Autistic Pride Day

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

Although Autistic Pride Day is 18 June, 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

Autistic Pride Day was first celebrated in 2005 by Aspies For Freedom (AFF), who selected 18 June because it was the birthday of the youngest member of the group at that time. AFF modelled the celebration on the gay pride movement. 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".New Scientist magazine released an article entitled "Autistic and proud" on the first Autistic Pride Day that discussed the idea.

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.

Autistic pride points out that autistic people have always been an important part of human society. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. The Lead Organiser for London's Autistic Pride, which is traditionally held on the Saturday closest to 18 June, 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 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
	Autistic Pride Reading	Autistic Pride Reading Charity
	Autistic Pride Brighton	Adrie van der Meer

See also

• Autism rights movement
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) – seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement in the world of autism.
• List of autism-related topics
• World Autism Awareness Day

External links

• Deborah Roberts, Michelle Major and Jonann Brady (10 June 2008). "Controversial New Movement: Autistic and Proud". Good Morning America. American Broadcasting Company (ABC). Retrieved 26 July 2022. Ari Ne'eman and Kristina Chew say they are the faces and voices of autism's future. They're part of a controversial group hoping to radically change the way others look at autism. Their message: Stop the search for a cure and begin celebrating autistic people for their differences.
• Paula C. Durbin-Westby. "Autism Acceptance Day and Month". Autism Acceptance Day blog. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via Blogspot.
• "Autistic Pride (General resource on details and events happening in the autism community)". Autistic Empire. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
• "Neurodiversity Foundation hosts star-studded livestream of events to kickstart Autistic Pride 2021 (about a Neurodiversity Foundation in The Netherlands)". AU-TI Media (a British-based Internet media, news and entertainment company). 18 August 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2022.