chocolatebar
Paragon
- Jul 11, 2021
- 975
Ever since I was diagnosed in the autism spectrum, I've been looking for people in these movements, mostly seeking help or to be able to help other people like me. I don't really know what I expected, but frustration is the only thing I got.
My first mistake was to think that neurodivergent people, because they probably suffer a lot from lack of empathy and understanding, would be more likely to be empathetic to each other. Turns out they fight, take advantage of and even bully each other just like most people will do. It was really depressing to see it happening.
Another bitter truth was seeing people in these movements seeking only personal advantages and not helping the community at all. They join these organizations or create their owns just looking to get a job or create a business out of it. Events and business partnerships are most of what they do, but when someone approaches them seeking help, they refuse.
Ever since neurodivergence has been gaining more attention by health professionals and more people are getting diagnosed, these movements are being flooded by people who are in the border of the diagnosis and experience very few limitations, managing to do things by their own just nicely. At first, there's nothing wrong with this and is even desirable. The problem comes when these people become the only voice in the activism and will only seek things that help them, but won't help the ones severely limited. The autism organizations are a great example. I've seen a lot of organizations and corporations advertising they help autistic people to find jobs, but they only hire the ones with barely any social and cognitive limitation.
I also get mad when they promote neurodivergence as something great. Some will even call it a "superpower". These people may enjoy their different worldview while having almost no limitations, but I feel even insulted when they say it's a superpower when I can't even properly use public transport and can't be present in too loud places for a long time because I find myself collapsing in agony. Yes, I may have special skills and can to what other people consider as complex things with ease, but the limitations are too severe for me to call it a good thing. I also acknowledge many other people aren't "lucky" like me and will have much more limitations, even cognitive ones. No one would choose to be like that if they had a choice.
It all became more clear when they talked bout their lives. Most of the leaders and activists in these movements managed to get jobs at young ages, got partners since young, made a career, live independently in their own houses, some have families, etc. It all became clear they are biased and don't represent all of the community. It wouldn't be a problem if they helped everyone and acknowledged the ones in worse situations, but they are selfish. I would even call them traitors of the cause.
It was even worse when I mentioned my suicidality. It's very know that we have much higher suicidality rates, but they made it seem like not and will silence any mention of it, just like most people would do
My first mistake was to think that neurodivergent people, because they probably suffer a lot from lack of empathy and understanding, would be more likely to be empathetic to each other. Turns out they fight, take advantage of and even bully each other just like most people will do. It was really depressing to see it happening.
Another bitter truth was seeing people in these movements seeking only personal advantages and not helping the community at all. They join these organizations or create their owns just looking to get a job or create a business out of it. Events and business partnerships are most of what they do, but when someone approaches them seeking help, they refuse.
Ever since neurodivergence has been gaining more attention by health professionals and more people are getting diagnosed, these movements are being flooded by people who are in the border of the diagnosis and experience very few limitations, managing to do things by their own just nicely. At first, there's nothing wrong with this and is even desirable. The problem comes when these people become the only voice in the activism and will only seek things that help them, but won't help the ones severely limited. The autism organizations are a great example. I've seen a lot of organizations and corporations advertising they help autistic people to find jobs, but they only hire the ones with barely any social and cognitive limitation.
I also get mad when they promote neurodivergence as something great. Some will even call it a "superpower". These people may enjoy their different worldview while having almost no limitations, but I feel even insulted when they say it's a superpower when I can't even properly use public transport and can't be present in too loud places for a long time because I find myself collapsing in agony. Yes, I may have special skills and can to what other people consider as complex things with ease, but the limitations are too severe for me to call it a good thing. I also acknowledge many other people aren't "lucky" like me and will have much more limitations, even cognitive ones. No one would choose to be like that if they had a choice.
It all became more clear when they talked bout their lives. Most of the leaders and activists in these movements managed to get jobs at young ages, got partners since young, made a career, live independently in their own houses, some have families, etc. It all became clear they are biased and don't represent all of the community. It wouldn't be a problem if they helped everyone and acknowledged the ones in worse situations, but they are selfish. I would even call them traitors of the cause.
It was even worse when I mentioned my suicidality. It's very know that we have much higher suicidality rates, but they made it seem like not and will silence any mention of it, just like most people would do
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