Autism rights movement

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Neurodiversity paradigm
Philosophy Autism rights movement Bodily autonomy Disability rights movement Independent living movement Self-advocacy
Organizations Aspies For Freedom Autism Network International Autistic Self Advocacy Network National Autistic Society
Events Autism Acceptance Day & Month Autism History Month Autistic Pride Day Autscape Disability Day of Mourning Neurodiversity Celebration Week Weird Pride Day
Issues Ableism Anti-autism All in a Row Applied behavior analysis Augmentative and alternative communication Autism-friendly Autism Speaks Communication Shutdown Community integration Controversies in autism Deinstitutionalisation Disability-selective abortion Double empathy problem Employment Ethical challenges to autism treatment Eugenics Facilitated communication Filicide Inclusion in education Inclusion as a right Judge Rotenberg Center Neurodiversity and labor rights Social model of disability Societal and cultural aspects of autism Universal Design for Learning Violence
People Alex Plank Ari Ne'eman Damian Milton Daniel Lightwing Devon Price Donna Williams govy Greta Thunberg Jim Sinclair John Elder Robison Josef Schovanec Judy Singer Julia Bascom Lydia Brown Mel Baggs Michelle Dawson Morénike Giwa Onaiwu Morton Ann Gernsbacher Nick Walker Robert Chapman Roy Richard Grinker Shain Neumeier Stephen Shore Steve Silberman Temple Grandin William Davenport
Films Citizen Autistic Deej Loving Lampposts Neurotypical
Criticism Pro-cure perspective National Council on Severe Autism Matthew Belmonte Manuel Casanova Jill Escher Michael Fitzpatrick Bruce Hall David Miedzianik Jonathan Mitchell Alysson Muotri Jonathan Shestack Alison Singer
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The autism rights movement, also known as the autistic acceptance movement, is a social movement allied with the disability rights movement. It emphasizes the neurodiversity paradigm, viewing autism as a set of naturally occurring variations in human cognition, a disability with both strengths and weaknesses, rather than as a disease to be cured or a disorder to be treated,^[2] diverging from the medical model of disability.

Central to the autism rights movement's beliefs is the right to self-determine if one is part of the autism community, that autistic people should be seen as the primary voice for people with autism, and that autistic people have the final say in what language should be used when talking about autism. A common motto used by the autism rights movement, borrowed from the disability rights movement, is the phrase "nothing about us without us".

Autism rights movement advocates strive for widespread acceptance of people with autism, as well as the traits and behaviors (e.g. stimming, lack of eye contact, and special interests) associated with the condition, and for autistic people to socialize on their own terms.^[3] The movement seeks to foster autism-oriented interventions and therapies in accordance with neurodiversity principles to emphasize coping skills for challenging situations,^[4] promote adaptive skills, and promote subjective well-being.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

The movement criticizes therapies and interventions that focus on suppressing and masking behaviors associated with autism or to imitate neurotypical behaviors. This is because some studies have shown that efforts to pass as non-autistic is associated with poorer mental health.^[11][12] There have been accounts and qualitative evidence that some forms of behavioral interventions increase masking behaviors and worsen mental health for some autistic people.^{[13][14][15][16][17]}

The movement also advocates for people with autism to be recognized as a minority group rather than as having a disorder. Within the autism rights movement, autism is often compared to different variations in human biology not categorized as disorders, such as homosexuality.^[4][18]