I’m not going to go into much detail, but over the last few days I have come across rather vast amounts of information putting my suspicions regarding what I call ‘cultural intrusion‘ beyond all doubt. From what I have been reading and watching online, it is now clear that people are increasingly claiming to have medical conditions or disabilities which they do not have, and making online content based on that claim. It seems not only to be actually happening but is in fact rife, particularly when it comes to conditions like Autism or Tourettes. It has even been termed Munchausens by Internet. I’ve already watched quite a few videos on it, of which this is a prime example.

Needless to say, as a disabled man I find this extremely troubling and insulting, as if these people have taken a part of my identity I’ve struggled with all my life to play with and exploit. Frankly, I keep thinking of all the severely autistic, profoundly disabled young people I have met over the years: when I see all these charlatans online, their hair dyed bright colours in order to look ‘different’, doing sickening imitations of their involuntary, often uncontrollable behaviours, my blood boils. It is as distasteful and insulting to me as white people painting their faces and claiming to be black. The question now is, what am I, as a disabled writer, blogger and activist, going to do about it?