anti-stigma

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Let’s hope they don’t kick me off: these IACC public comments though…

#actuallyautistic, #autismacceptance, #autismawareness, AAC, ableism, acceptance, advocacy, anti-stigma, autism, autism acceptance, autism awareness, autism parent, autistic, balance, civil rights, communication, community, disability, disability rights, diversity, ethics, families, functioning labels, IDD, inclusion, intellectual disability, intersectionality, Just Being Me...Who Needs 'Normalcy" Anyway? (my blog), Morénike, neurodiversity, open letter, POC, presume competence, representation, respectful parenting, self-advocacy, solidarity, stigma, tolerance, writing / By

So…I was recently appointed to the IACC, which is the federal advisory board that handles important autism-related matters at the national level. There were ~40-ish? people appointed in total, including 23 public members…and a full EIGHT of us public members are autistic! I am beyond grateful to have an opportunity to serve my community in …

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Until we are all free, we are none of us free.

Hear Our Cry: Call for Solidarity with Autistic BIPoC and Autistic People with Intellectual Disabilities: Demands presented to the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) for their June 20th Board Meeting

1 Comment / #actuallyautistic, #autismacceptance, #autismawareness, advocacy, allies, anti-racism, anti-stigma, autism, autism acceptance, autistic, balance, cultural sensitivity, diversity, human rights, IDD, intellectual disability, intersectionality, neurodiversity, open letter, POC, race, solidarity / By

To: Meg Evans, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) Board of Trustees Secretary   Cc:  Current ASAN Board of Trustees; Julia Bascom, ASAN Executive Director  From: A collective of former ASAN Board and staff, which includes: Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, former ASAN Board of Trustees Vice Chair Cal Montgomery, former ASAN Board of Trustees Chair  Oswin Latimer, former …

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“Neurodiversity Is Dead?” Ion think so. Letter to the Mad In America Editor.

2 Comments / #actuallyautistic, ableism, acceptance, advocacy, anti-stigma, autism, autism acceptance, autism awareness, autistic, bias, bigotry, diversity, inclusion, Just Being Me...Who Needs 'Normalcy" Anyway? (my blog), Mad in America, Morénike, neurodiversity, neurodiversity is dead, open letter, self-advocacy, self-awareness, stigma, twilah hiari / By

(Image is an autism acceptance word cloud of multiple colors. Source: unknown) Today I wrote a letter to the editor and the president of “Mad in America” about an ableist and disturbing article that they published on their site. Here is what I wrote: “Dear editor, I am writing to express major concerns over your …

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Twelve Days

1 Comment / adoption, anti-stigma, autistic adult, disability, disability discrimination, ethics, families, foster care, human rights, hypocrisy, inclusion, presume competence, respectful parenting, stigma, trauma, youth / By

My mother told me that when I was a baby/toddler, I had a fascination with the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” I used to script it constantly, singing it at socially inappropriate volumes (i.e. extremely loudly) in public places as well as at home – even when it was nowhere near Christmastime/winter. Another mother …

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Pass Mina’s Law to Fight Stigma: People with HIV are #NotYourInfection!

3 Comments / #NotYourInfection, AIDS, anti-stigma, HIV, HIV awareness, HIV criminalization, HIV stigma, HIV/AIDS, Mina's Law, person first language, PLHIV, social justice, solidarity, WAD, World AIDS Day / By

(This post was originally published on the Advocacy Without Borders blog here.) “The inspiration behind thi’s post is an amazing 12 year old girl we call Mina.  Mina is a sweet, kind, and awesome kid who brings joy to her family, friends, and all who know her. She is thoughtful, deeply compassionate, and full of …

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