Dear Facebook,
What does the Âû in or after my name mean? Why is it there? Please read on.
1. I am Autistic.
2. I embrace my Autism as a very significant part of my identity.
3. I embrace those who would sacrifice to protect all Autistic life.
4. I embrace the belief that Autism does not need any "curing".
5. I embrace the self-advocacy goal of "Everything about us, with us".
6. I embrace the definition of Autism as a neuro-social difference.
7. I embrace measures directed at protecting Autistics from attack.
8. I embrace a person-centred approach to all Autism issues.
9. I embrace rigorous scientific approaches to co-occurring conditions.
10. I embrace Autistics leading their own welfare organizations.
And I am not alone. Banning or blocking someone based on this naming convention that acknowledges Autistic Pride and Solidarity is IN FACT discriminiation and a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. So please, when some neurotypical person who professes to be an expert on our lives, and then tries to silence us by using you as an unknowing bully pulpit, just ignore them. it is in fact a form of hate speech.
Furthermore, if you do a web search you will find my other web presences with the same Âû symbol after my name on G+ on my Blogs, all over the place, so it's not like I'd doing this here and here alone.
For more information please see:
https://m.facebook.com/AutisticUnion/?tsid=0.9605094885919243&source=typeahead
