It's (Almost) Autism Awareness Month...

...and it looks to be full of irritations. I went to Barnes & Noble today--one of my favorite places--and saw that the store had already put up its own "Autism Awareness" display. Among the books featured was none other than Jenny McCarthy's latest tripe, "Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide," coauthored (or, more accurately, authored) by "Dr." Kartzinel. Unsurprisingly, it looks awful based on the inside jacket, in which Jenny and the "doctor" seem to be telling parents that their child might be autistic if they have medical problems like ear infections and gastrointestinal problems. And it's all the vaccines' fault, of course. Because apparently in Jenny's world every child was born "perfect" and "normal" before the evil vaccines.

Before she started being a shill for the vaccine conspiracy theorists, I never even heard of Jenny McCarthy--oh, those were the days--and I still don't understand why, exactly, she's famous. A cynical person--like me, for instance--might say that the whole thing seems like a good way to receive money and attention. Jenny has now "authored" six books about parenting, three of them autism-related. Because if I were a parent and needed advice, Jenny would be the first person I'd go to. The mind truly boggles.

Unfortunately, it looks like we're in for another April of autism hysteria and demonization of autistic people, at the hands of Jenny and other irritating people. I have huge problems with the whole "awareness" concept. I guess "awareness" might make sense for some actual diseases, like AIDS and breast cancer, in that "awareness months" might make people at risk for these diseases get tested. (I'm not entirely sure that this is true, but it might be.) But autism "awareness"? What, exactly, are we supposed to be made "aware" of? The fact that autism exists? Thanks to the Autism Speaks media machine, I think it's safe to say that everyone in America who hasn't been living in a cave for the past five years knows that. But are people going to be made more aware of autistic people's value as human beings, and the systematic discrimination which we experience? Somehow I doubt it, but I'll be on the lookout.

In the meantime, I'll link to my favorite Autism Awareness Month piece, an article from Dr. Morton Ann Gernsbacher. And I'll add a separate tag for Jenny, because she's really "earned" the honor.

A Few Cool News Items Which Caught My Attention

Thai Fireman Dresses up as Spiderman to Rescue Autistic Boy
Kudos to this fireman for being wise enough to relate to this boy on his own terms, rather than "normal" ones.

First Woman Pro Baseball Player Makes Her Debut in Japan
Very, very cool. No, she's probably not going to make Major League Baseball or the higher levels of Japanese pro baseball, but you could say the same of most low-level prospects. Good for her, and I hope she doesn't listen to the curmudgeons who are saying she's only on the team because she's a woman. Oh, and ESPN? Please don't refer to a pro athlete as a "Japanese schoolgirl."

Defying stereotypes...in an unpleasant way (a rant)

This post is really more of a mini-rant, but I have to say that the more I engage with some auties online about political issues, mostly on Wrong Planet, the more I doubt the stereotype that auties really are more logical thinkers. (Not that I think this stereotype needs to be true for us to justify our existence, of course.) I wish some of us would stop propagating that myth.

I met Neil on Wrong Planet, and I really appreciate the site for what its done in bringing together so many autistic people in addition to introducing me to my soulmate. But the levels of sexism, racism, ablism, and anti-Semitism which go unchecked on that board really makes it a frustrating environment for me. Thank goodness for Lindsey's blog and others which approach neurodiversity from a pro-feminist perspective.

Autistic and In Love

I enjoyed this feature segment from ABC News, though I don't think it's really news that there are autistic couples out there, Neil and I being one of them. And ABC, all couples work hard to stay together, not just autistic ones, though I do think autie couples have some unique challenges, and not necessarily the ones represented in "Mozart and the Whale," either.

Unsurprisingly, many of the comments on the story piss me off, but I liked the story itself.