Autistic people are fighting for their right to exist as they are. So why is the world still not listening?
For decades, Autistic people have been spoken about rather than spoken to. Professionals have controlled the narrative, researchers have dismissed lived experience, and society has focused on ‘fixing’ behaviour rather than understanding Autistic lives. The result? A mental health crisis, systemic discrimination, and a generation of Autistic people being forced to mask their true selves just to survive.
Evaleen Whelton knows this fight first-hand. When she discovered she was Autistic 11 years ago, she set out to uncover the truth about autism. What she found was a stark divide between how the professional world framed autism and how Autistic people actually experienced it. Determined to change that, she took action.
In 2019, she launched Ireland’s first-ever Autistic-led conference—an event by Autistic people, for everyone. It was a landmark moment, proving that Autistic voices belong at the centre of conversations about autism.
Autistic Voices Must Lead the Conversation
Would you attend a conference about women without any women speaking? Would you trust a panel of men to make decisions about women’s health without including a single woman? And yet, this is exactly what happens with autism—where Autistic people are too often left out of discussions that shape their own futures. Despite increasing awareness, many decisions affecting Autistic people are still made without their input. It’s time for that to change.
The Mental Health Crisis No One Wants to Talk About
Autistic people are significantly more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts than their non-Autistic peers. Research confirms this, but society largely ignores the reasons why. The problem isn’t autism itself—it’s stigma, exclusion, and the pressure to conform to neurotypical standards.
Traditional support systems fail Autistic people because they’re built on outdated ideas that focus on controlling behaviour rather than fostering well-being. Autistic-led initiatives, on the other hand, prioritise empowerment, acceptance, and mental health strategies that actually work.
The Harm of Behavioural Interventions
Many so-called ‘therapies’ for Autistic people are based on compliance training rather than genuine support. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), one of the most widely used interventions, teaches Autistic children to suppress their natural behaviours to appear more ‘normal’. This comes at a devastating cost, with many Autistic adults speaking out about the trauma and long-term harm caused by being forced to mask their true selves. Rather than encouraging Autistic children to develop in a way that suits them, these interventions prioritise the comfort of non-Autistic people. The focus should not be on making Autistic people seem less Autistic—it should be on providing environments where they can thrive.
In February 2023, the Joint Committee on Disability Matters published a report titled “Aligning Disability Services with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” This report critically examines various disability services and interventions, including Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). The Committee highlighted concerns that ABA and its derivatives may contradict human rights principles as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Specifically, the report states:
“The Committee is concerned that certain interventions, such as Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and its derivatives, may be in contradiction to the principles of the UNCRPD, particularly regarding the rights of the child and the right to be free from exploitation, violence, and abuse.”
This underscores the need for therapies and interventions that respect the dignity, autonomy, and rights of autistic individuals, moving away from approaches that prioritise normalisation over genuine support.
Breaking Barriers for Non-Speaking Autistic People
One of the most urgent human rights issues in the Autistic community today is the discrimination faced by non-speaking Autistic people. Access to AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) should be a given, yet many in Ireland are still denied the ability to communicate because of outdated assumptions that link speech to intelligence.
The reality? Many non-speaking Autistic people do not have intellectual disabilities. They have motor neuron differences that make speech difficult or impossible. Yet, they have thoughts, ideas, and voices that deserve to be heard. As more non-speaking Autistic individuals gain access to communication tools, they are proving beyond doubt that the world has been wrong about them for far too long.
Autistic Liberation is Not Just for April—It’s a Movement
Every April, the world remembers that Autistic people exist. Awareness campaigns flood social media, but they rarely lead to real change. Autistic people don’t need awareness—they need action. They need an end to the harmful narratives that frame autism as a deficit. They need a shift in attitudes, policies, and support systems that actually reflect their realities.
“We need to break away from the medicalised, outdated view of autism,” says Evaleen. “Autistic people are not puzzles to be solved. We are human beings with valid ways of thinking, feeling, and communicating. This is about Autistic people taking back our narrative and making real change.”
For those interested in exploring these issues further, Autistic voices will take centre stage at the Minding Autistic Minds Conference on 25th and 26th April at the Osprey Hotel in Naas and online. This event will highlight the urgent need for change in mental health support, education, and societal attitudes towards Autistic people.
