The Joy of Autism

With Tidings of Struggles and Joy

This is a short post to wish all of you a happy holiday and New Year. Adam and I have had such a wonderful year – his wish now to write a book and all that progress with his typing. Finally out of the clutches of autism schools that haven’t...

Published Mon, Dec 29 2014 9:55 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Critical Disability Studies, Inclusion, Discrimination, Acceptance, Joy, communication, ABA, Community, Human Rights

The Creative Potential of Tourettes and Tics

Adam’s body tics and his vocal tics now include an exceptionally loud OW! The vocal component began about a year and a half ago with grunting – I wrote a piece to be published about my perception and response to it for a peer-reviewed journal...

Published Tue, Nov 11 2014 11:44 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Autism and Intelligence, Acceptance, Obsessions, Inspiration, Behaviours, Movement Disturbance, Language, seizures, Intelligence, Accessibility, Tics

Independence Before the “Right” to Inclusion is Not Equality

We at The Autism Acceptance Project will be addressing the following: We need to discuss problems with autism programs, our communities (including schools) and inclusion. There is a lot of segregation and fracture within the autism community over the...

Published Tue, Nov 11 2014 7:11 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism

Grace and Disgrace on the Subway

I’ve been thinking of writing about the faith I often have in daily encounters with people on our subway also known as the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). In addition to the autism label, Adam also has tics known as Tourettes Syndrome. His manifest...

Published Fri, Nov 07 2014 11:41 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism

A Rights-Base Approach for Autism

Adam is typing a deluge of sentences, feelings, anger at being ignored by certain people; upset by some people in his life that still do not “see his mind,” as he puts it. As Adam’s parent and protector, I know there is good reason to share our journey...

Published Wed, Nov 05 2014 10:46 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Inclusion, Discrimination, Autism and Intelligence, communication, Politics, What is Disability?

This is Our Halloween

We got up a little earlier today to rush to get Adam’s makeup on for Halloween here in Toronto. Adam decided to be a happy bear, so we came up with Happy Panda – it’s also a story about mindfulness that we sometimes read. It just feels...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2014 9:30 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Development, Family, Acceptance, Joy, communication, The Joy Of Autism, Autistic Self Advocacy, Accessibility, Holidays

Humber College Cancels Tunnel Tours For Tomorrow ONLY (re: The former Lakeshore Asylum)

I am writing to let everyone know that Humber College, thanks also to the work of Tracy Mack and Geoffrey Reaume, have canceled their tours for tomorrow ONLY of the former Lakeshore Asylum for Halloween tomorrow. I hope we can look forward to tours that...

Published Thu, Oct 30 2014 12:54 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Institutionalization

Humber College Denies “Ghost Tours”

This is in regards to my recent post that Humber College, which used to be named “The Mimico Lunatic Asylum,” or the “Lakeshore Asylum conducts “ghost tours.” We have asked that the College discontinue the sensationalized...

Published Wed, Oct 29 2014 3:27 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Institutionalization

A Chance to Participate in a PhD Thesis:

CALL OUT I am completing my PhD thesis on autism health care services in Ontario with a special interest in evidence-based applied behavioural therapies. I am a social scientist and so my project aims to explore some of the social and political implications...

Published Wed, Oct 29 2014 9:53 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Research

ASAN’s letter regarding under-representation of autistic people on IACC:

I am adding this press release as the founder and director of The Autism Acceptance Project and critical disability scholar who supports autistic-driven agency and political mandates for autism. I would like our Canadian agencies to consider the same...

Published Wed, Oct 29 2014 9:46 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Autistic Self Advocacy, Politics, Organizations/Events, The Autism Acceptance Project

Please help to stop the ghost and “tunnel tours” at the Mimico Lunatic Asylum/Lakeshore psychiatric

Please help to stop these tours. I have offered to post the letter created by my colleauge, Tracy Mack: September 1st, 2014 marked the 35th year of the Mimico Lunatic Asylum/Lakeshore psychiatric hospital, now Humber College, closing their doors. In 2008...

Published Mon, Oct 27 2014 3:31 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Institutions

Wretches & Jabberers Screenings Are On in Toronto!

I went to the first screening at the Geneva Centre for Autism Conference last night. “They should have screened thsi during the day,” commented two women from the school board. Indeed, after the Temple Grandin book signing, most people headed...

Published Fri, Oct 24 2014 7:08 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: EVENTS

Off to the Disability Pride March today…

Adam’s family (and Adam) are off the the Disability Pride March today at Queen’s Park at 1 p.m. Look for us there. Our placard will read: We’re a PROUD AUTISTIC FAMILY. WE ACCEPT AUTISM. SO CAN YOU! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook...

Published Sat, Oct 04 2014 9:02 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Acceptance

Film Screening and Panel Discussion – Wretches and Jabberers in Toronto!

Join us at York University on October 24th at 4:30 and October 25th at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema for a screening of Wretches and Jabberers with a rare visit and panel discussion with the film’s subjects with autism, Larry Bissonnette and Tracy Thresher...

Published Tue, Sep 30 2014 3:17 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: EVENTS

Important October Events!

Disability Pride March, Queen’s Park, October 4th at 1 p.m. There are two events that are important for the autism community to attend in October. The first is Disability Pride March at Queens Park…meet at 1 p.m: Sign Up by clicking this phrase...

Published Tue, Sep 23 2014 8:20 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: EVENTS

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With Tidings of Struggles and Joy

The Creative Potential of Tourettes and Tics

Independence Before the “Right” to Inclusion is Not Equality

Grace and Disgrace on the Subway

A Rights-Base Approach for Autism

This is Our Halloween

Humber College Cancels Tunnel Tours For Tomorrow ONLY (re: The former Lakeshore Asylum)

Humber College Denies “Ghost Tours”

A Chance to Participate in a PhD Thesis:

ASAN’s letter regarding under-representation of autistic people on IACC:

Please help to stop the ghost and “tunnel tours” at the Mimico Lunatic Asylum/Lakeshore psychiatric

Wretches & Jabberers Screenings Are On in Toronto!

Off to the Disability Pride March today…

Film Screening and Panel Discussion – Wretches and Jabberers in Toronto!

Important October Events!