autism acceptance

Image of a stone sculpture in the shape of a large wrist and hand supporting the leaning trunk of an oversized tree. From UnSplash.

Support > neutrality: a real-life case study

This article pertains to a specific (past) situation that may or may not be familiar, or even relevant, to some readers who are viewing this. I do think the overall concept is of merit, which is why I will leave this up long after the matter has become “yesterday’s news.” I feel that it provides …

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Two blue text bubbles; the one on the right states, "Public Comment."

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

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

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.

(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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All I Have, All I Am

“Don’t tell me that this isn’t real. Don’t tell me this ain’t how I feel. This is all I have. All I have…” –NF “All I Have”(video) This is my first blog post of 2017. And I’m writing it out of…I’m not sure which emotion, truthfully. I guess a mix of them. Frustration. Sadness. Anger. …

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#JusticeForKayleb is reality. Good things DO still happen in the world…

(This has absolutely nothing to do with the post…but I just happened to glance at the date/time on the corner of my computer screen, and since it’s after midnight it is now 03/15. And because I am a total nerd on top of being a teacher, I can’t move on to the rest of the …

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Lessons from Imperial China, for Disability Day of Mourning (#DDoM)

“Would you bind my feet?” I was on my laptop in my living room entering grades into my online gradebook. Basically working from home for free (as usual…that’s #teacherlife for you, right?) on a warm weekday afternoon. The kids were afoot as they always were: my youngest daughter snuggled against my back as we sat …

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Accommodation is What Respect Looks Like in Public/Upbeat CPR Rocks

Yesterday my youngest child turned five years old. Birthdays are a big deal around here, as no day is promised to any of us and I view a new year of life as a new adventure to be embarked on in the story of our lives. Additionally, in our family we don’t believe in a …

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Dear Ms. Ruby Bridges

(This is cross-posted at the “Advocacy Without Borders” blog as well, available here.) My six year old daughter came home with a book about Ruby Bridges today. At first I was taken aback. How on Earth do you make any sense of segregation and hatred to a child who knows nothing of that life…without making them self-conscious, fearful, …

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