Privilege and Using Space

I’m a low support needs, white #Autistic person working in #neurodiversity advocacy.

I benefit from proximity to power, and I’m trying to challenge the systems that gave it to me.

I’m more likely to be listened to than higher support needs Autistic people

& Black Autistic women

& Racialized Autistic people with multiple disabilities

& Non-speaking neurodivergent folks

& Low-income #disabled people

I'm more likely to be seen as “articulate” instead of dismissed

I'm more likely to be given platforms, paid opportunities, and credibility

That’s structural and systemic.

So the question isn’t “how do I not take up space?”

Because I already do.

The real question is: what do I do with the space I’m given?

• Saying things that disrupt comfort, not just things that are palatable

• Redirecting attention, opportunities, and money toward people who are systematically excluded

• Being explicit about whose voices are missing in rooms I’m invited into

• Not positioning my experience as “the” autistic experience (it is definitely not)

• Letting myself be corrected, especially by people with more marginalized identities than me

• Resisting the urge to be the translator, the spokesperson, or the safest version of this work

Silence from people with access to power doesn’t dismantle anything, it just preserves comfort, but taking up space without accountability is just as harmful.

So I am trying to focus on redistribution - of attention, resources, and credibility.

I get it wrong sometimes, but I’d rather be in the tension, actively redistributing power than sitting comfortably, calling it “allyship”

Look at your newsfeed today on the social media platforms you follow, am I the only person with a disability you follow?

Anyone with a severe disability?

What about other women?

Other queer folks? Trans creators?

Black people?

Asian? Indigenous? Latinx?

Well may I suggest you follow these outstanding folks!

Sydney Elaine Butler

Andrew Gurza

Julie Harris

Christal Wang

Leanne Maskell

Ellie Middleton

Sonny J Wise

Gem Turner

Lyric Rivera

Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC

Dr. Autumn BlackDeer

Leo Caldwell

Luke Manton

Maayan Ziv

Lily Zheng

Jennie Berry

There are SOOO many more, especially some incredible folks on IG I've learned a TON from. Who can you tag??

📨 Interested in intersectional neuro-inclusive workplace training or advisory services for your team or org? Give me a shout gill@thelowachiever.com

👩‍💻 Sign up for my newsletter to stay in touch