Organised by Aspies For Freedom (AFF), an organisation devoted to raising awareness for autism, Autistic Pride Day was celebrated for the first time in 2005 on June 18. That particular date was chosen because it was the birthday of the youngest member of their organisation at the time. The organisers were greatly inspired by the Gay Pride movement and wanted to have a similar celebration to bring to light the trials and tribulations of the autistic community. Thus, from that principle and aim, Autistic Pride Day was born.
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.
– Kabie Brook, the co-founder of Autism Rights Group Highland
This day is to bring attention to the hardships that the autistic community faces. Many in modern society remain very ignorant of what exactly autism is. This ignorance causes many obstacles for the autism community; for instance, between 80 and 90% of autistic adults remain unemployed because of workplace discrimination.
Autism is merely a natural variation of human neurology. It is just a mere divergence in brain development, not an illness that needs to be cured. Many autistic activists have voiced out that it is not autistic people that need to change, but that the world around us should learn to accommodate and facilitate autistic individuals. Autism itself is not a linear condition; it is a condition that happens across the spectrum. Different people will experience and express different levels of neurological development.
On this Autistic Pride Day, everyone should learn to come together and make a difference in this society. In whatever small way you can, learn about autism, speak about it to your friends, and call out insensible behaviour among your intimate circles, your schools, and your offices. It is through collective effort that we can make the world a more equal space for all.
Sources: The National, First Post. The Indian Express
