Autistics Speak

A year ago, an Australian group launched an autism awareness and fundraising event called Communication Shutdown. The idea was simple: Neurotypical people would ignore social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter for the entire day, to simulate and show support for people with autism who have trouble communicating. Celebrities such as astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actress Fran Drescher, and animal scientist and autism advocate Temple Grandin were all on board.But Corina Lynn Becker, an adult with autism who has a blog, wasn't at all happy about it."A non-Autistic person still [has] the capability to text on their phones, and speak verbally, and so would not be totally comprehending the true reality of Autistic disability," she wrote. "Twitter and Facebook are two of the sites that actually allow Autistics to communicate and connect with others in the community, so I will not be disappearing from the Internet, as it is my lifeline."Read more at...SFARI, November 2011.