Category Archives: Advocacy

The Teacher’s Kid – It’s not what you think…

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

I had the opportunity this evening to enter into a discussion with a colleague: a fellow teacher who is also the parent of a five-year-old Autistic son. So as we talked this man commented, “It is great that you are … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, Advocacy, Autism, childhood, Disability, Educator, neurodivergent, Parent, prejudice, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Disability Day of Mourning: The Loss of Innocence

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

A few weeks back I asked H if he would like to attend the ASAN Vancouver Disability Day of Mourning Vigil with me on March 1st, at the Woodlands Memorial Gardens in New Westminster, BC. He asked what the vigil … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, Activist, Advocacy, ASAN, autism stigma, Autistic, Boycott Autism Speaks, Death, Disability, Grief, prejudice, Rail Against Stigma | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Why can’t we all get along?!?

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

I am 100% in agreement that the stigma and ableism perpetuated by groups and organizations like The Mighty are harmful to the Disability Community, because they are misrepresenting ableism as advocacy. There is much action afoot to have The Mighty … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, acceptance, Activist, Advocacy, Autism, Autistic, Disability, listening, Neurodiversity | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

Kermit the Frog on Neurodiversity and Being Green

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Hi ho, Kermit the Frog here. Today I won’t tell you a little bit about Neurodiversity, and different kinds of brains, and Autistic people. Autistic people want to be a part of the conversation. They want to be included! But … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, acceptance, Advocacy, Autism, Autistic, Educator, inclusion, Kermit the Frog, Neurodiversity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

And Then You Cry ‘Victim’

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

When Autistic adults are ignored or gaslighted or tone policed and told they “shouldn’t be so angry” or they are “not like my child,” then the opportunity to learn from the real autism experts is missed. It may not be … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, Advocacy, advocate, Autism, listening, poem, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Forward and back…16 years of Ausome!

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

This fabulous young man turned 16 today… It was a day of looking back and looking forward… a low-key, laid-back day with very few demands. In reality, today was a sort of culmination of small birthday events that have been … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, Advocacy, Autism, Autistic, B films, Parent, privilege, Rail Against Stigma, Space and Pace, TASH | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Leaning into my Hypocrisy

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Sometimes the things I know to be right and true, the things I aspire to, do not come easily to me in the tired-out end-of-the-day moments. Those are the times when I may not be at my best: my patience … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, acceptance, Advocacy, advocate, Autism, self-advocacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

ASAN Vancouver: Protesting Autism Speaks #boycottAutismSpeaks

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Last week H and I made our way into the big city to attend an ASAN meeting with the newly founded ASAN Vancouver Chapter. (ASAN = Autistic Self Advocacy Network) H was pretty quiet during the meeting, and was creating … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, acceptance, Activist, Advocacy, advocate, ASAN, Autism, autism stigma, Autistic, Boycott Autism Speaks, Margaret Mead, social justice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ken Bramble: Connecting the Dots in #bced

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Some may wonder why a blog that is generally about Autism would be so closely focused on matters of public education of late, but the reality is that these matters are connected, and there is an unquestionable intersectionality between social … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, Advocacy, advocate, Autism, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Educator, Public Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Appreciation on the First Day of School: #Iwillholdtheline

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

So the first day of school in BC this year – a time that is usually exciting and feels full of possibility – is little different from most… Picketing is not the most promising start to the school year… but … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Autism, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Educator, Play, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment