autism

person with a child on his shoulders looking at a protest

Clarification Statement About #BoycottHUBlackAutism 2022

ableism, activism, African American, allies, autism, autistic, black, disability discrimination, intersectionality, Just Being Me...Who Needs 'Normalcy" Anyway? (my blog) / By

They say that if something happens frequently enough, perhaps instead of looking around for the source of the problem, you should consider looking inward. Maybe I’m just really obtuse…because in all honesty, the idea that I am truly the problem in some the majority of situations just doesn’t make sense to me. I’m being 100% …

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Flowers on grave. Source unknown.

RIP: Many Black & Brown autistic people who have died in recent years from murder, drowning, accidents, or other non-natural causes

African American, autism, intersectionality, Just Being Me...Who Needs 'Normalcy" Anyway? (my blog), just me, Morénike / By

Jacob David Jaycee Eubanks Isiah Desmond Kirk Mercedes Losoya Deonn Carter  Jzya Thompson RonNiveya O’neal  Stavian Driver Marcus McGhee Aaron Carter Gavin Douyon  Nicole Amari Hall Elijah McCain  Stephon Wotts  Melissa Stoddard  Kendrick Lee  Izzy Techenor Kyrin Carter  Kobe Heisler Avonte Oquendo  Reece Watts  Jeremiah Degrate Rios Omarion Humphrey  Maleah Davis  Keydall Jones  Rashaad Germany …

RIP: Many Black & Brown autistic people who have died in recent years from murder, drowning, accidents, or other non-natural causes Read More »

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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Image contains white text with black borders stating "Black Autistic Lives Matter" in all caps on a white background. Photo credit: Jen White Johnson

When It Comes To Autism, Black Lives Matter

#actuallyautistic, #autismawareness, autism, autistic, intersectionality, Just Being Me...Who Needs 'Normalcy" Anyway? (my blog), Morénike, neurodiversity, parenting while black, race, representation, stigma, tokenism, writing / By

A group of renowned advocates and Black and/or PoC led autism organizations have united to express disappointment about a Today Parents article entitled Why there’s a war between parents of children with autism and autistic adults which was initially published (on August 13, 2021) with no identifiable people of color featured or quoted.  Though several …

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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 …

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 Read More »

“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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An Open Letter in Response to Mad in America’s “Neurodiversity is Dead. Now What?” article

6 Comments / #actuallyautistic, #autismacceptance, ableism, autism, bias, functioning labels, Mad in America, Morénike, neurodiversity, open letter, presume competence, race, twilah hiari / By

Today I had the displeasure of reading an article in Mad in America entitled, “Neurodiversity Is Dead. Now What?” Written by a Black woman whose diagnoses range from autism to PMDD, the article makes an attempt to point out what its author views as inconsistencies in the neurodiversity movement. There are six primary points made …

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jet cloud landing aircraft

Disrespect & Ableism from a Southwest Airlines Representative: My Story

4 Comments / ableism, autism, autistic, disability, discrimination, Southwest Airlines / By

It has taken me a week to be able to write out my thoughts about my horrific recent experience with Southwest Airlines. Though I did encounter some very helpful and very compassionate Southwest Airlines staff that day, I am hurt, disappointed, and disgusted by the unprofessional and ableist way that I was treated by Southwest …

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