Content warning: bullying
A distressed young child held down to a chair
They say he’s “just being a brat”
They clearly don’t care
The teen they think is too shy to speak
Is aware they are different
And may be more powerful than meek
The adult struggling to find lasting work
Is discriminated against
Over their many ‘weird’ quirks
We may not always look others in the eye
When I see it being forced I grumble and sigh
Others laugh when we flinch from noise or touch
Not understanding
Overstimulation can be too much
They say our behaviours are something to fix
Their ignorance is strong
It’s just how we tick
They only see through the narrow lens of their ways
A burden, tragedy, non-human
Happening constantly, day after day
‘But you seem so ‘high functioning’, not much different from others’
I’ve heard that a million times
As have my autistic sisters and brothers
They tell us how to think, feel, and what to do
It’s highly disturbing
We have our own points of view
We have a lot to share
Be it from our hands or mouths
We are autistic
And we can speak for ourselves!
About Jen Elcheson
Jen was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 1998, back when very few people were diagnosed, let alone females. She has devoted her life to supporting and mentoring children on the spectrum. She currently works as an Education Assistant for the public school system, and as an assistant caregiver at a small daycare. Jen also runs an online support group, has written articles for AAN magazine, and is a lifelong music fan, especially metal and classic rock. Jen lives in northern British Columbia in Western Canada with her two ball pythons.
