Don't Diss Ability: Redefining Autism Awareness | Whitaker Gannon | TEDxHiltonHeadWomen

Autism awareness and visibility does not always equal acceptance and diversity. Social justice movements for oppressed and discriminated groups of people are growing in strength and numbers every day. People are marching, proclaiming their beliefs on public platforms, and spreading their message in any way they can, in order to make change.
However, for individuals who struggle with communication, like many people who have autism, these tactics to obtain social justice are not as feasible. While I certainly can not speak for individuals with autism, I hope that we can open up a larger conversation about neurodiversity that is not as prevalent in our dialogue about social justice as I believe it should be.
Autism bestows exceptional abilities on the autistic. Yet the label “autistic” connotes restrictive expectations that are commonly associated with it, and it is easy for people to underestimate what people with autism can offer the world.
News headlines tend to illustrate the successes of individuals with autism as accomplishments despite being differently-abled, rather than viewing autism as its own unique strength. These news articles might be well-intentioned by offering visibility to the triumphs of individuals with autism by portraying these stories as “newsworthy,” yet one could assume that these capable individuals are the exception to the rule, rather than one of many talented individuals who just happen to have autism.
Despite increased autism awareness, a large majority of Americans remain apprehensive about hiring individuals with autism, due to misconceptions about their abilities. As a society we need to overcome mere awareness and welcome neurodiversity into their local businesses and communities with open arms. Whitaker Gannon recently attended Wake Forest University, as a Presidential Scholar, majoring in Communications and graduating cum laude. She participated in multiple theatrical productions in a various capacities (directing, performing, composing, and scenic designing). She aspires to combine her passion for the arts with her communication skill set to create visual and performing art, with an emphasis on social change. Her inspiration is Blake Gannon, her brother and best friend, who just happens to have autism. Whitaker has been involved in volunteer work for several organizations for individuals with ASD, in the Southeast and continues to be an ally for the differently-abled community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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