Closing Our Autism Awareness Mouths | The Aspergian | A Neurodivergent Collective

The month of April is now over, and with it an overstuffed ensemble of competing colors, puzzle pieces, symbols, fundraisers for bloated organizations supposedly serving the suffering masses, those persons supposedly reeling from the condition of autism.

Like the aftermath of some human-stoked windstorm of desperation for being aware of the plight of millions of the misunderstood, we look across the landscape of the empty fury of “Autism Awareness Month” and find ourselves richer in memes, catchy slogans, extra t-shirts to line our drawers- but somehow poorer than ever in actually coming to terms with the deeper knowing of our fellow human persons.

In my mind’s eye, I can see her. The young girl, standing there in the midst of this so-called Autism Awareness Month. Unbridled in her passion, in her purpose, not compartmentalized as an “autistic person,” though she is, but rather as a fully human person. Engaging her unique mind, her steely will in what Herman Hesse might call, “to give battle to chaos,” Greta Thunberg stood before lawmakers, the media, the watching world and asked us- as caretakers of planet Earth, to not destroy ourselves.

So, why would an autistic teenage climate activist command my thoughts when it comes to Autism Awareness Month…