This Is How Amy Schumer Says She Will 'Cope' if Her Son Is Autistic
Comedian Amy Schumer has answered a lot of questions about autism since sharing her husband Chris Fischer’s autism diagnosis in her March Netflix special “Growing.” Now, Schumer is answering premature questions about her infant and autism.
On Sunday, Schumer posted a photo of her son Gene Attell Fischer, who was born in May, with the caption, “Would anyone be interested in seeing a docu series of my pregnancy and birth?”
One Instagram user replied, “Not really, honestly,” and used Schumer’s question to pitch a different type of documentary. “I’d like to see a documentary of you discovering your mate is diagnosed with autism and how you cope with the possibility that your child will be on the spectrum….”
Schumer was quick to reply, noting that autism is not something you need to “cope” with. She wrote:
how I cope? I don’t see being on the spectrum as a negative thing. My husband is my favorite person I’ve ever met. He’s kind, hilarious, interesting and talented and I admire him. Am I supposed to hope my son isn’t like that? I will pay attention and try and provide him with the tools he needs to overcome whatever challenges come up like all parents. I’d be disappointed if he liked the Big Bang theory and nascar not if he has ASD.
View this post on Instagram
Would anyone be interested in seeing a docu series of my pregnancy and birth?
While the commenter later apologized for the question, it’s worth repeating that being on the spectrum is not a negative thing. The negative insinuation that disability is something that needs to be “coped” with spawns harmful attitudes and misunderstandings about disability that marginalize and allow the abuse of disabled individuals. Being neurotypical isn’t better than being neurodivergent. It’s just a different way of being.
It can be difficult for parents when they first hear their child’s diagnosis. However, loving their kids is not difficult. The difficulties most parents have to “cope” with are the negative disability attitudes they encounter day-to-day and the lack of accessibility, acceptance and inclusion in society.
For many parents their child’s disability comes with strengths and traits that they love, much like how many of Chris Fischer’s autistic traits are the parts of him Schumer fell in love with:
And once he was diagnosed, it dawned on me how funny it was because all of the characteristics that make it clear that he is on the spectrum are all of the reasons why I fell madly in love with him. That’s the truth.
If you suspect your child may be on the autism spectrum, here are some articles you may find helpful:
Image via Creative Commons/TheeErin
Ellen Stumbo is the founder of Disability Matters, an organization with the mission to encourage every church to embrace disability. Ellen is a national speaker who focuses on issues pertaining adoption, faith, disability and parenting kids with disabilities. Ellen writes for several online platforms including Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia, Group, The Mighty and the Huffington Post. Her writing also appears in several book anthologies. Ellen blogs at ellenstumbo.com and you can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
ellenstumbo