Julia Bascom
Autistic Self Advocacy Network Executive Director
Currently the Executive Director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Julia Bascom has devoted her career towards advocating for the autism community. Her role as an American autism rights advocate involves speaking at ASAN galas, serving on the Board for Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities as well as Allies for Independence, and taking part in creating works that highlight neurodiverse voices. She has also written “The Obsessive Joy of Autism”, a book that focuses on the autistic perspective that encourages those with autism to lead their lives with joy. Bascom’s goal as a neurodivergent individual is to empower her community and advocate for their rights through the means of greater resources and communication.
What would you like everyone to know about being neurodiverse?
“I want people to understand that neurodiversity is a normal and important part of human variation. There are lots and lots of different ways to have a brain. Different ways of looking at and experiencing the world are important for our society.
Some types of neurodivergence are disabilities, like autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, or dyslexia. So again, it’s important to also understand that disability itself is also a normal and important part of human variation. Sometimes people try to talk about neurodiversity as a way to avoid saying the word disability. Disability isn’t a bad thing; it’s just a way of existing that our society isn’t built to accommodate. Brain-based disabilities are a part of neurodiversity.”
Do you have preferences in terms of the language used?
“For myself, I usually use identity-first; I am autistic, I am disabled, etc. I think preferences about language can be incredibly personal, so if someone uses person-first language for their disability, I try to match that. And different disability communities have different histories with this language. The autistic, Deaf, blind, and Little Person communities all tend to use identity-first language, and that’s often tied to our history of oppression. People with intellectual disabilities, as a community, tend to strongly prefer person-first language, because of the horrific dehumanization their community experienced in institutions. So it’s important to understand and respect the language someone uses for themself, even if it is different from what you prefer.”
What do you feel is the aspect of life most impacted by being neurodiverse?
“I think this is different for every person! Autism colors every aspect of my life, but for me, things that involve language, sensory processing, and movement are probably the most impactful. There aren’t a lot of things that don’t involve language or sensory processing or movement. Even getting up and making a sandwich involves motor planning that can be too much for me. That means I don’t live independently; I live with someone who provides a lot of support in my day-to-day life. That means my life can look a little different than other people’s lives. It’s a good life and I like it a lot, but it is different.”
What kind of accommodations do you wish were implemented better in everyday
society?
“I wish our society was better at providing services to help people live in our own homes and communities when we need help with daily living. Those services are really hard to get, and without them, people’s lives can be really limited. We also do a really bad job of helping people who can’t talk get access to other forms of communication. Communication is a human right, and everyone deserves to have whatever support they need to express themselves fully. ASAN is working hard on both of these issues.”
What stigmas do you encounter in your community?
“There’s a belief that if you need support or help in one area of your life, you should lose the right to still be in charge of your life. That’s very harmful. It’s tied to the idea that disability is a bad thing that makes you less of a person. We have to change how people think about disability at a fundamental level.”
How do you think neurotypical individuals can aid in the advocacy for neurodiversity without infringing on neurodiverse voices?
“Neurotypical allies can lift up and amplify our voices. They can show their support for our leadership, and talk to other neurotypical people about how to do better. They can use their power to insist we have a seat at the table.”
How do you think we can empower children with autism and lift up their voices?
“It’s really important for autistic kids to see that autistic adults exist and can do all sorts of things, including autistic adults who use alternate ways to communicate or who need a lot of support. It’s hard to imagine a future for yourself when you haven’t seen examples like that. Seeing autistic adults with the same experiences you have, living all kinds of dreams, can change everything.”
What are your aspirations for the future?
“On a personal level, I want to spend more time hanging out with my cat and my sister under some trees. On an advocacy level, I want our community to have what we need. I want everyone to be able to live good lives pursuing what matters to them.”
References:
Interview with Julia Bascom
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