Originally posted on End Autism Stigma
I’m tired. In so many ways and for so many reasons, I am tired. Today, I feel tired because I had to repeat myself again.
I carefully crafted my words (to the best of my ability), I
researched statistics (to back them up), I tried to refine a logical
explanation (as concisely as possible for your convenience) and I even
told you how you made me feel (I’ve heard that helps?!).
I’m tired because I feel as though I’m wasting my time, my creativity
and my hope for acceptance on you. Hopelessness is exhausting.
Why can’t you understand?
Maybe ignorance and denial is more comfortable. Majority opinion means majority support.
Maybe you disregard us as haters or PC police, without a second
thought (I am not a troll and I am concerned about the well-being of
others).
Maybe you think I am minimising your experience as a parent of an
autistic child (there were times I really wasn’t coping as a parent and I
sought help for ME. I did not abuse my autistic children when I wasn’t
coping).
Maybe you want someone to blame for the wrongs of the world; a convenient ‘other’.
Maybe you have been responsible for more than your ‘fair share’ of
oppression (there is no ‘fair’ share) and shame prevents you from
further growth and connection.
Maybe you can’t handle the idea of being wrong. We all make mistakes, we are human.
Maybe you are missing a deep enough understanding of
ableism, intersectionality and oppression. Please read about these
concepts and keep reading.
Maybe empathy is not your greatest strength (not your fault) and you
refuse to believe in anyone else’s experience besides your own (meet
more diverse people, go where you haven’t gone before and do what you
haven’t done before or read books and blogs. Learn to trust.)
You can never truly walk in my shoes.
Perhaps it’s more helpful if you work on the basics of your humanity:
trust, vulnerability, acceptance and connection. But don’t apply your
humanity without care because it’s the oppressed that need your support
the most and abuse is never justified.
