s their prerogative. Putting it on a kid just feels mean and othering, especially if it’s in a general public context where it can invite unwanted pity, or condescension, or outright cruelty. Being an autistic kid is already hard enough.
It definitely makes an easy target for bullies.