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RFK Jr is wrong – there's a rich history of autistic poets

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Re: RFK Jr is wrong – there's a rich history of autistic poets

#3
Of course RFK was wrong. You think people with disabilities don't make art? It is an absurd statement on its face, and he did nothing to supply any evidence he was correct.

Autistic folks have been with us forever, we're just way way better at finding and supporting them now.

Re: RFK Jr is wrong – there's a rich history of autistic poets

#5
I feel the statement "autistic people will never write a poem" may be trivially true, because (I suspect) many people will never write a poem. The implication that this is invalid or wrong is perverse. And the fact that now we have to argue for the dignity of autistic people by saying that there are autistic poets is also non-sensical.

These are all cruel suggestions about people, we should challenge why RFK makes statements like this. Not take them at face value, as if they merit being answered.

Re: RFK Jr is wrong – there's a rich history of autistic poets

#8
RFK never said or implied that all people with autism are non-functional in important areas. It's true that a significant number are, and it's really strange and perhaps cruel to see people trying to erase that. And it doesn't make it less of an issue to address even if some of those people write poetry.

Re: RFK Jr is wrong – there's a rich history of autistic poets

#9
> As an autistic English professor who studies literature and neurodiversity, I was especially unnerved by Kennedy’s contention that many autistic people will never write poetry.

> It couldn’t be further from the truth.

Screw this English professor with autism - RFK's comments are literally correct if you read them. Many autistic people like my child will never speak, he's not talking about English professors with level 1 autism. Stop ignoring those of us with much greater challenges, it's so condescending.

Re: RFK Jr is wrong – there's a rich history of autistic poets

#10
post #8

RFK never said or implied that all people with autism are non-functional in important areas. It's true that a significant number are, and it's really strange and perhaps cruel to see people trying to erase that. And it doesn't make it less of an issue to address even if some of those people write poetry.

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