Autism is a spectrum

If you have seen one person with autism you have seen one person with autism. The abilities and strengths of individuals on the autistic spectrum vary considerably. This is why I have made every effort to not say anything or advertise it. Due to circumstances beyond my control I now have to wave a banner to advertise in the hope of encountering reasonable people because I am facing multiple traumatic events while just trying to survive.

Once you tell others you are on the spectrum they automatically place restrictions on you, or in my case they respond with “You don’t have autism. You speak well, you are intelligent, you look like everyone else. You speak just fine” I had to ask them “So, what does autism look like?”

Comments like “you speak well and you are intelligent” only goes to show the ignorance that people have. This is also why, people wrongly believe that my behaviour, actions, tonality of voice, and body language is a moral failure and/or character defect. I have spent a lifetime trying to correct moral failures and character defects all the while there is absolutely nothing I can do to change these traits. I can only find accommodation and learn strategies that help me function in a world and society rather hostile towards individuals on the autistic spectrum; hostile towards me and my very existence. I also have a personal stake in this because I have a niece and nephew who are on the Spectrum and I am so thankful they both received an early diagnosis. This means they are light years ahead of me but at the same time I am worried about the world they will encounter as they get older and have to learn to advocate for themselves. Perhaps they will find a world more accommodating.

Accommodation for people on the Spectrum will be different

I shouldn’t have to hold out this banner but as long as I am walking around in public and using transit I will have to.

It is not safe for me to stand on the bus when the bus is in motion. I also shouldn’t have to move to a different seat because there is somebody demanding the seat I am currently using. I also should not have to endure half a bus yelling and screaming at me and calling me white trash, racist, and told to get off my own land because I am utilizing a seat I have every right to. I shouldn’t have had to say “Take a closer look at my Status Card. I am Native. I am Musqueam. This is MY land and YOU don’t have the right to tell ME to get off MY land” And for what? Because I require accommodation and have a right to the same accommodation as everyone else.

During this incident I had to physical defend myself. People using transit deserve to be able to ride transit and be safe from harm. Accommodation for disability is not a luxury. It is a right. The other day I asked if an able body person was willing to give up their seat. The passengers on the bus sat in deafening silence. I was about to walk off the bus when an Elder gave up her seat for me. I didn’t do what that other lady did. I didn’t make a scene. I made a request and I was willing to wait for the next available bus. So many able body people on that bus allowed an Elder to give me her seat. It’s enough to make you question.