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CoolConfucius
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Emu Egg

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Joined: 26 Aug 2012
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 8
Location: California Bay Area

05 Apr 2014, 6:08 pm

Hi Folks!
I'm a Santa Clara University undergrad and this season I'm in charge of putting up an exhibition on the autism spectrum for my campus. Most of my friends don't know much about the spectrum, so I'm hoping to get some help from this forum.

In the display, there is a hope section and an oppression section.
For the oppression section:
I'm looking for media representations, articles on stigma, prejudice, violence against individuals on the autism spectrum.

For the hope section:
I'm looking for media representations, articles on acceptance, celebrating of neurodiversity.

For interactivity, I'm thinking of letting viewers write anonymous letters. Students who identify on the spectrum may write their experiences anonymously (or identify themselves if they feel comfortable). Students who don't identify on the spectrum may write about their experiences with people who are on the spectrum. It could be their friends or family. Students may also write their impressions regarding the topic on autism. I'm also planning to have a comment box for students to write questions or suggestions to support SCU students on the autistic spectrum. Students may anonymously write encouraging statements and post them on the wall. Statements may include "I love someone who is autistic." or "I'm autistic and proud."
What would you include if you're making an autism spectrum exhibition? Ideas, resources?

I really appreciate the help!



pugwash
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Joined: 9 Mar 2014
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 4

07 Apr 2014, 5:13 pm

Hi,

I'm new around here and just starting to find my way around so I can hardly offer the benefit of my wealth of experience. But one thing that has really struck me about the portrayal of autistic people centres around Autism Speaks.

I'm sure those people mean well, but their approach seems to focus on autism as a terrible burden to the poor people having to deal with a difficult child, rather than seeing an autistic person as a human being with valuable qualities that can enhance the lives of those around them.

I've picked them out because I think it's more subtle than outright oppression. Rather, it's based on a failure to see autistic people as equal to NTs. That contrasts directly with the concept of neurodiversity, seeing us all as different but still equal.

If you're looking for an interactive component, could you have some PCs as part of the exhibition? Then people could take some of the online tests as a way of learning about autism. Maybe you could collect some overall figures about how many people have some traits in common with autistic people. This might also help to see autistic people as "some of us", rather than "some of them".