The Autistic Rights Movement: A Call for Inclusive Autism Research

The social model of disability, first coined by British sociologist Mike Oliver in 1983, helped form the basis of the disability rights movement. Marking the 30th anniversary of the autistic rights movement, a report highlights the importance of autistic people being at the center of autism research. In the 1980s, the social model of disability challenged society's view of disability as a personal tragedy. Disablement was seen as something that belonged to individual disabled people, with a heavily medicalized personal "impairment." However, Oliver argued that disablement came from how society treated disabled people and from the systemic lack of equitable access. This led to a shift in disability awareness and equality training.

Key Takeaways:

• The social model of disability, coined by Mike Oliver in 1983, emphasizes that disablement comes from societal treatment and lack of access.
• Autistic people began self-organizing online in the early 1990s, with autobiographical texts introducing their voices to neurotypical people.
• The American autistic rights activist Jim Sinclair's "Don't Mourn For Us" speech at the 1993 International Conference on Autism advocated for an empowered, autistic perspective.
• Historically, autism research has been conducted by non-autistic researchers, often resulting in a pathologizing and dehumanizing take on autism.
• Autistic people have been found to be more generous in research, but this has been misinterpreted as a sign of social struggles.
• Funding for autism research often prioritizes non-autistic researchers over those who might better address the needs of autistic people.
• The Spectrum 10K project, launched in 2021, sparked protests over potential eugenics concerns due to its plan to create a large autism DNA database.
• Research must meaningfully involve autistic people in all stages of research to avoid harm and ensure accurate conclusions.
• The Autism: From Menstruation to Menopause project ensures that autistic people are at the center of research, addressing the knowledge gap in autistic reproductive experiences.
• Dr. Williams, Dr. Grant, and Ms. Holloway are collaborating on a project where an autistic community council is integral to the research process, ensuring that autistic voices are heard and represented.

Statistics:

• 1983: Mike Oliver coins the term "social model of disability."
• 1990s: Autistic people began finding each other online, sharing autobiographical texts that introduced their voices to neurotypical people.
• 1993: Jim Sinclair gives the "Don't Mourn For Us" speech at the International Conference on Autism, advocating for an empowered, autistic perspective.
• 2019: A study finds autistic people to be more generous, but misinterprets this as a sign of social struggles.
• 2021: The Spectrum 10K project is launched, sparking protests over potential eugenics concerns.
• 100: The number of autistic participants in the Autism: From Menstruation to Menopause project.

Sources:

• Mike Oliver, "The Social Model of Disability: Some Uncomfortable Questions," 1983
• Jim Sinclair, "Don't Mourn For Us," 1993
• Spectrum 10K project, "Spectrum 10K website"
• Autism: From Menstruation to Menopause project, "Autism: From Menstruation to Menopause website"
• Williams, Grant, and Holloway, "The Importance of Inclusive Autism Research," Swansea University, no date