i will no longer raise my children to be colorblind

among the things i am working on with artemis this year for homeschooling is racism.

we need to know what it is and how it begins and how it is perpetuated if we want to eliminate it. kind of like studying a disease - to find a cure for smallpox, we had to find out what it was, what causes it, how it's spread, and how it could be eradicated.

racism is bad. on that, i hope we all can agree. we want there to be a world without racism. i think we can similarly look towards that as a goal.

here's where we are looking at things following some sort of structure, making it a little more formal than just discussing the news, which we also do:

11-step guide to understanding race, racism, and white privilege

which has led to finding this series of videos on MTV News, called decoded

curriculum for white americans to educate themselves on race and racism

a site i'll use for reference purposes is blackpast.org

documentary i am not your negro

to be continued . . .

addendum: i've added a resource list on a new page titled social justice

march for science

when i participated in the women's march, ander wished he could have gone just to see all the people. artemis likewise would have appreciated being part of a historic event. steve wanted to support me in any way i asked.

so when the march for science date was set, i started planning.

and we did it. we marched. as a family. for science.

photo credit to steve; family friend julie joined us on the adventure

 

photo credit to julie

 

photo credit to friendly fellow marcher

 

 

note: ander & artemis approved my posting of these particular photos. i have other great ones but they were declined. and that's just fine.

autism is accessible

want to know more about autism? actual autistic individuals make autism accessible!

most of these articles, though admittedly not all, are written by autistic authors. those that are not came recommended by autistics. this is another compilation of links i found and shared via facebook but wanted to make available to myself and others interested parties. please check the links here, too, for prior posts.

echolalia: that's what she said

autism awareness starts with acknowledging that autistic people exist and matter

what does a black autistic man look like?

whose expertise is it? evidence for autistic adults as critical autism experts

working while autistic

parents: don't hide your children's autism diagnoses from them

a poem called "autistic rage"

50+ autistic people you should know

why i really struggle with school as someone on the autism spectrum

autism on television needs more diverse representation

autistic insights on meltdowns, aggression, and self-injury

#autism appreciation: 7 things that make me a valuable employee

what should you do when your favorite celebrity gets it wrong?

the subtle brilliance of sesame street's first episode starring an autistic muppet

learning to drive as someone on the autism spectrum

why we need to make sex ed more inclusive of those with disabilities

an open letter from an autistic child in meltdown, written by an autistic adult who still melts down from time to time

if the world was built for me

autism again, because it's a part of life for more than a month

more autism links, because it's a part of life for longer than the month of april

start here

then read these

and now:

hey, parents of autistic kids

blue lights won't help me

i am autistic: an evocation

a letter to the parent or caregiver of an undiagnosed autistic girl

how "autism warrior parents" harm autistic kids

autism and . . .

from one of my facebook posts:

It's a new day. Advocacy time!

Today I will move beyond autism awareness and focus on autism acceptance. Today I will read and promote autistic voices. Today I will learn from autistic adults and teens and children to learn more about their experiences from their perspectives. Today I will expand my knowledge and comprehension beyond what I have gained from parents and professionals. Autistic people aren't all the same, they didn't choose the color blue, and they don't all identify with a puzzle piece. Today I will work to meet them where they are, rather than asking them to come to me to explain themselves.

what it means to be highly empathetic, and autistic

"charity" that harms

if not aba, then what?

please visit this page to read more

autistic acceptance

april is autism acceptance month (though i am aware that many others refer to it as autism awareness and that distinction is not lost on me). i strive to serve as an advocate for autistic family, friends, and other loved ones. i'm up on my soapbox on facebook, but for my dear readers who do not interact with me there, i'll get up on my soapbox here just for you :)

do you know, work with, care for, or love an autistic person? i do! i did not write these words below, but they reflect my views and i endorse them.

autism is not a shell surrounding a "normal" child

autism acceptance day wish list

autistic voices and the problem of the "vocal minority"

disability, safety, and value

autism awareness and autism acceptance

light it up blue isn't autism awareness

asan condemns white house autism proclamation

black, female, and autistic: hiding in plain sight

stay tuned for more.