We were recently asked to contribute to the United Nations Association in Canada Toronto Region Branch World Autism Day report. While we observe Autistic Pride Day in June (not World Autism Day), we hope that World Autism Day can be an opportunity for the conversation about autistic rights and neurodiversity to advance. Following is our statement in response to their questions.
About Us: Advocacy, funding, goals
Autistics for Autistics provides support and advocacy for autistic people in Canada through activities and online social groups for autistic adults, as well as education in the broader community about autism and inclusion, and advocacy for better policies for autistics of all ages (on the city, provincial and national level).
Our organization does not rely on autism agencies, social workers or any bureaucratic structures. We are funded only by individuals’ donations. Our services are all administered by autistic Canadians from our leadership team.
We advocate for humane autism services for children–e.g., neuro-affirming speech & occupational therapy and accessibility/inclusion in classrooms and all aspects of social life. We are opposed to ABA and behaviourism in any form, for any age.
We provide education to hospitals, medical schools and employers on making their spaces accessible for autistic people (for example, through the Autistic Health Access Project).
We advocate against abusive group homes/congregate settings and sheltered workshops and we work for policy changes to open up supportive independent living for intellectually disabled adults, where they have choices in housing and recreational activities as well as fair wages for employment.
We also advocate for public funding so that autistic people can work part time or full time and have appropriate workplace accommodations, so that they can be economically independent and retain employment.
The Change We Need, for Autistics of All Ages
Structural barriers exist for all autistic Canadians, and it is wrong to state that autistic children “get more services than adults,” when in reality the majority of “services” for autistic children in Canada are based on behaviourist special education/therapy practices that are extremely traumatic and harmful.
The City and all of Canada need to immediately BAN SECLUSION ROOMS and install cameras in all special education settings to document and end the human rights abuses that are endemic in many special education classrooms. We need education programs, such as those led by the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, to give special education professionals the skills they need to manage their classrooms in a trauma-informed, peaceful way.
We also need Communication Access for all non-speaking or partially-speaking people—children and adults. There should be no delay, and no limits on access to Alternative and Augmentative tools, such as AAC devices, so that children and adults can communicate their needs, thoughts and feelings. Communication is a human right.
In Toronto, autistic adults need work opportunities that accommodate our disability (for example, health benefits for people who can only work part time, and sensory options in the office such as quiet space for work). We also need more education for employers on hiring and retaining autistic employees.
Finally, we need to end the infantilization of autistic people by many autism services professionals and replace it with an attitude of true support and confidence that we can do things like work, live independently, have families and be leaders.
Diagnosis–and Disability Rights
Diagnostic barriers are threefold. First, many people have to wait a long time to get a publicly-funded assessment, because our health care system is underfunded. Second, a private assessment (available more quickly) is cost-prohibitive for the majority of autistic people. Third, while some autism assessors promise that an assessment will lead to an easier life/services/disability accommodations, we actually do not have the right to any of these in Canadian law.
Stigma at school, work and in health care is a daily reality for autistic people, and a diagnosis does not fix that. The only way to fix that is to fix policy by finally ensuring that autistic people included in disability rights legislation in Canada. We are advocating for this!
Autistics for Autistics follows a disability rights model based on the principles of the disability rights movement, including: “Nothing about us without us”. Through the disability rights movement, people with physical disabilities achieved a major shift in society with the concept of adaptations and accessibility legislation, legally guaranteeing them the right to access public spaces, education and employment and make their own decisions about their support. In Canada, autistic people are not included in disability rights legislation—and we should be.
Parents and families are our allies in working towards inclusion, access, opportunities and the freedom to make our own choices, with supports, whether we are intellectually disabled, non-speaking or have any other disability.
How to Support Autistic People in Canada
There are many ways to support autistic people in Canada.
- Friends, family and supporters can connect with groups like Autistics for Autistics, LiveWorkPlay, Community Living Ontario or the Alliance Against Seclusion & Restraint (Canadian chapter) and volunteer.
- Those with children in public schools can join the Parent Council at their school, outreach to families of autistic and intellectually disabled students and work with the school and teachers to make it more inclusive.
- If you own a workplace or are involved in hiring, find out from autistic advocates how you can recruit and retain autistic employees.
- If you are in the health care sector, you can take A4A’s free 90-minutes intro course on making your clinic more accessible to autistic patients and/or non-speaking patients who use assistive communication devices.
Upcoming Event: Disability Day of Mourning Online Vigil
Our next event is the annual Disability Day of Mourning on March 2, an online event that’s part of an international series of vigils against filicide, organized by the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. We gather to remember disabled children and adults who were murdered by their parents/relatives. We remember that these victims were made in the image of God, their lives had meaning and they deserved to have lives filled with joy and kindness, not be treated as burdens and murdered.
Hope for the Future
We have a lot of hope for the future, because many more families are getting involved in advocacy around the human rights issues affecting autistic people. Historically, when we look at the great strides made by people with other disabilities and their families, we can see a model for change—the social model of disability—that can challenge the discrimination and stigmatization autistic people face today.
Autistic people are unique, and have unique communication and disability access needs, but we have more in common with non-autistics than we have differences. Autistic people are not otherworldly, or other at all. We’re part of the human family. By working together to end stereotypes about autistic people, to stop abuse in special education and group homes, and to ensure access to employment, health care and cultural spaces, we are shifting the landscape, so that autistic people can be valued and welcomed throughout the community.
We will continue to educate and advocate for our rights until we reach that goal.
The past year has been exciting, as we returned to in-person events and continue to grow, with new projects and connections across Canada!
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