diversity

Royalty-free image is an analog clock with the phrase “Time for Accountability,” on it instead of numbers to designate the time of day.

Accountability, bridge-building, & seeking a “middle” path

1 Comment / activism, advocacy, balance, civil rights, community, demonstrative faith, diversity, ethics, faith, inclusion, integrity, intersectionality, Just Being Me...Who Needs 'Normalcy" Anyway? (my blog), just me, justice, life, Morénike, open letter, respect, self-awareness, social justice, survival, tolerance, writing / By

It’s been a long day and my spoons are nearly depleted, but I want to write this, even if I do a poor job of conveying my intended message due to fatigue, because I fear if I postpone it there’s a possibility that I might not get back to it. So I’m asking for your …

Accountability, bridge-building, & seeking a “middle” path Read More »

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 …

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

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 …

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

selective focus of a boxer s fist

Will you fight with me?

activism, advocacy, allies, anti-racism, community, disability, disability right, diversity, equality, human rights, inclusion, justice, self-advocacy, social justice, solidarity / By

(As an FYI, identical version is cross-posted on my advocacy blog [Advocacy Without Borders]; thanks!) In a LOT of ways I am a “minority.” A LOT. But in other ways, I also have a lot of privilege. I live in a resource-rich Western nation. I speak English. I have US citizenship. I am educated. I …

Will you fight with me? Read More »

Regarding Gotcha Day as a term: when white ain’t necessarily right

4 Comments / acceptance, adoption, adoption day, cultural sensitivity, diversity, family day, Gotcha Day, international adoption, intersectionality, minority adoption, POC, transracial adoption / By

Just like she began planning for her January birthday way back in October, my almost 13 year old daughter has already started planning excitedly for another special day in her life and our family. In early March, we will celebrate the 8th year anniversary of the day we were blessed to have her become a …

Regarding Gotcha Day as a term: when white ain’t necessarily right Read More »