Brief disclaimer
This is part one of three to kick off an article series which is based on a paper I originally wrote for a University rhetoric course.
I have broken it into three parts and made efforts to edit it to make it easier to read, so I hope you enjoy. If you do, stay tuned for parts two and three!
All in a Row
In February of 2019 a culture war within the Autistic community was rekindled by a theatrical performance, a play called All in a Row. The play itself was performed in the United Kingdom (UK), but its impact was felt internationally. All in a Row is about a small family: a mother, a father, and their 11 year old son. Their son, Laurence, is Autistic.
His role is played by a puppet, while the rest of the cast is played by live actors. The entire play occurs over the course of one day and illustrates the struggle of the parents, Martin and Tamora, to find the best way to care for their son who requires a lot of support.
This day is significant because social services had been called in to investigate their family. Social workers have determined Martin and Tamora cannot provide adequate care for their son, and he needs to go into residential care. Laurence is leaving the following morning, and this is their last night together before he goes.
After All in a Row’s opening night the divide in the Autistic community was immediately clear. Many who saw the performance took to social media, blogs, wrote letters to the editor, and posted reviews to share their reactions — none of which were mild. On one side were those who praised the play as raw, honest, even warm. On the other side, reviewers called the play grotesque), horrifying, dehumanizing, and ableist.
This chasm separating two strongly opposed perspectives is not new in the Autistic community, and was certainly not created by this play. All in a Row was merely a catalyst, providing a concrete target for these pre-existing and long-warring factions.
To be clear, no community is homogenous. Any time human beings are together, there will be differences of opinion. When a group of marginalized people comes together — many of whom have experienced extensive ableism, stigma, and trauma as a direct result of being Autistic — those differences of opinion may stem from life-altering experiences.
As the debates over All in a Row illustrate, there is significant discord in the Autistic community when it comes to representation. Who is allowed to represent the Autistic community, and how should autism and Autistic people be portrayed to the general public?
My research will explore whether the play All in a Row, and the controversy it ignited in the Autistic community, illustrates incommensurable ideas of what it means to be Autistic and how autism should be understood, described, and portrayed. The two sides of the Autism wars can be summarized as follows.
On one side, parents of Autistic children who need greater levels of support, as well as Autistic self-advocates who have physical and intellectual disabilities, argue an overly-optimistic presentation of autism minimizes and invalidates their struggles, leading to further marginalization and isolation of these individuals and their families.
Denial that autism can, in itself, be a disability may lead to decreased support for those who need it, as well as a decline in public awareness, acceptance, and understanding.
On the other side, Autistic advocates and self-advocates argue the negative and stereotype-laden presentation of autism leads to maltreatment and an underestimation of the value and abilities of Autistic people. Pathologizing difference can increase stigma, forcing people to conform to social expectations to the detriment of their own mental health and wellbeing.
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