It's #WorldAutismMonth and today we're digging into this fascinatingly complex neurological condition that one of our co-hosts was actually recently diagnosed with (listen to find out who!).
Plenty of autistic folks manage to live fulfilling lives, but obviously we don't all enjoy the same privilege as Elon Musk or Greta Thunberg — and navigating a neurotypical world as a neurodivergent person can pose challenges.
Viral sensation Ayanna Davis — aka. Phenomenally Autistic to her thousands of followers — joins us to speak to some of these challenges. We'll also learn about her work dispelling ableist myths, and building affirmative community care as a Black autistic artist, author, dance choreographer, and social media influencer from Westchester County, New York.
Conservative Member of Parliament Mike Lake also joins us. Mike's autistic son Jaden inspired a powerful speech he recently delivered in Canada's House of Commons, as well as a bill he managed to fast-track in Parliament after gathering unanimous multi-partisan support.
The bill — which was first introduced in the Senate, then sponsored by Lake in the lower chamber — requires Canada's health minister to table a national autism framework in the next two years. Hopefully in a couple years time, this framework will deliver results for the Canadian autistic community.
________
Are you autistic, raising an autistic child, or just hoping to learn more about autism and other forms of neurodiversity? You're not alone! Here are some resources we found helpful while producing this episode:
https://www.autismspeaks.ca/
https://www.myautism.org/wam
https://autismcanada.org/resources/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JFeZygXL4A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLUYda-0O8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDXo83OtzgE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbwRrVw-CRo
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/how-greta-thunberg-s-autism-helps-give-her-a-singular-focus-1.5301634
________
City and Nuuchimii is independently produced and co-hosted by Maïtée Saganash and Jenn Jefferys. Reach us at citynuuchimii@gmail.com or @citynuuchimii. Click here to subscribe now.