So happy and grateful for the written interview with autistic writer Jackie Khalilieh :)))) miya-little-sun.blogspot.com/2025/11/28-j... I've translated it into Traditional Chinese but there's the original English version in the blog entry as well :) VERY INSPIRING.

Never seem something this well said... hopefully I will be able to translate this and share with people in Taiwan (our ND community is facing the exact situation and discourse now...)

Why even adopt the categories of an ableist society who wants us to not exist? That low functioning label is more likely to put a target on your forehead. It's not a golden ticket to accommodations. And other autistic people are not your enemy.

Allowing neurotypicals to divide us into the useful and the burdensome is not the answer. Even for people who are high masking, one episode of autistic burnout can move you from the first category to the second one.

The real question is, how can we best support one another? How can we speak up for one another while ensuring that we are not speaking over anyone? How do we ensure that everyone's needs are met?

The lack of accommodations isn't caused by other autistic people having less support needs than you. It comes from an ableist society who sees our existence as a burden. Who sees our lives as not worth living.

It's not fun having to exist within this tension, and I don't see any easy solutions. However, I very much think that dividing up the autistic community is not the answer. We need one another.

So, I understand the tension within the community. Autism is a disability, and we need accommodations to survive. At the same time, pathologizing autism may lead to society murdering us.

The neurodiversity paradigm isn't just some feel-good liberal nonsense. The need to depathologize differences comes from living in a society where differences can be deadly.

What society do you live in? That would be like, "Oh, you're one of the real autistics? Here, have all the accomodations." Because I live in a fascist hellscape that fucking hates disabled people.

For the people in the second group, the societal solution is rarely accomodations and support. The solution is more often eugenics and extermination.

Throughout the modern history of autism, there has been one constant theme. The need for neurotypicals to divide autistic people into two groups. 1. Those who can be exploited by capitalism. 2. Those who cannot.

At the same time, I think the autistic people who want functioning labels are incredibly naive. (I don't care what the neurotypicals think) Functioning labels are unlikely to bring real accommodations.

That doesn't mean it's all bad, though. I like who I am, and I wouldn't be who I am without autism. Like everything in life, there are good points and bad points.

I also see this tension happen when someone tries to put a positive spin on autistic behaviors only to have another person respond that autism has caused them nothing but pain. The thing is, I don't disagree with either perspective.

“Stop making autism your whole identity!” Sorry, I’ll try not to let this condition that impacts everything about me influence my sense of self 🙄 /s #Autistic

There is a tension I see within the autistic community between the following two ideas. 1. Wanting neurotypicals to stop pathologizing autistic differences. 2. Wanting support and accommodations because autism is disabling. A thread

I am gutted to learn of @sfdirewolf.bsky.social (Alice Wong’s) passing. She was always a warm friend, a wonderful spirit, and someone who fostered my own growth. She helped me see that, as a #disabled person with chronic illness, I matter—I am whole. I’ll be posting some of Alice’s work. ❤️ forever

Alice's tireless disability justice work was transformative for the entire disabled community. A heartbreaking loss ❤️

@ivy-lin.bsky.social Your words made me cry 😭 As someone who left my family and live in a country farrrrr far away, I relate to this 2000%

I don't know if I would get any advice on here as I'm not very active on Bsky and don't know many people. But - I'm an autistic writer in Taiwan, I have traditionally published once and have won an award in Taiwan (first book was non-fic). I wrote a fiction work and self-published this summer ⬇️

And that means the world to me. I want Lena's story to reach the world, to help others! I know the publishing industry is hard to break through for people like me, especially in times like these, but... (4/6)

I have had many beta readers help me with my craft. Some of them are going through what I did. Feeling different but not knowing why. They said my book helped them understand themselves better... (3/6)

It made me think: I could write about my experiences too. For me, growing up as an undiagnosed autistic person was painful, and I know it's painful for others too. I could help people heal, just like how Elle and other autistic artists helped me heal... (2/6)

We can't give up. The thing about my autism is: I'm extremely stubborn about reaching my goals. My first manuscript died in the trenches but now I'm back with another... (5/6)

And I just want people (and publishing) to know: people NEED these stories! (6/6)

ND people in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China... etc. have been self-advocating more on Threads (yes, Meta, I know, but...) I think it's the 1st time I see Chinese-speaking ND ppl all gather together in one platform. (1/n)

Talked with Dad the other day. He told me that some "friends" might walk away from me (unfollow, ghosting... etc.) because they sense my negative emotions and can't take it anymore. (1/n)

Also the price for making a ePub3 file is so unaffordable I ended up making the ePub by myself - took me 4 hours and while it's quite basic it's not ugly, soooo fine I guess? (Was SO panicked that it won't work out.) Also applied for ISBN :)

It's my B-day but I don't truly like B-day because I always fear that people I consider important and memorise their B-days won't remember mine/me and I will feel the RSD like immediately... I also started an exchange secret Santa thing and for now no one's participating and YES RSD...!!! ... :(

Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.

I am officially querying THE LOVE IN YOUR WORDS, a YA Romance complete at 70,000 words! Here is my up-to-date Agent Guide. #ya #romance #neurodiverse #ownvoices #agentguide #agentsguide

while stocks last! www.welbooks.co.uk/shop/p/unapo...

Seldom use Bsky but just wanted to share this here too. I just miss these 2. Short story about my AuDHD FMC and her NT lover. archiveofourown.org/works/73772276 #AO3 #originalwork #Autistic #ADHD #CPTSD #writer #ownvoiceauthor

I've thought for a while now that a lot of the writing advice I heard for decades - & still hear - is not just non applicable for ADHD/autistic people but ruinously destructive. I'm still working on undoing the damage it's done to my own sense of self as a writer, especially the productivity 'tips'

Being intentional in word choice/sentence structure/etc for my autistic main character and I just know people are going to read her point of view and claim I’m a bad writer bc it’s very plain and matter of fact 🙃🙃🙃

I am so fucking tired of explaining how Autistic people experience the world differently, just for those closest to us to instantly/constantly forget and submit us to a sensory hell, because it's funny/convenient.

also am just grateful that 2 out of 3 writers i've invited for a written interview have said yes. truly grateful and will soon be working on the questions. all are authors i adore and look up to. super happy for that at least.

just hate the fact of having to remind myself all the time that being ghosted isn't my fault and probably has to do more with the other person's mental maturity and all. wanting to communicate isn't a fault. anyways still feel so much better after reading these articles (?)