I remember being in a meeting of autisic people with @slooterman and asking “Does anyone else have an irrational fear of being killed by the police?”

Every hand shot up. “It’s not irrational,” someone said.

Then a voice said “try having that fear, but as a black autistic man.” https://twitter.com/pivotdiversity/status/1266902998514458624

I’ve been stopped by the police several times in the past when I’ve experienced non-speaking periods & motor skill breakdown. One time, I went to find an AAC app only to find the officer pulling his gun.

The only thing that saved me was a privilege of being white. That must end.

I also know an autism researcher mapping disparities imposed upon rural, autistic black populations. She told me of how the parents she interviewed didn’t want their adult sons to work.

“Here, you need a car to work. I can’t have my autistic son driving & stopped by the police.”

Here’s the thing: If we are to argue for a world which accepts neurodivergent people as equal, we must model the equality we seek by practicing it ourselves. That equality must exist in every neurodivergent effort and organization FROM THE VERY START.

We can’t demand that autism organizations include us autistic people as their group leaders, board members, staff members, or panel speakers if our own groups, boards, staffs, and panels are all-male or all-white.

WE HAVE THE CHANCE to do things right. Let us do that. We must.

And forever thanks to @jtknoxroxs for all that she does. That includes designing this amazing graphic.