Miya (she/her) personal account.

So happy and grateful for the written interview with autistic writer Jackie Khalilieh :))))
miya-little-sun.blogspot.com/2025/11/28-j...
I've translated it into Traditional Chinese but there's the original English version in the blog entry as well :) VERY INSPIRING.

Thank you so much!

Never seem something this well said... hopefully I will be able to translate this and share with people in Taiwan (our ND community is facing the exact situation and discourse now...)

Hi, I don't know you but I deeply agree with what you've shared and it is SO well-written.
I'm wondering if you might be ok with me translating this (will credit your original post link) and share it on my blog?
It is rare I see this topic this well said and exactly how I feel.
Thank you so much.

Why even adopt the categories of an ableist society who wants us to not exist?

That low functioning label is more likely to put a target on your forehead. It's not a golden ticket to accommodations.

And other autistic people are not your enemy.

Allowing neurotypicals to divide us into the useful and the burdensome is not the answer.

Even for people who are high masking, one episode of autistic burnout can move you from the first category to the second one.

The real question is, how can we best support one another?

How can we speak up for one another while ensuring that we are not speaking over anyone?

How do we ensure that everyone's needs are met?

The lack of accommodations isn't caused by other autistic people having less support needs than you.

It comes from an ableist society who sees our existence as a burden. Who sees our lives as not worth living.

It's not fun having to exist within this tension, and I don't see any easy solutions.

However, I very much think that dividing up the autistic community is not the answer.

We need one another.

So, I understand the tension within the community.

Autism is a disability, and we need accommodations to survive.

At the same time, pathologizing autism may lead to society murdering us.

The neurodiversity paradigm isn't just some feel-good liberal nonsense.

The need to depathologize differences comes from living in a society where differences can be deadly.

What society do you live in? That would be like, "Oh, you're one of the real autistics? Here, have all the accomodations."

Because I live in a fascist hellscape that fucking hates disabled people.

For the people in the second group, the societal solution is rarely accomodations and support.

The solution is more often eugenics and extermination.

Throughout the modern history of autism, there has been one constant theme. The need for neurotypicals to divide autistic people into two groups.

1. Those who can be exploited by capitalism.

2. Those who cannot.

At the same time, I think the autistic people who want functioning labels are incredibly naive. (I don't care what the neurotypicals think)

Functioning labels are unlikely to bring real accommodations.

That doesn't mean it's all bad, though. I like who I am, and I wouldn't be who I am without autism.

Like everything in life, there are good points and bad points.

I also see this tension happen when someone tries to put a positive spin on autistic behaviors only to have another person respond that autism has caused them nothing but pain.

The thing is, I don't disagree with either perspective.

“Stop making autism your whole identity!”

Sorry, I’ll try not to let this condition that impacts everything about me influence my sense of self 🙄 /s #Autistic

There is a tension I see within the autistic community between the following two ideas.

1. Wanting neurotypicals to stop pathologizing autistic differences.

2. Wanting support and accommodations because autism is disabling.

A thread

A photo of a woman in pink in a wheelchair. She has an intubation for oxygen. She looks up at the viewer. Words: This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine ! would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all. may her memory

I am gutted to learn of @sfdirewolf.bsky.social (Alice Wong’s) passing. She was always a warm friend, a wonderful spirit, and someone who fostered my own growth. She helped me see that, as a #disabled person with chronic illness, I matter—I am whole. I’ll be posting some of Alice’s work. ❤️ forever

Alice's tireless disability justice work was transformative for the entire disabled community. A heartbreaking loss ❤️

No worries Ivy :) If you need feel free to talk to me any time :)
&&& GOOD LUCK for querying, waiting for good news for/with you :)

Can't wait for your YA romance too... I don't know if it's impolite to say so (?) but if you ever need beta reader or anything like that I would be very honoured to help you!!! (Your YA romance looks exactly like something I would enjoy reading ^^ AND autistic characters?!!! 🌻🌻🌻✨✨✨)

@ivy-lin.bsky.social Your words made me cry 😭
As someone who left my family and live in a country farrrrr far away, I relate to this 2000%

Hi Ivy thank you so much :))))) I will take a look after work 🥹
Also I'm just sooooo happy for all the full requests 💖 I read about your work and I hope I will be able to read it soon ☺️🌻

suitable for my work.
Sometimes I feel jealous (?) when I see discussions about ND in trad pub in English speaking publishing industry and feel upset that there aren't even this kind of dicussion in my country... 🙃

my story gave me such good feedback... I don't think itst worthless or not worth being put out there but still it never worked.
I tried my old publishing house (but the editors who worked with me 8 years ago are retired/left and the new ones told me they can't find any imprint that might be ⬇️

I was SO close once... But it still didn't work out even though the editors gave me twice personalised rejection full of positivity points and things they suggest I rewrite...
I mean I'm already grateful but I just... I want to share that story with more people. And most ND readers who've read ⬇️

Also, by self-publishing in Taiwan I think it meant that I came to term with the fact that it just won't work out in Taiwan... But I fear that if I enter submitting/querying phase it would affect my mental health too much as it did for me when I submitted my work the past 3 years... ⬇️

trad pub world...
And I know there are already so many wonderful English speaking authors out there, I understand that people won't want to give a foreign writer a chance as the industry is saturated and difficult even more native writers...
*sigh*
#autistic #writers