Autism Awareness T-Shirts- Raising Awareness Or Labelling Children?

Readers, I’ve just found out that Autism Awareness T-shirts exist.

I saw this Tweet:

https://twitter.com/talkaboutautism/status/298461581761732608

And it got me thinking about the question of these T-shirts and others.

I have no doubt the T-shirts were originally created to raise awareness of autism. I guess the answer to the question depends on who is wearing the shirt.

If a parent or family member of a child with autism was to wear these shirts, they would be trying to raise awareness.

However, if a child with autism was to wear one, it could be seen by some as a parent’s attempt to label their child. If it was to be looked at in a more positive way, it could be seen as a parent’s attempt to make the outside world aware that their child cannot help being naughty/disruptive/unusual.

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Would I, as a child with Cerebral Palsy, wear a T-shirt that says “I HAVE CEREBRAL PALSY?” Erm, well, it would depend on my age and where I was going.

At 17, I once went to mainstream college wearing a sweatshirt with the Bobath Centre logo on it. Someone in my class innocently, politely, without a hint of disablism, asked me what it was. I was instantly embarrassed and never wore the shirt outside my house again. Why? I didn’t want to have to answer that question in a mainstream setting.

Had I worn it to a place related to disability, I would have answered that question with pleasure and confidence and maybe even some pride.

Ten years later, I would wear such a shirt anywhere with pleasure. And if one of my parents or family members was to wear one of these shirts today, I would feel proud to be out with them.

Ten years ago, there are probably some places where I would have been embarrassed to know that someone I know was wearing that shirt.

The same applies to an “I Have Cerebral Palsy” shirt.

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Parents, every child is different. So I would say, buy these shirts, by all means, to raise money for your chosen charity. Just ask your disabled child before they, or you, wear them!