Why I Won't Be Shutting Down on November 1

I have two lists going in this post: "Autistics Speaking Day" -- posts written by people with autism; and "Autism Shout Out" -- posts written by people who do not have autism but love and/or support people with autism.  If I've missed a link or otherwise erred: (best)-- leave a comment; email  lizditz@gmail.com, or tweet me --@lizditz.

If you don't know about the communication shut-down issue, scroll down to the bottom of the post and start reading there.

Today is November 1, 2010, Autistics Speaking Day: Posts by People With Autism

1.  Corina Becker: Communication Shutdown for Autism Awareness? No Thanks! 25 Things I Know as an Autistic Person, a guest post chez Steve Silberman
2. Autistic Speaking Out Loud by Corina Becker
3. Communication Shutdown? No by Kevin Healey
4. A Message to Buzz Aldrin by Paula C. Durban-Healy
5. Reflections on Autistics Speaking Day by Ari Ne'eman
6. Autistics Speaking Day Is Today by Katy at Katy Doesn't Live in Smithton
7. Autistics Speaking Day: Autism, Communication and the Internet by Dannilion
8. Autistics Speaking Day Post by Amanda Forest Vivian
9. Supporting Autistics Speaking Day  by AS Support Group Online
10. Squawk? by Bev at  Square 8
11. Autistics Speaking Day Post by Corabelle
12. Autistic Poetry by Darcy Clarisse Reed
13. Thom Part 2 by Heather Sedlock
14. Facebook Post by John Elder Robinson
15. Autistics Speaking Day: The Path to Understanding by Matt at Dude I'm An Aspie
16. WWP Poem #26: Back Door Blues by Nicole Nicholson at Raven's Wing Poetry
17. Autistics speaking day/ jour de parole pour les autistes by Ole Ferme l'Oeil at le pays des humains volants
18. Speaking My Mind and Heart by Rachel Cohen Rottenberg at Journeys with Autism
19. Celebrating Autism by Shanti at Platform 25
20. Autistics Spoke and You Listened by Julian Frost at AutismJungle
21. Open Letter to Buzz Aldrin by Alexander Cheezem at A View from the Boundaries
22. But You Look Normal by 3laine at ONE Autistic in Ireland
23. Reflections on fund-raising for autism & Ari Ne'man's message, by Clay at Comet's Corner
24. Autistics Speaking: It's All About Tolerance by blackbird3398 at A Bird in the Hand
25. Voices for Autistics Speaking Day: Alex Olinkiewicz at ThAutCast
26. Reclaiming Love by the Untoward Lady at Vibrating Square
27. Press Pound for More Options by Sandy at AspieTeacher
28. Autistic People Won't Participate in Shutdown Day by Zach at AspieWeb
29. We Need to Talk by Julia at Flashback Dream Sequence
30. Autistics Speaking Day by AS and Their Partners
31. Speaking Up For, and Busting Myths About, Autism by Codeman38 at Normal Is Overrated
32. Using Silence by Puddleglum at Puddleglum's Marsh

Today is November 1, 2010, Autism Shout Out: Posts by People Who Support People With Autism

1. Adventures in Extreme Parenting: Autism Shout Out
2. Autism Unexpected: Does Silence Promote Communication?
3. Spectrummy Mummy Social Networking
4. ASDMommy I Will Not Be Silent
5. Try Defying Gravity Voices Carry
6. Planet Josh  Picking a fight with a social media guru on twitter 
7. AS Parenting ASD: Autistics Speaking Day
8. Jen at The King and I Communication Shut Down Day for Autism-- Not for Me!
9. Gaynell at Wildflowers for Jade Autistics Speaking Day-- Autism Mom Speaking
10. Emily at A Life Less Ordinary? Autism and bullying
11. Kathleen at Autism Herd Autistic People Communicate
12. Sullivan at LeftBrain/RightBrain Catch Me on Facebook Today
13. Sullivan at LeftBrain/RightBrain Autistics Spoke and You Listened
14. Sunday Stillwell at Adventures in Extreme Parenting Autism ShoutOut Loud and Proud
15. Stacey Milbern at Cripchick Autism, Capitalism, and the Establishment
16. Sarah at Kitaiska Sandwich Autistics Speaking Day
17. Shoppin Queen Hell NO! I'm Not  Shut Down
18. Mike Stanton at Action for Autism Today is Autistics Speaking Day
19. Stimey at Stimeyland My Autism Shoutout
20. Hartley at Hartley's Life with Three Boys: Speak Loudly: Introducing My Contributors
21. Caitlin at Welcome to Normal: Advocating 101: How to Write a Letter

 

There's an Australian-based enterprise to "shut down" Twitter, Facebook, and other forms of social media on November 1. You can find the site at https://communicationshutdown.org/?view=home.

It's a global initiative to raise much-needed funds for autism groups in over 40 countries. By shutting down social networks for one day on November 1, we hope to encourage a greater understanding of people with autism who find social communication a challenge.

I think that the organization's intentions are good, but misguided.

I won't be participating.

I think it perpetuates the stereotype that people with autism "don't communicate" or can't speak for themselves.

Others who will be speaking up on November 1.  I encourage you to go visit each of these blogs and study their reasons for speaking up.

Update: for those of you who use twitter, there are two hashtags in play: #AutisticsSpeakingDay (for people with autism participating in social media on November 1) and #AutismShoutOut (for autism allies on the day)

Even if you don't use Twitter, you can see what is going on by going to

• http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23AutisticsSpeakingDay
• http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23ASDay
• Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autistics-Speaking-Day/162932960394619?ref=mf&v=wall

There is an allied twitter hashtag, #AutismShoutOut, which you can track at http://twitter.com/search?q=%23autismshoutout

(I will be silently adding to this list as I find new posts)

1. Corina Becker, a woman with autism, http://nostereotypeshere.blogspot.com/2010/10/real-communication-shutdown.html
2. Corina Becker,  on the design above  http://nostereotypeshere.blogspot.com/2010/10/autistics-speaking-day.html
3. Emily Willingham, parent of children with autism http://daisymayfattypants.blogspot.com/2010/10/no-im-not-going-silent-for-autism.html
4. JHolverstott, autism spectrum specialist,  http://jholverstott.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/forget-the-communication-shutdown-heres-how-to-build-awareness/
5. Rachel B. Cohen-Rottenberg, woman with autism, http://www.journeyswithautism.com/2010/10/22/speak-up-on-november-1st/
6. Woman With Asperger's, http://womanwithaspergers.com/2010/10/20/why-communication-shutdown-day-is-a-bad-idea-and-what-you-can-do-instead/
7. Astrid van Woerkom, woman with autism,  http://astridvanwoerkom.wordpress.com/2010/10/23/speak-up-on-shutdown/
8. Kim Wombles, parent of children with autism, http://kwomblescountering.blogspot.com/2010/10/in-which-i-get-pissed-off-not-shutting.html
9. Autism Blogs Directory http://autismblogsdirectory.blogspot.com/2010/10/not-going-silent-on-november-1.html
10. Stuart Duncan, parent of a child with autism, http://www.stuartduncan.name/autism-awareness-2/communication-shutdown-why-ill-be-online-nov-1st/
11. Jason Ross, man with autism, http://drivemomcrazy.com/2010/communication-shutdown-november-1-is-it-really-necessary/
12. Mike Stanton, parent of a young adult with autism  http://actionforautism.co.uk/2010/10/24/
13. Sunday Stillwell, parent of  children with autism, http://www.extremeparenthood.com/2010/10/autism-shoutout.html
14. Elise, parent of young men with autism, http://asd2mom.blogspot.com/2010/10/october-happiness-project-friends-also.html
15. Ellen, mother of a child with CP and speech/language issues, http://lovethatmax.blogspot.com/
16. Matt Yusuf Smith, http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/mt.php/2010/10/19/communication-shutdown-for-autism-a-bad-idea
17. The Coffee Klatch, a special-needs blogging and tweeting collective, will be running a 24-hour "Communicate to Educate" tweet chat http://thecoffeeklatchblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/communicate-to-educate-24-hour-autism.html
18. Tammy at Autism Learning Felt http://www.autismlearningfelt.com/2010/10/all-bloggers-unite-for-autism.html
19. Happy13, mother of a child with autism http://happy13-waitwhat.blogspot.com/
20. K Bjornstat, woman with autism http://autistickat.blogspot.com/2010/10/autistics-speaking-day.html
21. The Autistics Speaking Up Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140107279369668
22. Corabelle, woman with autism http://aspiegirlworld.blogspot.com/2010/10/speak-up-on-nov-1st.html
23. 3laine, woman with autism, http://one-autistic-in-ireland.blogspot.com/2010/10/silence-speaks-autistics-speak-louder.html
24. karin, woman with autism, http://bewaretheaspie.blogspot.com/2010/10/1-november-autistics-speaking-day.html
25. Ken G., man with autism, http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/showthread.php?tid=20840
26. Heather Sedlock, parent of children with autism, http://www.examiner.com/special-needs-kids-in-national/autism-conversations
27. Blackbird3398, person with autism, http://blackbird3398.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/speak-up/
28. Mum Accepting Autism, parent of a child with autism, http://bbsmum.blogspot.com/2010/10/shutting-up-not-shutting-down.html

Note:

• Terry Mauro at About.com:Special Needs Children has two blog posts (one, two) covering the issue.  She is not claiming to participate in Communications Shutdown or the alternative #AutisticsSpeakingDay (for people with autism participating in social media on November 1) and #AutismShoutOut (for autism allies on the day)

Comments

[Xtremeparnthood]

Thank you very much for including me in this list.

I look forward to speaking out and for those with Autism on November 1st!

[Alysia]

I'm not going silent either. Thanks for this great list and I look forward to "hearing" everyone on this day.

[KWombles]

The Autism Blogs Directory has a list of bloggers on the spectrum for folks to go by the blogs, read, comment and show support. That's awareness. :-)

[Ellen]

Hey, Liz. I've seen you on Shannon's blog, especially your brilliant responses to the post on vaccines. I was thinking of pitching in at first, because this group asked (note, my child has cp, not autism), I admire them and they do good things for raising awareness. But I'm not. On Monday, I will be doing my usual blog. I started speaking out to raise awareness about our kids. Going silent won't help and, to me, sends the wrong message.

My little boy has trouble talking. I am his voice. And I will keep right on talking.

[Elise]

I will not be shutting down. Here is my post about why:
http://asd2mom.blogspot.com/2010/10/october-happiness-project-friends-also.html

[Kat Bjornstad]

So many names! Thanks for getting this together. By the way, anyone wanting their names added to the list on the site for the Facebook event can private message me or e-mail me at kmbjornstad@gmail.com. I'll be including this list on my page just in case I don't have time to message everyone on it.

Thanks for your help, Liz. You're awesome.

[Roger Kulp]

Not being a Facebook or Twitter user,I had no idea what this was all about.I tried watching the video at the site,but couldn't handle he loud,pulsing noise at the start.

Given how computers,and the internet have given many autistics,myself included,the ability to communicate to a degree we otherwise could not,this whole idea makes no sense at all.I kind of wonder if the woman who started this is really autistic after all.

[Marianne]

Hi,
I’m Marianne and I’m part of the Communication Shutdown Team. I just wanted to let you know that we fully support Autistics Speaking Day (great acronym btw!) and would love to share your experiences with our supporters. Although our executions are paradoxical, I believe we have the same goal to encourage understanding and acceptance in the wider community. We would really like to give your voice more reach, while at the same time giving our supporters a deeper understanding of autism.

We will keep an eye on your blog and with your permission, we hope to share any of your positive experiences or challenges with our supporters when they get back on November 2. As well, please feel free to email me at marianne.harvey@communicationshutdown.org

Many thanks and hope you have a great Autistics Speaking Day.

[Liz Ditz]

Here is the text of the email I sent to Ms. Harvey

Dear Marianne Harvey,

Thank you for your nice comment. As I said in my blog post, I believe the " Communication Shutdown" project was well-intentioned, but misguided.

Please feel free to link to my blog post and to use the links therein to explore the voices of people with autism, especially on this issue.

As I said in my blog post, my objection to the "Communication Shutdown" project is that it perpetuates the stereotype that people with autism "don't communicate" or can't speak for themselves.

In other words, the "Communication Shutdown" project presumes incompetence.

For an alternative view, I invite you to read Kate Ahern's essay at The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism

http://thinkingautismguide.blogspot.com/2010/07/living-least-dangerous-assumption.html

Here are the first two paragraphs:

Some of the most difficult things we face in our field are those things which are intangible. One of the most damaging to our students and possible our sense of purpose as educators is that our students must somehow prove themselves, repeatedly, to show they are capable, competent, and are acting with intentionality when they attempt to communicate be it through language, AAC or behavior. We live in a land of prerequisites and accountability, which leaves little room for "The Least Dangerous Assumption" as pioneered by Anne Donnellan and clarified by Rossetti and Tashie (2002). The least dangerous assumption is, of course, the premise that (in the absence of evidence) we believe we not yet found a way to make it so a child or adult with a disability "can" instead of believing he or she "can't".

The issue, sadly, sometimes becomes that making the least dangerous assumption and thus presuming competence uses resources (time, money, energy). We must come to understand that refusing to presume competence is, in the long run, more costly than making that least dangerous assumption.

Sincerely,

Liz Ditz

[Clay]

I don't do Facebook, but will be tweeting links to well-written blog posts. (If I can get that organized.)

[David]

being an avid Facebook user and on Twitter 12 hours a day I was surprised to not know about this shut down at all.

As it is I agree with you. Going silent doesn't seem to ever help anyone!! (Even Ghandi had a physical presence even if he was silent) Let's get out there and shout it out loud!

[Sarah]

Thank you for including my post! My son can't have a conversation with you, but I can. If I am silent, he has no voice.

[Geekbabe]

I'm the Shoppinqueen, thank you for including me on this list! I've had 23 yrs of being told to shut up, I'm not shutting down now!

I'm going to go thru, read, comment on the posts here over the next few days. I'd do it tonight but 5:30am comes really early& I want to be fully awake& present as I read important posts.

[codeman38]

I posted today to try to debunk some classic autism myths... in a sequel to a post (also linked within) that I did on DKos back in April.

http://aut.zone38.net/2010/11/01/speaking-up-for-autism/

[Caitlin]

Hi Liz, here's my response to the Communication Shutdown if you'd like to add it to your list: www.welcome-to-normal.com/2010/11/advocating-101-how-to-write-letter.html

And an excellent one I don't think is on your list yet from the blog "What We Need" - at http://asdmommy.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/i-will-not-be-silent/

Both would fit into the caregiver blog category.

Caitlin
www.welcome-to-normal.com

[Darcy]

Thanks, Liz, for including me on your list. It's an honor to be here.

[Kate Ahern]

Thanks for the link to my post about presuming competence. It would be amazing if instead of shutting do to promote autism folks worked for promoting presuming competence by sharing about those in their lives who face struggles with autism or other disabilities. I find the more I speak about my students or other loved ones with disabilities the more people become open to new experiences and understanding. We should be speaking out, not shutting down. Kate Ahern