Listen… and Help Others Hear

Last updated on November 26, 2023

We lack diversity in the autism community.

Think about what you see, online and in the media. I see upper-middle-class parents, able to afford iPads and tutors and official diagnoses. I see parents who have the resources to fight for IEPs and physical accommodations.

I see self-advocacy leadership that has been fortunate (and hard-working, certainly) to attend universities, travel the nation (or even internationally), and have forums that reach thousands.

What don’t I see? Most of our actual community. The real community that represents autism’s downsides. The marginalized communities, ignored and excluded from our boards, our commissions, our business networks.

How did my lower-income parents, without college educations, give me a chance to be more? How did they fight the odds? They did, and now I am in a position of privilege. But I don’t seem to be making much of a difference.

Demand that your charities seek out the broadest possible array of advisers and board members. Remember, much like our schools, your community is nothing like some other communities. From my nice exurb, I can forget what inner-city and poor rural schools are like. I can forget what parents without means have to fight every day. Coming from a 72 percent Hispanic community, with Hispanic leadership at all levels, I can forget what it is to have minority voices silenced.

Remind yourself, there are voices with experiences unlike yours or mine. Maybe you are from a traditionally marginalized community, but there are many others to which you might not belong. Everyone needs to be heard. We need more variety among the voices in leadership positions. Don’t make excuses. Reach out and add those people to committees and boards. Involved them. Make allowances for their special needs and socioeconomic situations, too. If you have to find ways to help someone be heard… then find those things you can do.

Don’t make excuses. Make change.