Alex Lloyd 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

@pathfinder @autistics Hello Kevin. Persons who aren't autistic don't generally think about autistic persons.

I'm not a wheelchair user and I rarely consider if a building has appropriate access for persons who use wheelchairs. It took government legislation to force architects, businesses, etc., to become aware of the needs of persons who use wheelchairs. It took awareness, campaigning, political lobbying, to force through changes, and our society now perceives wheelchair users differently than they did in 1960s. Wheelchair users now occupy positions in society that they wouldn't if society hadn't started to make accommodations to meet their needs.

Surely the first step is to raise awareness of our existence. As we raise awareness, we educate, we inform, we increase understanding. We slowly and gradually take society on a journey to understand that autistic persons (persons with autism), we are there, around them, working alongside them, living alongside them, loving alongside them. But as with physically differently-abled persons with a need for things like accommodation for chairs, etc., we also need accommodations to allow us to live on equal terms with neurotypical persons who outnumber us.

Just my opinion, for what it's worth. Other opinions are available. Have a great evening. Take care. 🙂