Today’s episode argues for narrative sovereignty in defining autism, moving away from deficit scripts perpetuated by figures like Kanner and Baron-Cohen and institutions like the DSM. It emphasises that autistic voices, particularly those of gestalt language processors (GLPs), have been systematically erased or pathologised in research, education, and societal understanding. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, highlights how traditional education often aims for compliance and assimilation rather than empowering autistic and multilingual individuals, advocating for a liberatory education that values their unique ways of knowing and communicating. Ultimately, Dr. Hoerricks asserts that self-definition is crucial for safety and liberation, challenging dominant, often colonial, frameworks and urging the creation of an autistic-led body of knowledge to counter prevailing narratives.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/simon-says-who-gets-to-define-autism
Let me know what you think.
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