Tania Melnyczuk
Concepts
We make choices based on our understanding of concepts. My Concepts posts deal with abstract and complex concepts and with the axioms, tenets, paradigms, principles and values enmeshed with, derived from and inherent to them.Â
When they diagnosed your child
When they diagnosed your child with that disability, did they suggest that you make contact with as many people as possible who actually have that disability, and to read a great variety of their writings? Or did they just tell you to get support from (nondisabled) parents?
So let me tell you what that means, that thing where they only refer you to clinical specialists and parents and parent-led organisations: They don’t respect people with that disability. They don’t think their experiences and views are meaningful. They don’t respect your child.
Whatever advice they gave you may even be harmful to your child. I mean, how would you know?
For psychologists wanting to work with autistic people
If you want to work with nonspeaking autistic people in the field of psychology, you may want to do some of these things.
Do autistic people say your therapy is good?
If you’re running an autism school or offering therapy, if you’re selling some ‘solution’ that’s supposed to work for autistic children, do actual autistic people say it’s good?