Self Diagnosis Isn’t ‘Valid.’ It’s Liberatory.
If Autism is a neutral source of human diversity, why the hell would we need to diagnose it?
A few weeks ago, I was forwarded an email that the editor of the publication Artfully Autistic had sent to one of their writers. The writer had just finished working on a piece in support of self diagnosis, in which she referenced my work. Artfully Autistic’s editor removed these references and links, because, according to her, I am faking being Autistic and taking advantage of the Autistic community. The full email is below:
From: Artfully Autistic
To: [redacted]
Sent: Monday, December 27, 2021 5:01 PM
Subject: “Self Diagnosis Is Valid” / Devon Price
[recipient redacted],
I Published your most recent Story “Self Diagnosis Is Valid” and it is a great Story. Thank you for your Submission.
. . .
A Protocol of our Publication is that we take a light-handed approach to Editorial. For the most part, we very rarely touch the Writing of other Member Writers, unless it violates Medium or Publication Rules.
However, for your particular story something new has arisen that I have to bring to your…
