My Revolution

My Revolution, by Ilsa Kasmar.

Yesterday, a powerful word came to me. A word that is the backbone of resistance, and revolution. A word that can level cities.

That word is "no."

NO, I will not be ashamed of my diagnosis, NO, I am not "disabled",  I am just different. NO, there is nothing wrong with the way I am. NO, I will not bend to your unfair rules anymore.

Neurotypicals think that people on the Autism Spectrum are the ones who are inflexible. But you have it backwards. YOU are the ones who refuse to accep us the way we are. YOU are the ones who tell us we must conform to your rules, even when it isn't in our power to do so. And YOU are the ones who teach us that there is something wrong with being angry about this.

And I'm sick of believing it.

I have Asperger's. I am on the Autism Spectrum. And I'm tired of being told there's something wrong with that.

I don't speak for all people on the Spectrum; no one has elected me spokesperson. But I DO know I am not the only person on the Spectrum who feels this way.

There are many of us who don't know how to say how we feel. So I am doing my best to give words to those sentiments, to find the right words. So that those who agree with me CAN have a voice.

So I will make an effort, from now on, to stand up for my rights, instead of sitting quietly and seething about it. It scares me, but I am tired of just accepting things the way they are, when it's unjust.

I refuse to be a doormat any longer.

For those of you who think I'm wrong, consider this: ALL of the people on the Autism Spectrum I've met have a "special interest". And frequently, that interest is also a marketable skill, like drawing, or computers, or playing piano. (Which are just a few of the special interests I've encountered.)

So why do so few people on the Spectrum have jobs? 

They have a genius level in a skill, a "savant" skill, especially the "lower-functioning" they are considered. So why can't they make money from it?

For a society which supposedly values quality of work, we seemed to have turned a blind eye to the talents of those on the Autism Spectrum.

Alright, that's all from me for tonight! Once again, my Formspring is: http://www.formspring.me/xAskAnAspiex for questions, and my email is ask_an_aspie@yahoo.com

Rock on!