When Autism Spaces Aren’t Safe
White Women and Ableism Toward Black Autistic Women
White autistic women are not exempt from ableism or racism, Autism does not erase racial privilege, and it does not prevent someone from participating in harmful behavior toward other marginalized people, the situation at the BAFTA awards is the perfect example but thats another conversation for another time, Yet in many autism spaces, conversations still center the experiences of white autistic women while the voices of Black autistic women are minimized or ignored, and when Black voices are centered people get offended
Black autistic women face both racism and ableism at the SAME dam time. Our autistic traits are more likely to be misinterpreted as aggression, defiance, or attitude, been there done that, heard that… Because of racial bias in healthcare, education, and social systems, many Black autistic women are diagnosed later, misdiagnosed, or never diagnosed at all, ( for me it was a misdiagnosis followed by my late diagnosis) These realities shape how we experience autism, but we are often dismissed when we are brought up in predominantly white autism communities.
A common response from white autistic women when these issues are raised is defensiveness. Instead of listening, the conversation shifts toward protecting white feelings, Black autistic women may be accused of “dividing the community,” exaggerating harm, or making autism “about race.” These reactions silence important conversations and reinforce the very exclusion being criticized, I politely tell people who feel this way to get off my page or I block them.
Ableism can also show up when white autistic women assume their experiences represent all autistic people, Saying that autism is the same for everyone ignores how racism changes the way autistic traits are perceived and treated. What may be seen as “quirky” or socially awkward in a white autistic woman can be interpreted as threatening or disrespectful in a Black autistic woman, we get called loud, rude, mean, given absolutely no grace, a commenter on Youtube recently left a disturbing comment on my video full of racist micro aggressions all because I was sharing my experience with masking as a Black autistic woman.
Accountability is necessary if autism communities want to be truly inclusive. This means acknowledging that racism can exist within neurodivergent spaces. It means listening to Black autistic women without dismissal or defensiveness. It also means reflecting on how privilege shapes whose voices are amplified and whose are ignored, some white autistic women dont know how to decenter their whiteness and just listen.
Being autistic does not automatically make someone anti racist. Like any community, autism spaces must actively challenge bias and exclusion. When white autistic women are willing to listen, reflect, and take responsibility, it becomes possible to build a community that respects and values Black autistic women rather than marginalizing us.
