Editor’s note: Osime Brown is a 21-year-old autistic Black man who was sentenced to five years in prison for trying to stop a street robbery.
Autistic people are more vulnerable to addiction and suicide, and yet this is not discussed. We need to start talking about this now to reduce stigma and provide resources to those in need.
It isn’t always mental illness or being different that drives someone to suicide. As Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
On September 4th, Linden Cameron was shot by police several times in Utah after a Crisis Intervention team was called, which was supposed to help him in a mental health crisis.
My son Craig took his life when he was 15 years old. The devastation of his death and his continued physical absence in my life is beyond description.
“Very clearly, as all police departments engaging in similar paltry PR pandering will learn, Autistics speak for ourselves. The resounding message is that we are not complicit with your attempts to distract from your racism by putting your ableism on display.”
We need your help. No matter your circumstances, where you are in the world, or what tools you have at your disposal, we are asking the global community to help in the URGENT efforts to #FreeOsimeBrown because #OsimeMatters.
Emma Reardon discusses the difference between her own autistic expression of empathy compared to neurotypical empathy and the role the sensory plays in how we feel and demonstrate empathy.
Aucademy is offering an online conference on pregnancy and post-natal experiences for Autistic and/or neurodivergent people.
It is ironic that the “women’s equality emphasis” could contribute to “hitting the wall” – but not surprising. Single-focus, limited-time “diversity drives” might be well-intentioned, but are often problematic.