ENNIS Voices for Autism (EVA) has urged people in the Mid-West to learn more about Autism and how to accept Autistic people – children and adults alike.
The group issued an appeal to embrace the Autistic community on World Autism Day (today).
Originally World Autism Day was about awareness, but in more recent times the emphasis has moved on to acceptance of Autism and more importantly acceptance of Autistic people.
Autism Acceptance Month gives Clare people an opportunity to celebrate the Autistic community, highlight the challenges Autistic people face in the county and educate the wider public to gain a better understanding of Autistic people in their own community.
Autism is a complex, invisible condition, which a person is born with. It is a developmental condition, which means that the way a person communicates, interacts and understands other people, and the world, is different to those who do not have the condition.
It can be described as a “spectrum”, which means it impacts different people, in different ways, to varying degrees at different times and in different situations.
Neurodiversity is a concept that’s been around for a while. In a nutshell, it means that brain differences are just that: differences.
EVA secretary, Gearoid Mannion outlined conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism aren’t “abnormal”, as they are simply variations of the human brain.
The term neurodiversity is believed to have been coined in the mid ‘90s by Judy Singer, an Autistic individual, parent of an Autistic child and a sociologist.
It was originally used by the autistic community who were keen to move away from the ‘medical model’ and to dispel the belief that Autism is something to be ‘treated and cured’ rather than an equally valuable part of human diversity.
“The idea of neurodiversity has now been embraced by many groups, who use the term as a means of empowerment to promote the positive qualities possessed by those with a neurodevelopmental difference. It encourages people to view neurodevelopmental differences such as autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia as natural and normal variations of the human genome.
Furthermore, it encourages them to reject the culturally entrenched negativity, which has typically surrounded those who live, learn and experience the world in a particular way that is sometimes perceived as different.
“Diversity is the trait of a whole community, not of an individual. In April, EVA would like people to simply embrace and accept Autistic people for who they are. Just say yes to Autism acceptance,” he said.
Clare people are being asked to think about an autistic person or family they may know and offer their support. People can listen and learn from Autistic self-advocates and when appropriate, amplify their message.
They can hire people with Autism or buy their products, talk to their children about Autism and introduce their children to videos featuring children with Autism,
People are asked to avoid terms such as ‘high’ or ‘low functioning’, which are increasingly viewed derogatively by those in the autistic community.
EVA is a support group for parents with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout Clare.
The group organises a range of activities and events for children with ASD to enjoy, and before Covid-19 occasionally invited guest speakers to provide information for parents.
Dan Danaher
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.