The Rules for commenting and communication with me on this Blog, my Facebook Page and through other forms of social media.

1. LANGUAGE
There will be no use of ableist or sanist words such as: st*p*d, cr*zy, id**t, m*ron.

To find out more, please visit Autistic Hoya’s website here: www.autistichoya.com/p/ableist-words-and-terms-to-avoid.html

If you do use these words, I will ask you to edit your comment. I do understand it takes time to learn replacements as these words are so ingrained in our society. If I have spoons I will offer alternatives.

If your comment is just so awful I don’t even know where to start, I will delete it. If any of this upsets you, that’s a sign this isn’t a place for you – keeping this a safe space for autistic people is my priority so please fuck off.

2. IDENTITY FIRST LANGUAGE
We use identity first because we are proudly autistic. This doesn’t mean you cannot choose to say that you “have autism” for yourself but over here we believe that autism is an integral part of who we are, therefore it cannot be separated.

3. FUNCTIONING LABELS
Do not use the terms “low functioning” or “high functioning”, “severe autism” and so on. If you must use the word “spectrum” remember that a spectrum is a fucking circle and don’t try to use it to imply levels of functioning.

4. ASPIE SUPREMACY
You know what I’m talking about…

5. NON-SPEAKING
Please use the term non-speaking, and not non-verbal.

6. “YOU’RE NOT LIKE MY CHILD!”
Yes, we *are* like your children, so none of that bullshit or similar phrases.

7. DISABLED
Just say the word. We are disabled based on the social model of disability. None of that Differently Abled or Diffability crap either.

8. PUZZLE PIECES
*NO* puzzle pieces. We are not a problem, we are not broken, missing or in need of fixing. I don’t give a fuck if it means something different to you – this is a safe space for autistic people and that means NO fucking puzzle pieces. Unless they are on fire, then it’s ok.

9. AUTISM MOMS™  
Taking on your child’s identity is disgusting and there’s plenty of places for you to go and play your tiny violin. This isn’t one of them. Please fuck off.

10. DISORDER
Autism is a genetically-based human neurological variant, not a disorder, so none of this ASD bullshit. Drop the D. Read more about the basic terms at Nick Walker’s website, Neurocosmopolitanism, here: www.neurocosmopolitanism.com/what-is-autism

11. CURE / EUGENICS
No pro-cure speak, even if you are autistic yourself. That’s usually the quickest way to get yourself banned.

12. ILLNESS / DISEASE / EPIDEMIC
No comparing autism to cancer or calling it an illness, a disease or an epidemic.

13. ABA
No support for Autistic Conversion Therapy/ Dog Training for autistic children. You can read more here.

14. CHILD ABUSE/MURDER
No excuses will be tolerated of the abuse and killing of disabled children or adults. To read more click here: http://www.disability-memorial.org

15. AUTISM $PEAKS / LIGHT IT UP BLUE CAMPAIGN
No support for A$ and other such organisations because they spread hate, fear and do all the things on this list.
Click here for a brilliant article about Autism $peaks by The Caffeinated Autistic: www.thecaffeinatedautistic.wordpress.com/new-autism-speaks-masterpost-updated-62014

16. INDIGO CHILDREN / GIFT FROM GOD / SUPER POWER BULLSHIT
Whilst that might be your personal beliefs, they are not supported here. We believe in EQUALITY. Everyone is equal, there are no special snowflakes.

17. GENOCIDE
Whilst what has happened and is happening to autistic children and adults, it is NOT ok to compare this situation to genocide. Please do not go there.

18. MISOGYNY, TRANSMISOGYNY, HOMOPHOBIA or TRANSPHOBIA
Don’t fucking do it. Just nope.

19. RACISM, LANGUAGE APPROPRIATION and CULTURAL APPROPRIATION
Just no. White people, learn about how you benefit every day from white privilege. Listen to PoC (people/person of colour), amplify their voices, and speak out against racism – call it out when you see it happen.

Regarding the rise in popularity of GIFs being used as reactions to posts and comments, if you are white, DO NOT use a GIF of a PoC (Digital Blackface).
To read more about this, please read this article by Lauren Michele Jackson, “We Need to Talk About Digital Blackface in Reaction GIFs”
www.teenvogue.com/story/digital-blackface-reaction-gifs

20. TONE POLICING
Hell yes we are angry and we are allowed to be. If you don’t like how the information is presented here, please fuck off.

21. DON’T BE AN ASSHOLE
You don’t have to agree with anything said here. Remember, you don’t *have* to be here.

22. GENDER
Be respectful of gender diversity. Understand that biological sex and gender are different. Respect pronouns and don’t use the term “preferred pronouns” They are not preferred, they just *are*.

**More to come… suggestions/corrections welcome.
(Last updated 14th September, 2017)