Chapter 11: In Autistic Space

     In this chapter, we get caught up close to contemporary times where we culminate with some of the main themes of this book. Essentially, part of the culture in the autistic community is hope to cure their children or save their children from autism. We see this in fear-mongering campaigns stating that autism has kidnapped your child and the anti-vaccine movement. On the other side, we see parents empowered and pushing back against some of these movements, stating that they’d prefer to see society shifting to be more accepting of their children (this was particularly moving when pushing back against some of the fear-mongering).

    We also see conventions about autism shifting some. While Temple Grandin was a featured speaker in some of these early conventions and answering questions parents might have had about their children. These conventions were often run by people who didn’t have autism. Now, they are being run by autistics and convention-goers wear different colored badges stating that they have autism, and whether or not they can answer questions, initiate conversations, or would prefer to remain silent.