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.
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.