Today is Autistics Speaking Day, an event created by Corina Becker and Kathryn Bjornstad.  People with autism and our allies will be posting throughout the day and beyond, and I recommend strongly that you keep check back with their page often to see them.  I will be linking to some of my favorites throughout the day, but first our contribution.

A few days ago, I asked the thAutcast Facebook page this question:

What are some of the things you want, or need, to say to other people, but can't?

Michael:  How I feel.

Erin: I want to tell parents that, yes, I know it's difficult to have a child with special needs, and, yes, you deserve a break—but your child with autism is always autistic. Always. And his or her needs come first. I want to tell people who complain about taxes and the welfare state that a person's right to a life of quality shouldn't depend on what he or she can contribute, materially, to society. I want to tell my mom to be proud of my brother for his accomplishments instead of lamenting every mistake he makes. Mostly, I want to tell people who don't believe people with autism spectrum disorders have valid feelings and opinions and thoughts that they're wrong. We're articulate, creative, intelligent, and curious. We may not be social butterflies, we may live inside of our heads, we may say exactly what we think without filters, but we're also loyal friends, we see connections in the world that others miss, and we're some of the most genuine people in the world.

Click here to continue.

Jennifer: People on the spectrum are called one thing: Autistic. But autistic people are not the same. We, ourselves, and our experiences with Autism are diverse and never the same.
So stop stereotyping.

Teresa: I want to tell them how the tag on my shirt is whats driving me mad and the pain in my body is what drives my anger and so forth...people without sensory issues almost never understand what its like and they tend to think that we can control it but guess what .WE Cant.there is so much i could tell you but i cant.

Jen:  I find it hard to decide whether or not I should tell people I work with that I have Aspergers. I work in a supermarket and recently got moved depts. I am now split between 2 different sections. One of my bosses knows all about it and how to treat me yet the other one has no clue. It's my coworkers that don't know that I have it and I find it hard to work with them.

Jennifer: Seizures can be silent. Please know what to watch for. Turn down the volume, sound can be painful.

Ryan: Sometimes whenever someone or maybe a co-worker is just pissing me off I'd just want to tell them to quit goofing off or being prissy with me like shoving me for no reason or something. I have restraint though so I never really did that.

Also sometimes I want to be able to pay the perfect compliment to a girl, but maybe I can't get the words to come out right.

Lydia:  Just because I can't speak doesn't mean: 1. I'm unhappy 2. I'm "not really there" 3. I'm less of a person or 4. I don't have anything to say!

Click here to continue to Part Two.