#AutisticsVote Federal Election 2019 Toolkit

Our #AutisticsVote Federal Election 2019 Toolkit is now up! Check it out here, along with our Talking to MPs guide.

Sections:

• Introduction to the federal election
• Possible questions to ask your candidates
• How to find out more about policy issues and candidates
• How to get more involved
• How to vote
• Glossary
  

Elections Canada is the official source of information about voting at the 2019 federal election. Visit their website (English version / version française), check out their Voter’s Guide, and find updates on Twitter (English version / version française).

From our guide, possible questions you can ask your candidates: 

Consultation - Nothing about us without us! 

• Will your party commit to meaningfully consulting with autistic people of diverse backgrounds whenever creating national autism and disability policy?

 
Health care and well-being 

• Will your party implement a universal, single-payer public pharmacare system?
• Will your party commit to creating a national mental health strategy to address gaps in the current system in consultation with people with disabilities and mental illnesses?
• Will your party change the Medical Assistance in Dying law to comply fully with the safeguards and requirements of the Vulnerable Persons Standard?
• Will your party commit to implementing the full meaning and scope of Jordan’s Principle to ensure First Nations children equitable access to government services?"

 
Violence towards autistic people 

• Will your party commit to working with provincial governments to prohibit seclusion and restraint in schools, strengthen reporting and accountability requirements, and provide conflict and de-escalation training for school staff?
• Will your party resolve to take stronger measures against deadly non-evidenced “treatments” for autism such as Miracle Mineral Solution and chelation?
• Will your party commit to reducing police brutality towards autistic people by funding first responder training led by autistic people?
  

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Stigma & “awareness” vs. acceptance

• Will your party resolve to end stigma towards autism, combat harmful awareness campaigns that further stigmatize autistic people, and work with autistic people to instead promote autism acceptance?

Equitable and affordable housing 

• Will your party fund affordable and accessible housing for people of all disabilities?
• Will your party adopt legislation to protect the right to independent supported living?
• Will your party commit to desegregated housing by closing institutions and re-routing funding towards independent supported living?

 
Employment and poverty

• Will your party work with autistic people to adopt more equitable hiring practices?
• Will your party create a national strategy create opportunities for competitive integrated employment?
• Will your party make changes to the benefits system so that disabled people are not forced to live in a cycle of poverty?"
• Will you reform the Disability Tax Credit: addressing high rejection rates, making it refundable, and protecting recipients from clawbacks?

 
Communication access

• Will your party create a national education program to train health care professionals on how to communicate with autistic patients, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users? 
• Will your party commit to providing plain language versions of legislation, policies, and services that impact people with disabilities?

Research 

• Will your party invest in participatory autism research that requires autistic co-design, consultation and input?
• Will your party invest in research on supports rather than cures, such as AAC supports, integrated employment supports, supports in educational settings, and autistic burnout and mental health?

Beyond the Accessible Canada Act

• Will your party commit to creating a national disability strategy with consultation of diverse disabled people, including autistic people?