Hi and welcome to this Video Production News Op-Ed on UK Law and Autism:
Understanding Autism requires not just empathy but a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework, societal attitudes, and real-life manifestations of discrimination. As someone diagnosed with High Spectrum Asperger’s syndrome at 13 and now at 57, I've navigated the complexities of discrimination firsthand. Today, I aim to dissect this issue, shedding light on its legal implications, societal impact, and the insidious and usually covert ways in which this discrimination actually manifests itself.
But in order to frame this conversation, we need first to understand why people on the spectrum are so often misunderstood and more often than not accused of causing offence during daily social interactions.
First of all you have except that Autistic people are almost exclusively literal-minded and, as such, won't respond to hints, innuendoes, tone of voice, or body language, or pick up on almost any other social cues, which are all to frequently not even noticed, let alone understood.
So as a general rule they don't notice anything objectionable, and cannot see why anyone else would even care about it, let alone be disturbed or offended by it. This is considered to be a theory-of-mind issue in which autistic people simply cannot understand that something is perceived by another person in a different manner than they themselves would.
In other situations, they may not be disturbed by, or even aware of, something that is done to them which many people might take great exception to; which all to often means, they might think nothing of doing the same to others, having no appreciation of how offensive it is.
Once again, the autistic person is unable to discern how someone else might be affected by or respond to something differently than they themselves do.
We must also fully take into account at this stage that these difficult and challenging interactions extend to all forms of modern Electronic Communication such as all Twitter/X Direct Messages, What’s App and even email, and therefore an autistic person's characteristic behaviours occurring in conversation on these platforms are now also fully legally protected.
Drawing parallels with Tourette’s syndrome highlights the societal double standards at play here. While allowances are almost always made for Tourette’s-related language, despite it often being expletive-driven and on frequent occasions what could be considered racially or sexually abusive, it is more than often overlooked as being a normal part of the presentation of their legally protected characteristic.
Similar understanding however totally eludes high-functioning autistic individuals. The so called “Rain Man Syndrome” that has recently been coined highlights this, where neuro-typiclal are fine dealing with someone on the spectrum who presents with more defined and less socially functional behaviours.
However, they simply can’t cope with higher functioning autistic people (who are usually far more verbose individuals), as they struggle to comprehend in any meaningful way how someone outwardly appears so intelligent can also be so socially inept at the the same time, as it doesn’t in any way fit with their own totally normal neuro typical societal frame of reference in any understandable way.
Further, continuation and endorsement of this completely false perception and stereotype perpetuates greater misconceptions, fostering avoidance rather than engagement.
“Essentially autistic people are now fully and legally allowed to completely “be themselves” without having to “mask” their autistic traits for fear of causing any social offence, exactly the same as someone with Tourette’s!”
In the United Kingdom, autism is legally recognised as a learning disability, affording it protection under the Equality Act of 2010 and is now fully legally enshrined as a UK protected characteristic.
This classification and characteristic is not merely symbolic but carries significant legal weight, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in various spheres of life, including employment, education, and access to goods and services. However, despite legislative safeguards, discrimination against individuals on the autistic spectrum persists, often taking more subtle and usually covert forms.
Real-life manifestations of discrimination against individuals on the autism spectrum are varied and multifaceted. In interpersonal interactions, neurotypical individuals all to often these day overtly virtue signal their desire to embrace neurodiversity, only to covertly engage in discriminatory behavior. This can include avoiding eye contact, abruptly walking away from conversations, or feigning busyness to avoid interaction. Additionally, individuals may be excluded from social events or gatherings to circumvent uncomfortable interactions.
These behaviors cannot be considered to be merely social awkwardness but in reality constitute clear forms of discrimination and exclusion. They reflect a total reluctance to engage with neurodiverse individuals on equal terms and once again perpetuate harmful and dangerous stereotypes and misconceptions. Such actions undermine the principles of inclusivity and respect for neurodiversity that UK society society now claims to fully uphold.
The Latest Research into the causation of this discriminatory behaviour unveils a disconcerting truth: individuals in most cases feel massively socially disempowered when engaging with high-functioning autistics and feel huge resentment about this fact. The fear of being unable to navigate potentially controversial conversations without their usual recourse to social norms or even simply and blatently accusing the person of discrimination or abusive behaviours, deters meaningful interaction. This fear-driven avoidance perpetuates discrimination, hindering societal inclusivity.
It is also worth considering, for a slightly different perspective the admonitions of Temple Grandin, the renowned behaviouriat and autism spokeswomen. Who has often addressed what she calls “Sins of the System.” By this, she is referring to actions that, when examined objectively, usually do little or no harm to anybody else, or even to the perpetrator, but nevertheless are so frowned upon by society that they carry extremely severe sanctions and penalties
So It's now crucial that we finally and robustly call out these behaviours and hold individuals accountable for their discriminatory actions. Merely virtue signalling about embracing neurodiversity while engaging in discriminatory behavior is not only hypocritical but also legally indefensible. Under the Equality Act, discrimination on the basis of disability, including autism, is unlawful and must be challenged at every level.
Furthermore, individuals must recognize that being offended by the literal and logical speech patterns of autistic individuals is not now acceptable and does not in any way excuse discriminatory or exclusionary behavior. Autistic individuals have a complete legal right to freely express themselves in a manner that is comfortable and natural to them, and neurotypical individuals must now basically take this on the chin and simply respect and accommodate these behavioural differences.
It’s time to challenge this covert discrimination. Autistic individuals can and must assert their rights, demanding meaningful engagement without fear of repercussion. Virtue signaling about neural diversity loses any and all credibility if actions contradict inclusive principles.
The era of unchallenged discrimination must end. Let’s confront these biases, fostering genuine dialogue and understanding. Autistic voices now legally have to be heard, respected, and embraced within a truly inclusive society.
In conclusion, the journey towards true inclusivity for individuals on the autism spectrum requires a multifaceted approach encompassing legal protections, societal attitudes, and individual advocacy. By dismantling entrenched biases, challenging discriminatory behaviour’sq, and fostering genuine dialogue and understanding, we can create a more equitable and inclusive society for all.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.
Bénédict Tarot Freeman
Editor-at-Large
VPN City-Desk
Comments