Smile and You Just Made a Million

This picture has caused quite a stir amongst Autistics. 

Can you see why? 

Let’s start with the “for” argument before we dive into the against pool. 

The first point is the symbol. We have been fighting to have the infinity symbol recognised as ours over the much hated puzzle piece. Autism isn’t a puzzle to be pondered over and solved, it’s a life long spectral condition that needs to be raised up and loved for its differences. To have this symbol in New York Fashion week will make a lot of people scratch their heads and more importantly, change their minds. 

On the other hand, is this another celebrity “thing” where they pick something they haven’t got and flaunt it to make themselves look good? Maybe it’s innocent enough from the model’s view but it’s the designer who is flaunting? Maybe they actually are autistic and they haven’t told anyone or don’t know it yet… I wasn’t diagnosed until 28, a friend of mine didn’t know for certain until 60! Maybe they feel a strong pull towards something and they can’t explain it. Could this be the start of a diagnosis journey? Only they know. 

The main problem I have with the above is that we are not an endangered species. Some people feel that this is the same as a “Save the pandas!! 🐼” T-shirt and they are just posing with it to be associated with doing a good thing. It would be more of a celebration if an autistic person designed it and everyone still thought it was cool, or the model was autistic and they designed it for her as a celebration of who she is. 

Personally, I’m more of the opinion that any good publicity is great publicity and having autism in peoples' minds makes them think twice. Too often do we have bad publicity in the way of badly caricatured “autistic” movie roles, mass shooters, criminals etc. All types of people have good and bad, but autistic ones seem to be zoomed in on. “Oh! He’s autistic! That’s why he pushed those people off a balcony!” That’s really not autism… that the person… 

Recently more and more actors are coming forward as being autistic. I think this is great as it gives young autistics something to look up to. Too often, in our childhoods, are we treated like the scourge of the class room teacher. To be honest, I still am. My son’s teacher hates me going into school…

Let me know your opinions! ❤️