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It’s a struggle to be both parent and Autistic in these spaces. They want you to be one or the other. You have to line up perfectly with one or the other. I have the unique perspective of sitting at this intersection. I love the freedom that this affords me. To not be tethered by groupthink. But I don’t enjoy the feeling of being pulled apart at the seams by either side. The battle lines are so deep. It’s frustrating.
I hold no home with either and to state that I carry no preference towards signs, symbols, and utilize both person-first and identity-first in reference to myself brings forth feelings of anger from everyone. My histories and contexts won’t allow me to be bound in the way that many of these will do to me. I tried to center myself in those things to the detriment of my mental health and the denial of other parts of who I am was something that wasn’t sustainable.
To the parent who would try to shush my tongue:
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