Exploring the Increase of Autism in Politics
Recently, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the FDP-EU candidate, made a controversial statement against the Federal Chancellor. However, her critique unintentionally targeted a specific group of people. This is not a unique occurrence.
Several years ago, an AfD member publicly denied that individuals with Down syndrome are capable of education in the broadest sense. Björn Höcke, the leader of the AfD in Thuringia, criticized inclusive school measures during an interview with MDR. He believes that co-educating non-disabled and disabled children hinders the progress of the academic elite. This week, the leading FDP candidate for the European election, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, described Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz as having "autistic mannerisms." This was meant as an insult. Later, she expressed regret to the autistic community for her choice of words. If Strack-Zimmermann had taken a moment to consider her statement, this apology would not have been necessary. There are no known instances of Scholz making such remarks.
Politicians rarely use discriminatory language against people with disabilities. The era when disabled individuals were expected to be quiet, grateful, and sexless is coming to an end. The day-to-day discrimination faced by people with disabilities has reduced substantially. More non-disabled individuals are now more comfortable interacting with disabled people. Disabled individuals are becoming more visible, asserting their rights, and integrating into society. This requires supporting legislation for disabled people.
Unfortunately, there are still small instances of discrimination. Disabled individuals often face obstacles like: touchscreen coffee machines at the office which cannot be operated by a visually impaired employee, broken elevators at suburban train stations that cannot accommodate wheelchairs, and thoughtless comments from female politicians and politicians. These are just a few examples of ongoing discrimination.
While these incidents still occur, they are happening less frequently. Today, the norm is different. The majority of readers of my articles on ntv.de are unaware that I am blind. ntv.de does not recognize this characteristic. I, too, do not value it.
Inclusive education has enabled me to perform this job. In Munich, blind and visually impaired individuals have been trained as online editors for 16 years. Many website-building and maintenance tools are accessible to blind individuals, and AI often ensures equality for disabled and non-disabled individuals. I am also a fan of ChatGPT.
What takes place in my job also applies to my leisure time. The integration of people with disabilities is a mutual process. Disabled people have become a part of society. However, this is an ongoing struggle. It is crucial for political parties, particularly democratic ones, to keep this in mind. Making comparisons between a Federal Chancellor and people with autism is not appropriate. In fact, I occasionally think: Maybe a little more autism in politics would be beneficial.
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In light of the controversy surrounding Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann's comments, it's important for politicians to avoid discriminatory language towards individuals with autism. Regrettably, disabled individuals, including those with autism, still encounter discrimination, such as inaccessible public facilities or insensitive comments, despite progress in inclusivity and visibility.
