Autistic Pride Day

Concept

Organisations around the world celebrate Autistic Pride Day with events to connect with one another, and demonstrate to allistic (non-autistic) people that autistic people are not in need of a cure.

Autistic pride points out that autistic people have always been an important part of human society. Being autistic is a form of neurodiversity. As with all forms of neurodiversity, most of the challenges autistic people face come from other people's attitudes about autism and a lack of supports and accommodations (ableism), rather than being essential to the autistic condition. For instance, according to Larry Arnold and Gwen Nelson, many autism-related organizations promote feelings of pity for parents, rather than fostering understanding. Autistic activists have contributed to a shift in attitudes away from the notion that autism is a deviation from the norm that must be treated or cured. Autistic self-advocacy organizations, which are led and run by autistic people, are a key force in the movement for autistic acceptance and autistic pride.

Joseph Redford, an organiser for Autistic Pride at London's Hyde Park, stated in a speech that the concept of autistic pride is not about a single day or event:

Origin

Autistic Pride Day was first celebrated in 2005, by Aspies For Freedom (AFF), who selected 18 June because it was the birthday of the youngest member of the group at that time. AFF modelled the celebration on the gay pride movement. According to Kabie Brook, the co-founder of Autism Rights Group Highland, "the most important thing to note about the day is that it is an autistic community event: it originated from and is still led by autistic people ourselves", i.e. it is not a day for other charities or organisations to promote themselves or stifle autistic people. The rainbow infinity symbol is used as the symbol of this day, representing "diversity with infinite variations and infinite possibilities". New Scientist magazine released an article entitled "Autistic and proud" on the first Autistic Pride Day that discussed the idea.

Development

As autistic pride has continued to develop, autistic advocates have become increasingly professionalised, with Autistic Pride Reading incorporating as a charity in 2018, and holding a pride event which attracted over 700 people.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, with physical events impossible, autistic advocates collaborated under the Autistic Pride Alliance to create an Autistic Pride Online Celebration which hosted speakers from four continents. Autistic Pride Day 2020 was an eleven-hour marathon that was hosted on YouTube and the event was repeated in 2021.

In Australia, an official Autistic Pride Day organization was created in 2023 in partnership with the City of Sydney. The organization released an official logo for the event, featuring three concentric infinity symbols, which are coloured with a gradient of red and green, intentionally avoiding the blue that is associated with Autism Speaks.

Events

There have been a number of Autistic Pride Day events hosted over the years to promote the self-affirmation, identity, dignity and equality of autistic people around the world. Most events happen during the summer months between June and August.

References

References

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2. "Autistic Pride Day celebrated on June 18". The Scottish Strategy for Autism.
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4. Saner E. (2007-08-07). "It is not a disease, it is a way of life". The Guardian.
5. Shapiro, Joseph. (June 26, 2006). "Autism Movement Seeks Acceptance, Not Cures". NPR.
6. Baron-Cohen S. (2000). "Is Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism necessarily a disability?". Dev Psychopathol.
7. Advocate, Nova Scotia. (2019-03-16). "News release: Neurodiversity flag raising for World Autism Acceptance Day".
8. Redford, Joseph, "[https://www.autisticempire.com/2019/07/21/london-autistic-pride-2019/ London Autistic Pride 2019] {{Webarchive. link. (19 June 2024 ", text of speech given at London Autistic Pride in July 2019.)
9. Trivedi, Bijal. (18 June 2005). "Autistic and proud of it". New Scientist.
10. Reading Chronicle, "[https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/16264497.mbe-recipient-will-give-talk-autism-event/ MBE recipient will give talk at autism event] {{Webarchive. link. (16 January 2024 ", 1 June 2018. Accessed 17 January 2021.)
11. Autistic Pride Reading, "[http://www.autisticpridereading.co.uk/articles-and-news/archives/12-2018 1st Annual Newsletter December 2018] {{Webarchive. link. (11 March 2022 ", 4 December 2018. Accessed 17 January 2021.)
12. NIDHI. (June 10, 2021). "Autistic Pride Day Theme 2021 Date Pride Events, Flag". Result29.in.
13. "Autistic Pride Online Celebration 2020".
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15. MEDIA, AU-TI. (2020-08-18). "What is Autistic Pride".
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19. "Autistic Pride Day - Symposium".