One of the retired Professors was reflecting on a lifetime in autism work.
She said that a big change was the 'escape' of autism from the Clinic.
I wonder whether the Clinician reflected fully on their choice of phrase?
How did the Clinicians imagine that we were some some of 'lab rat' that should properly exist only in a Clinic, or only within their choice of Clinical framework of deficit?
What guided that thinking? Did it ever include reflection on ethics, on Human Rights?
Did it ever consider how that fed into the current 'asylum mode' of mental health wards, with their cells described as 'seclusion rooms'? I'd invite people to look at the photo at the top. I've visited too many wards and care establishments over the years where this is deemed OK, if the person is autistic. It's not like we're fellow humans with feelings, right? Er...wrong....very wrong...
Did it ever consider how that way of thinking inspired some of the extreme interventions that require autistic people to stay within 3 ft of an enforcer at all times, and punish them for moving outside of their allocated position? That this 'elopement' would be listed as a 'challenging behaviour' suitable for punishment?
Did it ever include speaking with us as fellow human beings? Listening deeply? Collaborating with us as true partners?
Did they ever consider that we were right next to them in the laboratory, right next to them as neighbours on their street? Right there as fellow Clinicians, as fellow researchers? Maybe as their Priest or Rabbi, their Teacher or Bus Driver, their friendly shop worker or factory fitter?
Did they ever consider that we were contributing to family life, to friendships, to society, in a myriad of ways? Ways spiritual, practical, financial or otherwise. Endless ways of love, creativity, honesty, integrity and caring.
We were never experimental objects in a clinic. But, goodness me, who wouldn't want to escape from any team that believed we were, eh?
I'm very glad of people reflecting on the past, on what they missed, and what they assumed.
I'm very glad of newer approaches and of people becoming allies, turning away from ancient ideas that are being so thoroughly disproved by modern findings.
I'm very glad of teams that are asking autistic people what they actually need to thrive, rather than to barely survive.
Our hearts and souls were never in the Clinic or in any other cold, clinical place.
Let's learn to love, and to listen, instead.
Thank for you reconsidering what you thought you knew, and thank you for reading.
