There is always a reason why a neurodivergent person is a so called flight risk, and wanders off. That obvious observation is too easily lost when solutions such as tracking devices become the focus, writes Alex Kronstein.
Alex Kronstein writes about the use of electroshocks as a disciplinary device at an institution in the States, and how a textbook used at the NSCC that appears to endorse it.
Organized mutual support has always been strong within the autism and disability communities, but it can g much further, writes Alex Kronstein, who looks at the Antigonish co-operative movement and the Black Panthers social programs for inspiration
News release: The Nova Scotia chapter of Autistics United Canada announces their inaugural neurodiversity flag raising event on Friday, March 29 in recognition of World Autism Acceptance Day. Neurodiversity is the natural diversity of human brains and minds.The rainbow infinity symbol symbolizes the great diversity in the Autistic community, and is widely used to represent the larger neurodiversity community beyond autism, such as ADHD and dyslexia.
Alex Kronstein reflects on activist language that gets co-opted and turned against autistic activists. “Autistic people have a great deal of shared experiences and history. But this is constantly being erased by allistic parents and professionals, the mainstream media, politicians, and the mainstream autism organizations,” he writes.
An open letter from two parents in desperate need of supports for their Autistic son. “I have chosen to put this in your lap. You are the minister of Health. Something has to be done for my family and many others who silently suffer daily with little to zero help.”
Alex Kronstein with some very important observations on how autism-related stories are covered in the Nova Scotia media, with lots of examples. Some examples just showcase the journalist’s ignorance, others are plain irresponsible.
Alex Kronstein on supports for children with autism in the education system: “When it comes to inclusive education, it is a well-known fact that EPAs and other school support staff do not have anything close to adequate training to provide support for autistic kids. There are training modules developed by actually autistic people that could give EPAs and support workers a whole new perspective.”
” I am the mother of a nine-year old boy living with autism in a province that has been defined as one of Canada’s autism wastelands, given its lack of services and funding,” writes Nancy Spina in an open letter to Minister Kelly Regan. “Outdated and inflexible criteria have an impact on children with disabilities and on the women who care for them who lose the opportunity of providing for their families, and having fulfilling careers.”
Many parents of autistic children are told about the EIBI program, and that it’s extremely important that their children receive it so they can have a good future. And they almost always accept this advice without question. But there are other options that are not based in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), and that are non-pathologizing, e.g. that do not assume that there is something fundamentally wrong with the child. Alex Kronstein takes a look at one such option.