Blogaround!
So I’ve completely dropped the ball on mentioning this, but The Loud Hands Project is currently taking a tour of the blogosphere, and some of the posts are phenomenal.
We started over at Shift Journal, where a post was valiantly constructed by Mark when a migraine prevented me from forming sentences. Next up was Amanda, who says
No matter what you do, please try and live with loud hands at all times.
Then it was Savannah’s turn. She shared a lot of little details about the project and our context, which is really cool to read about all in one place—and she did it in very accessible language, which was even cooler. Then on Tuesday, Melody made a post, noting that her favorite part is that The Loud Hands Project is an ASAN project she isn’t responsible for.
Well, okay, she also said
We have long needed a way to show what and who the Autistic community is. To define who we are. Loud Hands is meant to be just that. Not only that, but a way of introduction for those who come after.
Kassiane went next, explaining why the project matters to her personally.
And we need the Loud Hands Project so that the next teenage autistic kid who comes to the conclusion that she isn’t broken, that everyone else’s perceptions of her are what is wrong, has a community. So that she knows that there are people out here who embrace her beautiful brain and her loud hands.
Today, Lydia made her post. She echoes Kassiane, saying
This is why the Loud Hands Project is important. So that the next generation of Autistic people will have a precedent for having loud hands and embracing themselves as complete human beings with value and dignity as Autistic people. So that there will be no more “There’s something wrong with you.” So that little by little, we can strike down the bricks that have institutionalized ableism across our society, in our schools, in our policies, in our everyday interactions.
And goes on to add
And this is why I am supporting the Loud Hands project — to empower Autistic people to be leaders now and to provide a role model for the next generation of Autistic people. They could be your children. Let’s work toward a world in which your children will face less discrimination and stigma. Let’s work toward a world in which your children can have pride in being who they are, and can find stellar examples of activism, advocacy, philanthropy, and self-fulfillment in today’s generation of Autistic adults and youth.
That’s what money to the Loud Hands project will do. It will make these projects possible, and expand the platforms that currently exist for Autistic people to express themselves and seize the mantle in our own advocacy. The Loud Hands project will be accepting donations for the next two months — through 15 March 2012, and can be made here, which is also where you can watch the project’s introductory video! (And yes, I made a donation — better to put that money toward this phenomenal project than toward food not from the campus dining hall.)
So I’d say that, so far, the blog tour has been a pretty successful journey! You should definitely check all of the posts out. And please note that with the exception of Savannah (who has been invaluable in making blog badges, captioning, and transcripts,) none of the posts thus far have been written by anyone actually working on the project. I’ll be doing the very last one at the end of the month, but everyone else blogging is an autistic person who expressed an interest. If you’d like to participate—and I’d love that—send me a note using the “submit” feature with your name, email, and blog, and I’ll get in touch with you re: scheduling.
