Some entries will now include summaries at the top since my titles rarely reflect the post. By design, of course. 

TL;DR

• Root Cause: Willful ignorance regarding autism is driven almost entirely by fear and power dynamics.
• The Reality: Current “support” systems are performative; the ADA offers little protection against being fired for autistic traits (like social differences).
• The Demand: True accountability requires honesty, apologizing for the “empathy deficit” myth, and admitting that current employment protections are failing.

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Journal Prompts for Processing “Willing Cluelessness” and Lack of Accountability

If I could write one brutally honest explanation for why people “don’t get it” (or pretend not to), what would I say? What are the top 2–3 reasons that come to mind?

This is tough because there are so many factors, or am I making it complicated? Go back to basics. Everything comes down to money (power) and fear. They are probably scared of autism.

It sounds weird to type “probably” when it’s clearly true! But why? Just because it’s different? Too simplistic! But aren’t most things superficial? And that’s the problem. No one wants to get deep, but autism and other things are complex, so where does that lead a discussion?

People are scared. People don’t want to be held accountable. And they don’t even try to understand.

When I notice people being willingly clueless or refusing to take accountability, what feelings does this raise for me? Is it anger, betrayal, exhaustion, or something else?

Frustration. Anger. Amusement. Bewilderment.

What would accountability look or sound like from these people/institutions? What is missing that I so badly want to see or hear?

Stop faking it. Apologize for saying autistic people don’t have empathy. Key word: apologize. Yes, researchers are finally admitting they were WRONG after decades! Do they want applause for ignoring us AGAIN? And no apology. They never apologize to anyone.

That’s not the best example for real accountability, though. Real accountability is simply honesty! That’s it. Stop saying they support autistic adults when they don’t. Radical, indeed. Do they really think their job interviews are supporting us? LOL. And we get fired for not being social the right way.

Another way to be accountable: stop acting like the ADA protects autistic people. Every manager has fired someone for something that’s in the DSM under autism and guess what? It’s legal! Maybe people need to learn what job accommodations are. Once again, they don’t know something and refuse to learn about it, but throw around “ADA.”

I guess they have an imaginary fear that people who are “unskilled” will get ahead. More unfounded things we shouldn’t have to deal with. I’ve been let go from jobs for not being social in the way they want me to be. The ADA doesn’t protect that. They know that, but keep pretending.

The depth of pretending not to get things would be comical if it didn’t affect lives. So stop pretending, learn things, and be honest.

These are great starts. These are things that cost nothing!