Alright – so, Sen Abeler’s autism council working group met today for the second time. I was there and I sooooo don’t want to be going to this and won’t have to if they had more people that looked like me.
Anyway, they added a few more members from minority communities. Still missing from this table is a minority autism therapy agency representative, an African American autism parent and a native American parent. Now, the question is why is there only one minority person for each under-served community but there are countless caucasian advocates, agencies, autistics, researchers, etc.?
Have you heard of the saying “when they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Abeler in a typical Abeler way took all of the faults of not having enough diverse folks. He said to not blame them for anything. Obviously, Abeler is just being nice because we all know the first three (Rohde, Bender and Grassie) did all of the selecting of other members. I will say it is getting better though not perfect and still too white for my taste.
Today, they talked a lot about creating subgroups which I think is a good idea. They also said equity and equality a lot and I think at least from the chair’s (Ellie) body language – she may actually mean what she was reading. As a black autism mom, I learned a long time ago to read their body language and not always what they say.
I heard after I left the meeting which I apparently pissed some of the autistic advocates when I was talking about how tired and exhausting autism is, that they made the only Somali (Deeqa) there today really hurt and sad. First, that is cowardly – if you got something to say to anyone say it to them, not behind their back. Second, I am a public autism mom and this council does not control my views or opinions – period. Third, their backstabbing only proves my point of how selfish and self-righteous so many (not all) of them are.
Finally, I want to address the vice chair’s (Ms. Edwards) comment to me when I tried to apologize not what I said but how she literal she understood it. Again, I am sorry how you misunderstood my words. Somalis use a lot of metaphoric phrases and words which is in our culture, Therefore, I do not nor will ever apologize for my culture and it is up to you to understand what I meant or not. I understand autistic people take everything literally and are honest which I can totally appreciate and even appreciated when you yelled at me during my apology to you. At least you said it to my face which is awesome. Nevertheless, just like you want me to respect your perspective, you will need to respect my perspective and my culture even if you don’t understand it. I will never apologize for being a Somali and an Autism Mom.
I also heard some of the self-centred and self-righteous members were upset about Sheryl Grassie whereby some of them tried to use their old tactics of divide and conquer. It won’t work and we don’t appreciate it. Sheryl should’ve been supporting and proud of Noah not picking and belittling him – period. She needs to sit down and shut up.
To those that are calling other Somali autism parents/community members trying to divide us – screw you (not a typo).
To Deeqa:
Walaalo, Ilaahay khayr ha ku siiyo. Aad baan kuugu mahad naqayaa sida walaaltimo ee aad ii difaacday. Way ku edab darnaayeen in ay xantaan qof autismo waalid ah oo aan joogin. Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aad u jowaabtay oo ay ogaadeen in an nahay dad walaalo ah. Toban sano ayaan ku dhexjiray noocooda iyo ka daran, umana ogaalaado in ay iga xanaajiyaan, adiguna ha u ogalaanin. Hiilkaaga ma iloobi doono. Walaalo Mahadsanid!
Above words do not reflect any candidate, agency or committee.
Idil – Autism Mom