For this year's Autistic Acceptance Month, Autistics United Fort McMurray chapter organizer Christopher Whelan has written a series of short essays on autistic rights. We have selected a few of our favourites to share! [Image description: A white fidget spinner balanced on a finger] Free to Stim The quality of life for an autistic is directly tied to our ability to self-stimulate, or “stim”. Stimming is the personal pursuit of sensory stimulation. It can be flapping our hands, dancing, twisting our necks, clapping, knocking, rocking, singing, chewing, saying our favourite words, making noise, or anything else that stimulates the body. Stimming can be done alone or with a group. Sometimes we stim with objects, like blowing bubbles or watching a lava lamp. We stim for happiness, for fun, for creative expression, for communication, for learning, for anxiety, and to feel safe. Stimming needs no reason, and has no underlying behaviour except the pursuit of a better quality of life. Sometimes we stim when we are happy. A “happy dance”, “happy hands”, “happy feet” etc. often accompanies when an autistic person feels seen, when we see or hear something that makes us happy, and when our friends and loved ones are nearby. Sometimes we stim to learn about the world. When we are told something, the knowledge comes to us as a cold product; it has no context or environment. We cannot experiment with it, see what happens when different force is applied, see what happens when it is placed in a different environment, or understand the important details. When we have something in our hands, we can run our own experiments on it and learn what we want to know. This is a form of stimming. Sometimes we stim when we feel that we are in danger. Autistic people perceive danger in different ways than typical people, because we perceive the world through different senses. We are sensitive to sensations that other people are not, and de-sensitized to some things that most people are sensitive to. And each autistic perceives these senses differently than another. A fireworks show which may make some autistics panic from the bright lights and loud bangs might stimulate and entice another autistic person. A whistle being blown by a prefect during recess may make us feel that we are in danger, or energize us. Each person has a different sensory profile. Many of these sensations are not within our control. We can’t turn the fluorescent lights off in the grocery stores or the mall. We can’t stop people from beeping their car horns. We can only change what we do to keep ourselves safe. The first thing that we should do when an unsafe sensory stimulation occurs is to remove ourselves from the situation if at all possible; to stop eating the food with the Bad Texture, to run from the unsafe thing and return to a place where we feel safe. If we have to stay in the unsafe environment, then we can use personal aids such as sunglasses to reduce the light coming into our eyes, ear defenders to protect us from harsh sounds, and wear our favourite gloves, clothes, and jackets to protect us from unsafe physical touch sensations. Stimming is something else that we can do to return ourselves to a feeling of safety. If we can stim, we are safe. Every autistic can recall a time where we stimmed and were shamed for it by schoolmates, teachers, friends or family. This bullying has impacted the self-esteem of autistics, and lead to us feeling ashamed for being autistic. Having our stims shamed leads to us choosing not to stim; we forgo this healthy, self-regulating behaviour that helps us survive in a world full of unsafe feelings. We must be free to stim at all times and in all places. Stimming must not be a reward for good behaviour, it must not be against the rules, and it must not be punished or shamed. It must be allowed and provided to us anywhere we go. Other select essays:
--- Christopher Whelan is an autistic social worker living and working in his home community of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Christopher is a founder of Neurodiversity YMM and Autistics United Fort McMurray – Cree, Dene, Dane-zaa, & Métis Territory. After months of consultation with autistic self-advocates, Christopher published The 95 Theses of Neurodiversity in April 2020. You can read more of his work on his blog, AutisticRights.net.
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Our Great Big List of COVID-19 Resources for Autistic People - Part 2 (General COVID-19 Information)4/7/2020 Autistics United Canada and Autistics for Autistics Ontario have put together a list of COVID-19 resources for autistic people, which we will continue to update! Disclaimer: We have compiled this list based on the utility of the resources, and do not necessarily endorse any particular group or organization we have shared from. Similarly, any group or organization sharing our own resource list does not mean we endorse or have collaborated with them. Download our full resource list (version 3): Part 1 is resources specifically for autistic people. It includes:
Please note that since our groups are based in “Canada” on Turtle Island, we are using resources from governments within Canada. Some information, such as physical distancing / shelter-in-place guidelines, may be different in regions outside of Canada. Click here for PART 1: Resources for Autistic People PART 2: General COVID-19 Information (For government financial assistance info, please scroll to the end) COVID-19 Resources in Plain Language ● COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities (Green Mountain Self-Advocates) ● Easy-to-read information about COVID-19 in many languages (Inclusion Europe) ● We Are All Heroes, plain language COVID-19 information by autistic people (A4A Ontario) ● Why is everything so weird (Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library) ● What is COVID-19? A Resource for People with Aphasia (Tactus Therapy) ● Plain language COVID-19 information in Spanish (ARASAAC) Public Health Canada Resources ● Government of Canada's symptom self-assessment tool and resources app (iOS & Android) (version française) ● Up-to-date COVID-19 information and notifications from the Public Health Agency of Canada (version française) ● More up-to-date information from Public Health Canada (version française) ● Frequently Asked Questions (version française) If you cannot find the information you need on the website, there is a federal hotline & email. ● 1-833-784-4397 (interpretation services are available in multiple languages) ● Email: phac.info.aspc@canada.ca ● Please note that some people have received fraudulent / fake phone calls that seem to be from this phone number. Do not give out personal information if you did not start the call. See the Government of Canada website for details. Provincial/Territorial Resources List of Provincial & Territorial COVID-19 Resources ● This is a list of official information from provincial and territorial governments and health agencies ● The list includes phone hotlines for medical questions (e.g. if you are concerned you may have COVID-19) ● Visit your province’s information page to find out if they have other communication methods available for medical questions (e.g. TTY) Additional Provincial/Territorial Resources ● BC COVID-19 Provincial Support ● HealthLink BC ● Alberta Health Services ● Public Health Ontario ● Info on COVID-19 health and financial supports for Canadians in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog (C19 Response Coalition, British Columbia) Some provinces have hotlines for non-medical questions about COVID-19 (e.g. if you have questions about emergency measures and relief funds): 1) British Columbia ● Information is available in more than 110 languages, 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. ● Phone: 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) ● Text message: 604-630-0300 2) Saskatchewan ● Phone: 1-855-559-5502 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. ● Email: COVID19@health.gov.sk.ca 3) PEI ● List of phone numbers and emails 4) Newfoundland & Labrador ● List of phone numbers and emails 5) Northwest Territories ● List of phone numbers and emails Call 2-1-1 or visit your province’s 211 website to connect with other community and social services in your area Resources in Languages Other than English 1) American Sign Language (ASL) ● Myths & facts about COVID-19 (Gallaudet University) 2) Amharic ● ናይ ኮቪድ-19 ሓበሬታ ብቋንቋኹም (Alberta Health Services) 3) Arabic ● فیروس كورونا (كوفید-19 (HealthLink BC) ● COVID-19 فيروس كورونا المستجد (Government of Ontario) ● حياة عيلتنا: تعليمات الوقاية من الكورونا (Our Family Life حياة عيلتنا) - Levantine dialect (subtitles in English, Arabic, and Turkish) 4) Bengali ● 2019 ন োভেল কভরো োেোইরোস কক (Government of Ontario) 5) Chinese ● Info on COVID-19 health and financial supports for Canadians in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog (C19 Response Coalition, British Columbia) ● Simplified Chinese o 新型冠状病毒常见问题-中文 (BC Centre for Disease Control) o Simplified Chinese Fact Sheets (Ontario Public Health) o 2019 年新型冠状病毒 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) ● Traditional Chinese o 新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)(HealthLink BC) o 新型冠狀病毒常見問題-中文 (BC Centre for Disease Control) o 2019 年新型冠狀病毒 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) ● Cantonese o COVID-19 Cantonese (BC Centre for Disease Control) - Video o 「不得了啦 !」為什麼要洗手+20秒洗手歌 (麥兜Mcdull) - Video ● Mandarin o COVID-19 Mandarin (BC Centre for Disease Control) - Video 6) Eastern Ojibwe ● 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 7) Farsi ● COVID-19 سوالات متداول درباره ویروس کرونای جدید (BC Centre for Disease Control) ● ویروس کرونا (کووید-19 (HealthLink BC) ● (COVID-19) 19 ویروس کرونای جدید (Government of Ontario) 8) French ● Guide autosoins - COVID-19 (Government of Quebec) ● Foire aux questions sur le nouveau coronavirus COVID-19 (BC Centre for Disease Control) ● Coronavirus (COVID-19) (HealthLink BC) ● Nouveau coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 9) German ● Self-Isolation Fact Sheet (Government of Manitoba) ● Neuartiger Coronavirus 2019 (Government of Ontario) 10) Greek ● Νέος κοροναϊός 2019 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 11) Gujarati ● 2019 નોવેલ કોરોનાવાયરસ (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 12) Hindi ● कोरोनावाइरस (COVID-19) (HealthLink BC) ● 2019 नॉवल कोरोनावाइरस (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 13) International Sign ● COVID-19 information in International Sign language (World Federation of the Deaf) 14) Inuktitut ● COVID Infographics (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) 15) Italian ● Italian Fact Sheets (Ontario Public Health) ● Nuovo coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 16) Japanese ● 新型コロナウイルス感染症 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 17) Korean ● 코로나바이러스(COVID-19) (HealthLink BC) ● Korean Fact Sheets (Ontario Public Health) ● 2019 년도 신종 코로나바이러스(COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) ● EI Explainer in Korean (One World Foundation Canada for Human Rights) 18) Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) ● Guide autosoins - COVID-19 (Government of Quebec) ● Contenu en LSQ (Government of Quebec) 19) Mohawk ● 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 20) Oji-Cree ● 2019 ᑭᒋᐊᑭᑯᑲᐊᐧᐱᓀᐃᐧᐣ (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 21) Polish ● Nowy koronawirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 22) Portuguese ● Novo coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 23) Punjabi ● 2019 ਨੋਵੇਲ ਕਰੋਨਾਵਾਇਰਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ ਪੁੱਛੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਸਵਾਲ (ਕੋਵਿਡ-19) (BC Centre for Disease Control) ● ਕੋਰੋਨਾਵਾਇਰਸ (COVID-19) (HealthLink BC) ● 2019 ਨਾਵਲ ਕੋਰੋਨਾਵਾਇਰਸ (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 24) Russian ● Новый коронавирус 2019 года (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 25) Romanian ● Noul coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 26) Somali ● 2019 coronavirus cusub (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) ● Xog ku saabsan COVID-19 (Alberta Health Services) 27) Spanish ● Plain language COVID-19 information in Spanish (ARASAAC) ● Coronavirus (COVID-19) (HealthLink BC) ● Spanish Fact Sheets (Ontario Public Health) ● Nuevo coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) ● Enfermedad crónica y cuidado mutuo (Chronic illness Leadership For Emergent Times 28) Swampy Cree ● 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 29) Tagalog ● Coronovirus Fact Sheet (Government of Manitoba) ● Self-Isolation Fact Sheet (Government of Manitoba) ● Tagalog Fact Sheets (Ontario Public Health) ● 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-1) (Government of Ontario) ● Info on COVID-19 health and financial supports for Canadians in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog (C19 Response Coalition, British Columbia) 30) Tamil ● 2019 புதிய கொரோனாவைரஸ் (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 31) Ukranian ● Новий тип коронавірусу 2019 (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 32) Urdu ● 2019 ناول کورونا وائرس (COVID-19) (Government of Ontario) 33) Vietnamese ● Vi-rút Corona (COVID-19) (HealthLink BC) ● NGĂN CHẶN SỰ LÂY LAN CỦA CORONAVIRUS (Government of Alberta) ● Thông Tin về COVID-19 (Alberta Health Services) ● Vi-rút corona mới 2019 (2019-nCoV) (Government of Ontario) ● Easy-to-read information about COVID-19 in many languages (Inclusion Europe) ● Info on COVID-19 health and financial supports for Canadians in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog (C19 Response Coalition, British Columbia) Doctor’s Appointments and Virtual Clinics ● Please contact your doctor’s office or local walk-in clinic by email or phone. ● Talk to a doctor online: o Babylon by TELUS Health iOS & Android app (free for British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario residents) o Access Virtual (free for BC residents) o Vivacare (free for BC residents) o WELL Health VirtualClinic+ (free for BC residents) o Appletree Virtual Care (free for Ontario residents) o List of Yukon doctors offering virtual appointments Health and Disability ● Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities (Government of Canada) o HTML version (English) o HTML version (Français) o PDF (Français) ● Disability and inclusion strategies during COVID-19 (Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism) o Highlights in this Twitter thread ● COVID-19 information and resources for people living with pain ● Disabled Creatives & Artists Relief Fund (Crip Camp Impact Campaign & Color of Change) Mental Health ● Wellness Together Canada (version française) National online portal to connect with free mental health supports
Things to Do When Staying Home / Sheltering in Place ● 87 Free or Cheap Ways To Stay Calm and Decompress (While Still Practicing Social Distancing!) ● Online Activities List (for youth and others!) ● Free Colouring Books from 113 Museums ● Museums Offering Virtual Tours ● Virtual Field Trips ● The Metropolitan Opera in New York is streaming operas for free ● Social Distancing Festival - showcasing artists impacted by COVID-19 ● Hundreds of varied free Ivy League MOOCs (Massively Open Online Courses) - Note that attendance certificates require a fee ● Libraries may also be offering free online courses, such as Vancouver Public Library ● Free Virtual Table Top Simulator ● Open Gaming Network ● Self-isolation tips and social opportunities (thread) Holding Online Meetings ● Resources for Online Meetings, Classes, and Events Mutual Aid Mutual aid is helping each other: delivering groceries, providing supplies, giving emotional support, and more. Many mutual aid groups were created across Canada during the pandemic. They are places where neighbours can ask for help and offer help. All help in mutual aid groups is free. ● COVID-19 Mutual Aid Groups (Facebook): Vancouver, Squamish Nation, Yukon, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Fredericton, Halifax, PEI There are many more! This is not an exhaustive list. ● Queer / LGBTQ+ Spoon Shares (Facebook): Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria, Calgary, Montreal ● Vancouver Coming Together Website & App (BC) ● Nelson Spoon Share (BC) ● Pod mapping for mutual aid ● How to create neighbourhood pods ● How to start a neighbourhood pod (Canada) o Presentation slides Harm Reduction for Drug Users ● Safer Drug Use During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Harm Reduction Coalition) Financial Aid in Canada ● COVID-19 Relief Funding from the Government of Canada under the Economic Response Plan ● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Benefits and Services (Employment and Social Development Canada) ● COVID-19 Benefits Explainer (Adrienne Smith Law) ● EI Factsheet (BC Government and Service Employees’ Union) ● EI Explainer in Korean (One World Foundation Canada for Human Rights) ● Available Emergency Funds during COVID-19 - List of crowdsourced survival funds for the people across Turtle Island / North America ● For provincial and territorial funding, please visit the website of your province/territory. ● Many town and city government websites have local information. We will continue to update this resource list. Please let us know by emailing us at info@autisticsunitedca.org if you have any resources to suggest, especially ones for neurodivergent & disabled people! Autistics United Canada and Autistics for Autistics Ontario have put together a list of COVID-19 resources for autistic people, which we will continue to update!
Disclaimer: We have compiled this list based on the utility of the resources, and do not necessarily endorse any particular group or organization we have shared from. Similarly, any group or organization sharing our own resource list does not mean we endorse or have collaborated with them. Download our full resource list (version 3): Part 1 is resources specifically for autistic people. It includes:
Please note that since our groups are based in “Canada” on Turtle Island, we are using resources from governments within Canada. Some information, such as physical distancing / shelter-in-place guidelines, may be different in regions outside of Canada. PART 1: Resources for Autistic People Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Resources Here are resources to help you understand what others are talking about and communicate your concerns to others using AAC. Because of physical distancing, AAC users may be left without family members or other support people in a hospital. Be prepared: know what to expect at a hospital and your communication rights ahead of time.
Coughdrop ● Patient-Provider Communication (English) ● Patient-Provider Communication (Bilingual - Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish) ● Another CoughDrop communication board for COVID-19 ● Printable communication board for COVID-19 (TechOWL)
● COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit (Communication First - English, Spanish, and Chinese) ● Using AAC in hospitals during the coronavirus ● Patient Easy-Read Symbol Sheets ● Phrase-based communication aid to talk to doctors (SpeakProse) ● Example communication page to handle invasive people (Mel Baggs) Autism COVID-19 Individual Health Action Plan● Please note that priority groups for testing will be different for each province/territory. Visit your province/territory’s COVID-19 info website or contact a local health care provider to find out if you can be tested. Coping with the Changes – Guides
● With pictures - PDF Coping with the Changes - Articles
Online Hangouts for Neurodivergent People!
● Find accessibility information and call-in details at our Facebook event Other Online Meetups! Other Things to Do When Staying Home / Sheltering in Place
For Parents & Caregivers
Financial Aid ● See Part 2 for Canada-specific financial aid. Click here for PART 2: General COVID-19 Information We will continue to update this resource list. Please let us know by emailing us at info@autisticsunitedca.org if you have any resources to suggest, especially ones for neurodivergent & disabled people! We are hoping you all are keeping safe, as much as possible during these difficult and challenging times. COVID-19 is creating interruptions to our daily lives and dangerous conditions for many of our community members. Neurodivergent people are facing even more barriers than usual to our financial, mental, and physical safety and well-being. However, as many Autistics can attest to, physical distance does not necessarily mean we can’t care for and support one another. We’re making space and connections for neurodivergent people, while advocating for protections of our collective rights and justice for those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Online hangouts
Mutual aid
Resources
Advocacy
2) Housing security 3) Access to health care 4) Access to food and necessities 5) Safety and freedom from abuse 6) Communication access
Content: filicide, murder, and abuse of disabled people On March 1st, 2020, disabled communities worldwide gathered to commemorate people with disabilities murdered by their caretakers. The International Disability Day of Mourning was observed in 34 cities. In Canada, Autistics United chapters held local vigils, as did other disability advocates and organizations. The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, which tracks these murders, reported over 600 deaths over the past five years. By bringing awareness to these tragedies, we say that murder is murder. We send the message to the world that disabled lives are worth living. We work towards a day where disabled people are not killed on the basis of their disability, but are instead valued as human beings. Thank you to those who held vigils and joined us in person or online. Together, we mourned for those in our community lost to ableist violence. Together, we remembered their names, their hopes, and their dreams. Together, we carry them forward. Halifax, NS [Image 1: a close-up photograph of a table covered with small LED candles] [Image 2: a concrete column with three pieces of paper taped to it. Two are visible and the third is viewed from behind due to the angle. The pages have a list of names and the heading “Mourn for the dead… and fight like hell for the living” at the top and “Remembering people with disabilities murdered by family members” at the bottom, along with the ASAN logo.] The Disability Day of Mourning ceremony in Nova Scotia was held at the Halifax Central Library, and included lighting of LED candles, readings of poetry and essays, and reading names of victims. Due to time constraints, only the names of victims in Canada were read aloud, but the full list of victims around the world was posted in the room. Most of the attendees were Autistis United Nova Scotia chapter members, but a representative from CTV was there to cover the event. Burnaby, BC [Image 1: A close-up photograph of Bill McArthur speaking into a microphone.] [Image 2: A photograph of Vivian Ly standing in front of a microphone, holding papers to reference. They are standing in front of a powerpoint slide reading “Disability Day of Mourning 2020”.] [Image 3: A photograph of Sam McCulligh standing in front of a microphone and holding papers to read from. The Disability Day of Mourning 2020 powerpoint slide is in the background.] [Image 4: A photograph of a handmade poster reading “You deserved better. You deserved life!”. The word “Life” is written in rainbow colours. There are two ribbons attached to the poster.] [Image 5: A set of three photos. The first shows a piece of printer paper with the title “Mourn for the dead… And fight like hell for the living” and the footer “Remembering people with disabilities murdered by family members”. The ASAN logo is at the bottom. The bulk of the paper contains a list of names, but they are not readable in the photograph. The second photo shows a handmade poster with the words “Communication badges and ear plugs”. In front of the poster is a pile of earplugs and a pile of coloured communication badges. Next to it is a piece of printer paper with the words “Sign In” and a sign-in sheet. The third photo shows a handmade poster with the words “I am not a burden”.] [Image 6: A close-up photograph of a pile of artificial daisy flowers on a table.] Autistics United Vancouver’s Disability Day of Mourning vigil was held at the Burnaby Neighbourhood House Community Hall. There were around two dozen people attending, along with a few more via livestream. Chapter members, along with Woodlands institution survivor and disability advocate Bill McArthur, gave speeches. Organizers read aloud statements commemorating the life of each victim in Canada, and invited attendees to join in reading the list. After a moment of silence, several community members came up to make personal remarks. Posters honoring the names of victims all over the world were put up around the venue. Special consideration was given to Florence Girard, a relatively recent victim in BC. She was a former competitive swimmer with Down syndrome found starved to death in her caretaker’s home. There was a volunteer emotional support system in place, and drivers to help attendees to make it in person. The vigil was captioned and streamed live on YouTube. CTV, The Province, The Sun, and Global came by to cover the vigil. Fort McMurray, AB [Image: a photograph of a table with a standing three-paneled poster behind it. The table contains various handouts with neurodiversity-related material, and the poster has pictures of people accompanied by text.]
[Image: a photograph of a table with a standing three-paneled poster behind it. The table contains LED lights and various handouts with neurodiversity-related material, and the poster has pictures of people accompanied by text. A person is standing in front of the poster, looking at the camera] The Alberta Disability Day of Mourning vigil took the form of a poster display with images and information about each of the disabled people killed since the 2019 Disability Day of Mourning. It was set up by Fort McMurray chapter organizer Christopher Whelan at the Suncor Community Leisure Center, who was present at the table to engage with and educate passers-by. The display was up for four hours and received a positive reaction from the community, with around 50 people stopping by to see it. Each entry on the poster contained an individual’s name, age, location, cause of death, and details about their disability and personality, if available. Winnipeg, MN Autistics United Manitoba held their local vigil at the University of Winnipeg, in the Hive. There was a reading of the list of victims and a moment of silence. Disability Day of Mourning in Canada and around the world For a full list of vigils in Canada and around the world this year, visit our previous blog post and the ASAN website. ASAN has the list of cases they have tracked at disability-memorial.org. Media Coverage
--- Transcript of the Global news coverage: Vivian Ly (at podium, reading from papers): “She was silly. She loved to laugh. She was also an accomplished swimmer.” Voiceover: On this International Disability Day of Mourning, people in this Burnaby community hall are remembering 54-year-old Florence Girard. She lived with Down Syndrome and died in October 2018 from starvation. She weighed just 56 pounds. Vivian Ly: We are connecting these incidents, these single cases, as not just isolated but as part of a larger system of ableism, of oppression, of the idea that a disabled life is not worth living. And this ties, of course, into the institutions. Voiceover: Those institutions included Woodlands in New Westminster. Bill McArthur was in and out of Woodlands starting at age five. He was part of a legal compensation battle for hundreds of survivors who endured horrific physical and sexual abuse. Bill McArthur: I saw kids coming out of those showers, their skin hanging off them in strips, with blisters, because they’d been scalded alive. This was what Woodlands was like. Voiceover: As for Florence Girard, her Port Coquitlam caregiver and the society that contracted her have both been charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life. Those charges have yet to be proven in court. Vivian Ly: We want to remember, with this event…. We want to remember them as people, people like us. Voiceover: Both the caregiver and the non-profit organization who oversaw the shared living program will be making a court appearance on March 9. Grace Ke, Global News. [Image Description: single lit candle against a dark background. Text reads: "Disability Day of Mourning, Remembering people with disabilities murdered by caregivers"] March 1st, 2020 is the eighth annual International Disability Day of Mourning.
Disability Day of Mourning is observed around the world to commemorate people with disabilities murdered by their caretakers. We honour and celebrate the lives of the victims, who have been taken away unjustly and much too soon. Often, media coverage underplays deaths of disabled people and sympathizes with the murderers, calling the deaths "mercy killings". The victims are reduced to their disabilities and portrayed as burdens. The ableism and systemic conditions that lead to the murders, and the subsequent conversations surrounding them, show a horrific lack of value for disabled people's lives. On Disability Day of Mourning, the disabled community will be gathering to commemorate victims murdered individually, and from systemic violence and institutionalization. We honour their lives, their hopes, their dreams. We remember them for who they were, not as burdens, but as people. Their voices may have been silenced, but we carry them forward. We will continue to tell the world that disabled lives are worth living. This year, vigils will be held across what is colonially known as Canada. Locations are listed below. Most vigils take place on March 1st, 2020. Halifax, Nova Scotia Time: 1:00-4:00 PM Location: Halifax Central Library, BMO Community Room, 2nd floor Address: 5440 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS Contact: Autistics United Nova Scotia, novascotiaautistics@gmail.com More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1295112354025671/ Taking place on the traditional territories of the Wabanaki Confederacy and Mi'kmaq First Nations. Toronto, Ontario Time: 3:00-5:00 PM Location: Ryerson University, SHE Building (Room 560) Address: 99 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, ON Contact: Autistics for Autistics Ontario, rayashields@hotmail.com More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/472118103677022/ Taking place on Dish With One Spoon Territory, the traditional land between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee peoples. Guelph, Ontario Details TBD Contact: Kinnery Chaparrel, kinnery@live.ca Ottawa, Ontario Time: 12:00-1:00 PM Location: University of Ottawa, Student Lounge Address: 85 University Private, Ottawa, ON Contact: Morgan Wall, cei-csd.coord@uosu-seuo.com More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/203304244359128/ Taking place on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation. Winnipeg, Manitoba Time: 2:00-4:00 PM Location: University of Winnipeg, The Hive Address: 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB Contact: Autistics United Manitoba, manitobaautistics@gmail.com & rsalahub@mts.net More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/194593891625384/ Taking place on the traditional territory of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. Fort McMurray, Alberta Time: 11:00 AM-3:00 PM Location: Suncor Community Leisure Center, Main hall Address: 1 MacDonald Dr, Fort McMurray, AB Contact: Autistics United Fort McMurray, mcmurrayautistics@gmail.com More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/202533714141956/ Taking place on the traditional territory of the Cree, Dene, and Dane-zaa Peoples and on the Homeland of the Métis Nation. Burnaby, British Columbia Time: 3:00-4:30 PM Location: Burnaby Neighbourhood Community Hall Address: 5024 Rumble Street, Burnaby BC Contact: Autistics United Vancouver, vancouverautistics@gmail.com More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/208952573574838/ Taking place on the traditional and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Wauthuth, Sto:lo, Qayqayt, Kwanten and Stz'minus First Nations. ***A live stream of this vigil will be available*** Kamloops, British Columbia Time: 7:00-8:00 PM Location: Riverside Park, Rose Garden Address: 100 Lorne St, Kamloops, BC Contact: Brenda Anderson, timandbrenda90@gmail.com More details at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2574232616166477/ Taking place on the traditional territory of the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation. The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network in the USA is also holding a virtual vigil on March 1st at 5-7 PM EST. More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/188326562372098/ We hope you will join us in remembering those we have lost in our community. In solidarity, Autistics United Canada organizers On February 12, 2020, Canadians for Vaccine Choice (CFVC) and the Park Theatre held a secret showing of Vaxxed II: The People's Truth for the Winnipeg audience. This film is a propaganda piece that spreads false and exaggerated claims of harm resulting from vaccines. The viewers received the location of the presentation on the day the film was shown, almost certainly in an effort to avoid protests.
After the viewing was completed, a question-and-answer session was held by Gerry Bohemier, D. C. This presentation, which was uploaded to YouTube, included the following claims: Claim: 100 per cent of children are injured by vaccines. Truth: If this were the case, every children's hospital would be overflowing with patients all the time. Claim: Fifty per cent of children that will be born five years from now will be autistic due to vaccines. Truth: The apparent increase in autism is due to two factors. One is improved diagnostics; the other is a change to the definition of autism in the DSM-5 which added the former Asperger's Syndrome to the definition. Claim: Vaccines contain poisons. Truth: This is likely a reference to thimerosal, a compound that contains mercury, and aluminum salts. Thimerosal has been removed from all vaccines except the one from influenza; there also exists a thimerosal-free version of that vaccine. The average person eats more mercury and aluminum in a single day than is contained in a vaccine. This may also refer to formaldehyde, which is actually manufactured by the human body as a part of the metabolic process. Claim: There is no science indicating that vaccines are effective. Truth: Vaccine efficacy is constantly being measured; if a vaccine turns out to be ineffective, it would be removed from the market. Smallpox has been completely eliminated due to vaccines; several other diseases have almost been eradicated. Claim: Vaccines have no benefit to society. Truth: This insinuates that vaccine-preventable diseases are good for society. Should we bring back smallpox? Autistics United Canada firmly condemns the filmmakers, CFVC, and the Park Theatre for their roles in spreading falsehoods and endangering the health of all people; and in their efforts to hide this misinformation session from the public. --- Autistics United (AU) Canada is a grassroots self-advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of Autistic people in what is colonially known as Canada. Autistics United Canada chapters will be protesting VAXXED II screenings in Nova Scotia and BC.
VAXXED II: The People's Truth is an anti-vaccination and anti-autistic film that is screening in several countries, including Canada. Autistics United is calling autistic and allies together to protest this film. We strongly object to the use of disabled people as props for fearmongering and pseudoscience. Bedford, NS (Jan. 31): https://www.facebook.com/events/814004775782126/ Victoria, BC (Feb. 1 & 15): https://www.facebook.com/events/208999346901084/ Vancouver, BC (Feb. 21): https://www.facebook.com/events/175805623633327/ For those who cannot protest in person, there are ways to take action by calling and emailing the venues. Please see the Facebook events for more information and scripts! If you are on social media, here are some suggested hashtags: #RatherBeAutisticThanDead #VaccinesCauseAdults #VaccinesSaveLives #LifeWorthyOfLife (Please do not use these next ones if you are not autistic) #ActuallyAutistic #MyExistenceIsResistance Read our Nova Scotia chapter statement on the Bedford screening: https://www.autisticsunitedca.org/blog/statement-on-the-upcoming-screening-of-vaxxed-ii-in-bedford For media who would like to get in touch, please contact: info@autisticsunitedca.org. --- Autistics United Canada is a volunteer-run self-advocacy organization by and for autistic youth and adults. On Sunday, it was brought to the attention of Autistics United Nova Scotia that two screenings of the film "Vaxxed II: The People's Truth" are taking place in Bedford on Friday, January 31.
For the few who may not be aware, this film promotes the long-discredited theory that vaccines cause autism. Such beliefs have brought substantial harm to the autistic community, and to the general public. Because of the anti-vaccine propaganda that is so readily available online, many people around the world have stopped vaccinating their children. Consequently, there have been localized outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses such as measles and whooping cough throughout Canada, the United States, and other countries. These illnesses can be fatal if not treated promptly. In addition, anti-vaccine views have brought untold harm and stigma to autistic people, as the belief that vaccines cause autism has led many people to see autism as something to fear, and to look upon autistic people as damaged or broken. The Eventbrite page for the screening gives the address of the screening location, but not the name of the venue. We have determined that the venue is the LeBrun Recreation Centre. We have been in touch with the rec centre, the municipal Director of Parks and Recreation, local city councillor Tim Outhit, and Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Officer of Health Robert Strang. Mr. Outhit has also been in touch with the Director of Parks and Recreation, as well as the City Solicitor. Dr. Strang has asked one of his colleagues to express their concerns to HRM, as well. We thank them for the prompt response. By hosting the screening of Vaxxed II, the LeBrun Recreation Centre is harming public health and contributing to the stigma towards autistic people. As a municipally-owned recreation centre, LeBrun Recreation Centre must uphold values of equity, anti-ableism, and human rights. We, members of the autistic community in Nova Scotia, urge the LeBrun Centre to cancel this screening immediately. Hello everyone! Here are some updates on what’s been happening in the different chapters of Autistics United Canada. It's a long one--we have been busy since our last update!
British Columbia BC Accessibility Legislation BC members of Autistics United met with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to discuss the autistic community’s priorities for the historic BC accessibility legislation in the making. We also attended the in-person sessions held by the BC government in Comox Valley and Vancouver. We teamed up with the Neurodiversity Listening Society to host an input session for autistic and neurodivergent people across BC, to generate a report to submit to the government. We will keep meeting with the Ministry in the coming months to ensure autistic voices are represented in the new law. This means we need to hear from you! Our online survey is still open for comments: https://forms.gle/xZjGifqHFZYnzfCbA Vancouver Our Stories, Our Voices: Autistic Intergenerational Storytelling Event Our Stories, Our Voices is a storytelling event connecting autistics of all ages, held on August 25th. The event aimed to provide social stories by and for autistic people, rather than the neurotypical-centred social narratives we often encounter. A picture-book making session followed the storytelling itself. Protest Against Autism Speaks Members of Autistics United Vancouver protested against Autism Speaks Canada at their walk on October 6th in Richmond. The protesters stood on the sidelines of the walk and held signs, handed out pamphlets, and told passersby about the issues with Autism Speaks. We invited them to consider the neurodiversity perspective and positive alternatives. The protest was covered by several media groups. We made the front page of The Province! We also had coverage from CBC, News 1130, and Richmond News. Comox Valley Summer Fire Roast Potluck There was a potluck for autistic people in Comox Valley on August 14th at the Kin Beach Provincial Park. Autistic people in the area brought food and beverages to the event and enjoyed a bonfire and the natural scenery. Games Night There was a game night at the Courtenay Vancouver Island Regional Library on October 9th. The event included coffee and snacks as well as board games for attendees to enjoy. Alberta Protest Against Autism Speaks Autistics United Fort McMurray protested against Autism Speaks alongside Neurodiversity YMM at the Autism Speaks walk in Edmonton on September 15th. The protesters wore red shirts to represent autistic pride, spoke to families about the neurodiversity movement, and referred people to further information about autism acceptance and pride. Booth at Pride Autistics United Fort McMurray attended the PRIDE YMM celebration at Jubilee Plaza on August 24th. The group answered questions about neurodiversity and held an interactive activity encouraging infodumping. Manitoba Collaboration with Manitoba Theatre for Young People A major children's theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, is putting on a play next year called Spelling 2-5-5, which has an autistic character. Autistics United Manitoba will be consulting on this play, which includes giving input on study guides for schools, and being involved with talkbacks after the show. Autistic Pride Day Autistics United Manitoba had a successful Autistic Pride Day picnic at Assiniboine Park. The event was held on June 15th and included snacks and outdoor games. Nova Scotia Unspoken Film Screening The Nova Scotia chapter held a screening for the film “Unspoken” in Dartmouth on October 26. The film describes the life and experiences of Emma Zurcher-Long, a non-speaking autistic person who uses AAC to communicate. After the screening, participants had a discussion about the film and its contents, and the importance of respecting all forms of communication. More film screenings are planned for next year! Article about Anti-Vaccination Halifax Today released an article about the recent meeting between MLA Steve Craig and a known anti-vaxxer. He mentioned the meeting in a Twitter post which he subsequently removed, issuing an apology for the meeting. The article mentions Autistics United and quotes chapter leader Alex Kronstein discussing the situation. National Accessibility Fundraiser Autistics United Canada is holding a fundraiser to raise money for improving accessibility at events, including ASL interpretation, braille transcription, sensory equipment and stim toys, and more. Donate through fundrazr to support Autistics United and help us make autistic-led events and projects accessible for everyone! #AutisticsVote Federal Election Toolkit Members of Autistics United worked on creating a toolkit to help autistic people vote at the November election. The toolkit includes information about Canada’s political system, the federal election and its candidates, and the process of registering to vote and voting at the polls. Talking to Your MP About Autistic Self-Advocacy We have a toolkit available to help people reach out to and work with their MPs on matters relating to autistic self-advocacy. The guide includes information on finding your MP and making a meeting, advocating during the meeting, and following up after the meeting. The toolkit was by the Autistic Advocacy Coalition of Canada. Autistics United Canada is a member organization of the AACC. Report to the United Nations Committee Rights of Persons with Disabilities Autistics United submitted a report to the 22nd Session of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which was held August 26th to September 20th. The report highlighted areas of concern for autistic people in Canada in relation to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The report focused on a variety of areas, including the right to life, education, accessibility, and employment. International Day of Protest Against ABA The second International Day of Protest Against ABA (started by the Nova Scotia chapter of Autistics United) was held on August 31st. The protest featured hashtags such as “#SayNoToABA” and “#InternationalDayOfProtestAgainstABA”, and included information about the ways in which ABA is harmful to autistic people. #Autober To counteract Canadian Autism Awareness Month, Autistics United held a social media campaign to highlight the achievements of autistic people, giving spotlights to 31 autistics in our community. We could not talk about everyone but will do it again next year! The name Autober was coined by Albertan member Riki Entz, and Christopher Whelan took the lead in creating the posts. Autober 2019 posts can be found on Fort McMurray and National Facebook pages. International Day of the Stim The International Day of the Stim was created by our colleagues at A4A to celebrate stimming and its significance. Members of Autistics United participated in the event, which included posts on Facebook and Twitter about the importance of stimming and stimming positivity. Media Coverage about the National Autism Strategy Autistics United was featured in an article by City News 1130 about the shortcomings of the national “autism strategies” discussed by campaigners in the 2019 election. Vivian Ly pointed out the importance of improving things for all disabled people, rather than singling out autistics. The article also mentioned the Federal Election Toolkit released by Autistics United around that time. Interview about Issues with Blue Pumpkin Campaign Vivian Ly was featured in a video by City News 1130 about the blue pumpkin campaign. Vivian highlighted the issues with requiring autistic children to out themselves to participate in trick-or-treating, and the risk of confusing the campaign with the use of teal buckets to show which houses have non-food offerings on Halloween. What’s Next? We are currently working with other autistic-led advocacy organizations across the nation to establish the Autistic Advocacy Coalition of Canada (AACC)! Stay tuned for updates on our Twitter. |