The artist for the above image is @Kayas_Kosmos!
I have a massive aversion to the word favorite. I am an egalitarian – I don’t really think that I have a favorite anything. I respect other people having this but for me the word favorite has a connotation that I just don’t understand. I think it comes from having a strong aversion to people making judgements about me – playing ‘favorites’… There’s someone who I interact with a ton that has like 500+ blogs who’s name and blog are escaping me… please if this is you I AM SO SORRY your blog has been super influential but my brain is betraying me at the moment. //EDIT: Added Autistic Zebra
Some of my ‘favorite’ blogs and blog posts…
There will be ones I have missed, and ones I still need to read – all of these will be informed by the recency bias, and I am doing this at speed – but i’ll link to their Twitter accounts where possible as that’s where most of my interaction has been.
Kellian Cruickshank‘s blog – Medium Blog Link – Words cannot express how much they helped me with my own education. They taught me more about challenging pre-conceived biases I had about being Autistic and constantly call me when I slip back into old habits or try and interact with bad structures. They got me to finally understand anti-racism on a far deeper level (something I will be writing a blog about). They also taught me to question the taxonomy of mental health diagnoses – (this is another blog coming soon). Their blog on Blackness x Autistic is something I believe that all non-Black Autistic people should read.
Erika Heidewald‘s patreon – Patreon – An excellent advocate for critical psychiatry and a huge part of helping me undo my own internalized ableism – unapologetically Autistic and I love them for it.
Emily‘s blog – Authentically Emily – an amazing Autistic author who made me come to terms with my diagnosis after realising I was Autistic. Her guide on what not to say to Autistic people is a highlight here.
AutSciPerson’s blog – Autistic Science Person – an excellent resource for current science information and a lot of understanding of many issues within Autistic science especially. Their guide for parents is amazing.
Katie’s blog – Weird Sensitive Creatures – another great author with an excellent blog post on internalized ableism which is my go to blog for people learning to accept themselves for who they are.
Jorn Bettin and Autistic Collaboration – An excellent series of blogs about Autistic Culture, education systems and a raft of issues such as bullying in the workplace. Essential reading.
Neuroclastic – a blog that features a number of authors – the communal definition of Autism by Jorn again is a great one. I also like Weavers and Concluders by Terra Vance. I am definitely a Weaver.
Pete Wharmby’s patreon – Patreon – an excellent advocate and one of the main people who made me realise I had Autism. Their patreon is amazing – they are on hiatus at the moment so I will respect their privacy by not linking their Twitter.
Jamie and Lion’s blog – spacedoutandsmiling.com – An excellent Autistic blogger who helped me understand that I need to aim for content rather than happy because happy doesn’t make sense to me.
Melissa Murphy‘s blog – Autistic Zebra – which has an incredible amount of content. They are currently do 30 days of speaking out against ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) something we all disagree with as adult advocates.
I’m really sorry to anyone who I have missed or just not been able to think of at the moment. I really appreciate everyone who talks and has written because through your words I have discovered who I am also.
Daily blog challenge
I will be writing every day on being Autistic for April using this list of prompts:
Alt-Text Format with links to other blogs – Autistic Acceptance Month – 30 Days of Acceptance and appreciation:
- Day 1 – Introduction
- Day 2 – What I love about being Autistic is…
- Day 3 – My diagnosis/discovery story
- Day 4 – Reactions to “coming out
- Day 5 – Special Interests
- Day 6 – Supports and Appreciation
- Day 7 – The Autistic Community
- Day 8 – Favorite Autistic Blog
- Day 9 – Favourite Autistic-owned Business
- Day 10 – Sensory Life
- Day 11 – Stims
- Day 12 – Favorite Autism-charity
- Day 13 – Family
- Day 14 – Routine
- Day 15 – Everyone should know…
- Day 16 – Work/School
- Day 17 – Accommodations
- Day 18 – Someday…
- Day 19 – I hate it when…
- Day 20 – Communication
- Day 21 – One thing other people don’t understand
- Day 22 – Dispel a myth
- Day 23 – Can’t live without…
- Day 24 – Political Issue
- Day 25 – Symbols!
- Day 26 – Favorite Autism book
- Day 27 – Identity Language
- Day 28 – Dealing with meltdowns
- Day 29 – Famous Autistics
- Day 30 – Acceptance means…
