Who is this Morénike person, anyway? (5 links)
- About Me (informal) – Morénike Giwa Onaiwu
- BBC World Service preview (video, ~60 seconds): Morénike Giwa Onaiwu
- US Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Member Bio: Morénike Giwa Onaiwu
- Meet Morénike | preview (video, ~5 minutes) from Project MISTAG
- MGO Read aloud (video, ~12 minutes) of children’s book “My Brother Charlie”
Can you provide additional info about relevant issues that are important? (7 links)
Various neurodiversity links (dispelling falsehoods; research & treatment perspectives):
- A Guide to Neurodiversity
- Neurodiversity: An Insider’s Perspective, 2019 – SAGE Journals
- Clearing Up Misconceptions About Neurodiversity, 2019 – Scientific American
- Autistic Adults, Self-Advocacy, and the Neurodiversity Movement: Implications for Autism Early Intervention Research and Practice, 2021 | Frontiers in Psychology Journal
- Free open source book about the history of autism rights and neurodiversity advocacy: Autistic Community & the Neurodiversity Movement, 2020 | Palgrave McMillan
- Neurodiversity and Autism Intervention: Reconciling Perspectives Through a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention Framework, 2021 | SpringerLink
- A neurodiversity advocate’s concerns about disunion and infighting within the community: State of Dis-Union in Neurodiversity: Why It Should Matter to Everyone
How could someone find/follow you/your work? (5 links)
Lots of places! Here are a few:
- Morénike’s website: Advocate, Speaker, Writer, Educator, Researcher, Mom
- Morénike Giwa Onaiwu | LinkedIn
- @MorenikeGO / Twitter
- Morénike Giwa Onaiwu – YouTube
- Make a donation to support my work helping the community!
What neurodiversity resources might help a parent of a newly diagnosed child? (7 links)
- Autism Moon (by Jules Edwards to support parents of children newly diagnosed with autism)
- Start Here Parent Guide (printable, user-friendly 2021 parent booklet)
- Don’t Mourn For Us (insightful 1993 article from autistic elder Jim Sinclair)
- Welcome To Holland (classic 1987 poem for parents raising children with disabilities)
- Parent Centers (for parents/caregivers of individuals 0-26 years with disabilities)
- Diary of a Mom (blog by a non-autistic mother of an autistic child [now teen!])
What resources might be helpful in general (for everyone, not just new parents)?
Autism and/or cross-disability links (12 links):
- Sincerely, Your Autistic Child, 2021 from Beacon Press (Morénike is a co-editor of this book. If finances are a barrier, consider checking it out for free from the library!)
- Autism Society (information for parents, individuals on the spectrum, providers, etc.)
- The Arc’s Initiatives (programs for individuals with IDD and their families)
- Understanding Autism, Aggression and Self-Injury: Medical Approaches and Best Support Practices, 2016 (Consider giving a copy to medical providers, teachers, etc. if helpful)
- National Council on Disability – Resources (list of various disability related resources)
- National Assistive Technology Act Assistance & Training Center (technology support)
- The World Doesn’t Bend for Disabled Kids (2018 article on the need for inclusion)
- The Color of Autism (capacity building and information for Black families)
- Open Doors for Multicultural Families (information for diverse IDD families, including non-native English speakers)
- Center for Parent Information & Resources (training and resources for family/parent centers)
- Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance (technology info/resources)
- Various Resource Lists – from Morénike GO (multiple links about different yet related topics)
Why the puzzle piece is a controversial autism symbol (4 links):
- Why the Autism Puzzle Piece is a Problem, 2021 | The Mighty
- 1963 Origins of the Autism Puzzle Piece Symbol, National Autistic Society archives
- Study: Puzzle Pieces, Autism Puzzle Logos Evoke Negative Associations, 2018 | Autism
- Editorial from peer-reviewed international journal Autism announcing why they have dropped the puzzle piece: A New Era for Autism Research, and for Our Journal, 2018
Various links related to neurodiversity and nonspeaking autistic individuals (13 links):
- LISTEN, 2021 short film (~5-6 minute video), made by nonspeaking youth & adults
- Gregory Tino’s Blog: The Autistic Mind [Finally] Speaks (ongoing)
- Niko Boskovic’s Blog for the Oregon Developmental Disabilities Council (ongoing)
- Directory of NonSpeaker Pages, Blogs, & Media, updated 2022
- How Ableism Affects My Life as a Non-Speaking Autistic, 2021 (Ben McGann)
- Article: Rise of the nonspeaking autistic advocates in Africa, 2021
- What do non-speaking autistic people have to say? (~40 minute video of 2021 panel)
- 2020 Research article about the positive emotional connection mothers and nonspeaking autistic children have developed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7688148/
- Artwork & blog by nonspeaking teen Rhema Russell (earlier blog writing by mom)
- I Have Nonverbal Autism. Here’s What I Want You to Know, 2018 (Philip Reyes)
- Autistic, Non-Speaking, and “Intelligence”/Intellectual Disability, 2017 • (Amy Sequenzia)
- 2015 article from part-time AAC user: AAC does not replace nonverbal communication
Can you speak/consult/write for me free of charge?
This response actually pains me a bit to respond to. However, as of 2022, the answer is generally going to be “No.” I explain why in a recent article.
Can I purchase one of your books?
Heck to the YESSSS! Thank you for your support. Check out the links to My Books for info, including links to purchase if desired.
Can I (or my group/organization/company) make a monetary and/or in-kind donation to support your work?
Please do, and THANK YOU so much for your generosity! Here’s the donations page: https://morenikego.com/donate