An Open Letter To My Son's School

For privacy reasons, I am not publishing the name of my son's school. However, this is a copy of the letter I sent to his school in response to their "Light It Up Blue" celebration.

The "Light It Up Blue" campaign was started by Autism Speaks - an organization that I unfortunately cannot support as an Autistic adult and self-advocate, as well as mother to an Autistic child. Autism Speaks says they are spreading "awareness" but uses fear-mongering and likens autism to a deadly illness that is "stealing children" and requiring a cure. They consider autism to be a disease and a "public health concern." (Ref: http://www.autismspeaks.ca/events/light-it-up-blue-and-world-autism-awareness-day/)

They do not listen to the voices of autistic people and do not have one autistic representative on their board or openly in their organization. 

As such, I cannot support their work and I cannot sit back quietly while they continue their reign of fear.

I will continue to fight for acceptance - acceptance for all people, regardless of ability, sex, creed or colour. I will continue to fight for acceptance of neurodiversity and the understanding that different is not wrong or less. In fact, if your autism celebrations are done with the intent to promote pride and acceptance of autism, I can only support that. But if they are based on the need for a "cure" for the "devastating curse of autism," as promoted by Autism Speaks, then I am distinctly against it.

I am writing because I want you to be aware of where this campaign stems from and how it can hurt autistic people. After all, we are not disappearing. Autistic children grow into autistic adults.

Because my son is too young to be involved in such politics, I will send him to school in blue so he can look like his friends and enjoy his day, but understand this puts me in an awkward position and is not an ideal situation.

SCHOOL has done an amazing job supporting my son in the short time he has attended. Please do not let the loudest voices, and in this case, the one with the most money, sway you down the wrong path. There are many great associations where autistics are coming together to speak, and hopefully one day we will be truly heard.

Thank you for your consideration.

#WondrousWednesdays - Hop 'n' Snack

A whole lot of things coming together at once (the success of the Night of the Living Stim chat, Autism Speaks becoming more ridiculous, and a few of us still having a sense of humor remaining) meant we created a different sort of protest for those of us who can't make it to Washington.

We've named it Hop 'n' Snack - poking fun at some of what Autism Speaks has decided makes living with an Autistic person an absolute nightmare - we raid the fridge and jump on furniture. Totally. And we even take off our clothes. Those silly Autistics, always getting into trouble!

So if you'd like to join us in the horror of horrors, go to the official Hop 'n' Snack page, make a video and post away.

Even if Autism Speaks doesn't listen to us, this is way more fun than just shaking a middle finger at them. 

We Are All Habiba - Nurse-In Peaceful Protest

The great news is that Habiba has been reunited with her daughter, now 16 months, after over a month of separation!

There will still be a nurse-in here in Montreal tomorrow. Here are the details because we can't allow these horrible things to keep happening:

Last month a Moroccan mother who sought refuge in Spain from an abusive relationship had her 15 month old child taken away from her because she refused to stop breastfeeding her. After much outcry, Spanish authorities finally reunited mother and child yesterday. All over the world, people have been peacefully protesting and the Montreal protest/lullaby singing will still go on as planned tomorrow:

Facebook Event

If it rains, Boutique Bummis will be hosting us inside their store.