In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela explore the viral Takiwātanga meme—a social media trend often featuring striking images of Polynesian women and claiming that Takiwātanga is the Māori word for autism, meaning “in their own time and space.” They trace the real story behind the word, its creator, and the deeper cultural and colonial implications it raises.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• The true origin of the term Takiwātanga and how Māori linguist Keri O’Pai created it to depathologize mental health language.
• Why O’Pai’s glossary was designed to offer empowering, non-pathologizing Māori terms for mental health, disability, and addiction.
• How well-meaning neurotypicals sometimes romanticize or exoticize autism through alternative labels.
• Why many autistic people prefer to use the actual word “autism” and avoid euphemistic language.
• How colonizer language inherently pathologizes everyone—except white people.
• The harm of person-first language and why many autistics reject it.
• Why support needs are a human reality—not a flaw—and how hyper-independence culture demonizes them.
• How colonialism shapes global perspectives on disability and identity labels.

Related Episodes:

Labels are Autistic

Careers are Autistic

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💜 With Gratitude

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Katie N Benitez, Kate F, Kendra Murphy, Louise Lomas, Nicola Owen.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices at AutisticCulturePlus.com

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