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

AAC, ableism, accommodation, advocacy, autism, autism acceptance, communication, community, disability, disability rights, education, ethics, human rights, Just Being Me...Who Needs 'Normalcy" Anyway? (my blog), just me, justice, Morénike, open letter, owning your mistakes, respect, school to prison pipeline, writing / By

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…

#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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All I Have, All I Am

4 Comments / ableism, autism acceptance, autism awareness, autism positivity, classism, inclusion, misogyny, POC, racism, resilience, scars from the past, shake them haters off / By

“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…

#Autismisnotacrime, #JusticeForKayleb, autism acceptance, autistic, disability rights, education, inclusion, Kayleb Moon-Robinson, person first language, school to prison pipeline / By

(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)

4 Comments / #DDOM, abuse, acceptance, accommodation, autism acceptance, autism parent, DDOM, disability, discrimination, filicide, foot-binding, presume competence, respectful parenting / By

“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

accomodation, autism, autism acceptance, autism awareness, autistic, disability, disability rights, equality, inclusion, neurodiversity, sensory / By

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

2 Comments / #BlackLivesMatter, African American, autism acceptance, black, civil rights, discrimination, education, Ruby Bridges, segregation / By

(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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