Autistic Pride Day

Autistic Pride Day is a pride celebration for autistic people held on June 18 each year.[1][2] Autistic pride[3] recognises the importance of pride for autistic people and its role in bringing about positive changes in the broader society.

"Autistic Pride" redirects here. For the viewpoint that autism is a part of normal variation, see Neurodiversity.
An autistic pride flag. Gold is used by autistic advocates as the chemical symbol for gold is Au.

Although Autistic Pride Day is June 18, pride events are often held on the weekend of that year for logistical reasons, but can be held at any time during the year.

Origins
Autism rights movement
Philosophy
Organizations
Events
Issues
People
Films
Criticism

Autistic Pride Day was first celebrated in 2005 by Aspies For Freedom (AFF), who selected June 18 because it was the birthday of the youngest member of the group at that time.[4] AFF modelled the celebration on the gay pride movement.[5] According to Kabie Brook, the co-founder of Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH), "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".[2] New Scientist magazine released an article entitled "Autistic and proud" on the first Autistic Pride Day that discussed the idea.[6]

Organisations around the world celebrate Autistic Pride Day, with events around the world, to connect with one another through autistic events and demonstrate to allistic people (those not on the autism spectrum) that autistic people are unique individuals who should not be seen as cases for treatment.[1] Writing for the Houston Press, Jef Rouner recommended five songs for Autistic Pride Day that celebrate difference and were written by autistic people.[7]

Autistic pride points out that autistic people have always been an important part of human culture. 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 Gareth Nelson, many autism-related organizations promote feelings of pity for parents, rather than fostering understanding.[5][8] 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.[9]

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:

For individuals, Autistic Pride doesn’t necessarily need to take the form of public events. The organiser of Inverness Autistic Pride, Kabie Brook, told me that she celebrated Autistic Pride day by taking a walk in the park with her family. And enjoying herself. Openly stimming, or vocalising or expressing yourself in your own body language is an example of Autistic Pride in Action. Standing up and passionately defending your own truth, regardless of convention or tone, or social dynamics even if it goes completely against the grain, or others consider it minor or pedantic, is Autistic Pride in Action. Seeking knowledge according to your own logic is Autistic Pride in Action. Completely breaking social rules, if it doesn't cause harm, is Autistic Pride in Action. Demanding to be treated with the same respect and dignity as others is Autistic Pride in Action. Walking away from something if you can't handle it is Autistic Pride in Action.[4]

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.[10][11]

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.[12]

Past 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.[13] The Lead Organiser for London's Autistic Pride, which is traditionally held on the Saturday closest to June 18, officially known as Autistic Pride Day. For the last two years, most events dropped off the calendar due to the Coronavirus pandemic, replaced by an online global iteration. Autistic Pride Day 2020[14] was an eleven-hour marathon that was hosted on YouTube and the event was repeated in 2021. For 2022, many local autistic communities are hoping to get back to their previous planning of their events.

List of Autistic Pride events
Year Hosted by
2021 Autistic Pride Alliance Online Autistic Pride Alliance
2020 Autistic Pride Online Celebration
Autistic Pride 2020
2019 Autistic Pride Picnic at London Charlton House (AIM) Autistic Inclusive Meets (AIM)
Autistic Pride Eastbourne Eastbourne Asperger's Support Group
Fifth Annual Autistic Pride Picnic at London Hyde Park Joseph Redford[15]
Autistic Pride Reading Autistic Pride Reading Charity
Autistic Pride Brighton[15] Adrie van der Meer

See also

References
  1. "Playlist: All across the autism spectrum". New York: ted.com. June 18, 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  2. "Autistic Pride Day celebrated on June 18". The Scottish Strategy for Autism. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  3. "Autistic Pride". Autistic Empire. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  4. Redford, Joseph, "London Autistic Pride 2019", text of speech given at London Autistic Pride in July 2019.
  5. Saner E (2007-08-07). "It is not a disease, it is a way of life". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  6. Trivedi, Bijal (18 June 2005). "Autistic and proud of it". New Scientist. London. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  7. Rouner, Jef (18 June 2012). "5 Songs for Autistic Pride Day". Houston Press. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  8. Shapiro, Joseph (June 26, 2006). "Autism Movement Seeks Acceptance, Not Cures". NPR. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  9. Baron-Cohen S (2000). "Is Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism necessarily a disability?". Dev Psychopathol. 12 (3): 489–500. doi:10.1017/S0954579400003126. PMID 11014749.
  10. Reading Chronicle, "MBE recipient will give talk at autism event", 1st June, 2018. Accessed 17th January, 2021.
  11. Autistic Pride Reading, "1st Annual Newsletter December 2018", 4th December 2018. Accessed 17th January, 2021.
  12. NIDHI (June 10, 2021). "Autistic Pride Day Theme 2021 Date Pride Events, Flag". Result29.in. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  13. MEDIA, AU-TI (2020-08-18). "What is Autistic Pride". au-ti.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  14. Autistic Pride Online Celebration 2020, archived from the original on 2020-06-28, retrieved 2021-10-19
  15. Staff, AU-TI Media (2020-08-18). "Where, When and What day is Autistic Pride Day normally held on?". au-ti.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
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