To all non-autistic people who have autistic children: if you’re following me, you have undoubtedly become familiar with Matthew Rushin’s case. The prosecutor wrote an open letter to @GovernorVA, @MarkHerringVA, and @Kelly_Thomasson that Matthew’s lawyers were “autism activists”

@justice4mrushin would give anything to go back in time and know the difference between “autistic activists” and “autism activists.” As horrifying as Matthew’s story is, there are MANY cases worse RE: abuse and negligence at the hands of “autism activists” that end in death.

Please know the difference between autistic advocacy, which includes #ActuallyAutistic adults and non-autistic allies who listen to us and help amplify our voices, like @jtknoxroxs who focuses on #AutisticJoy and #BlackAutisticLivesMatter, @stevesilberman, @Porsche_did_it (cont)

There’s @DrJoelSchwartz who is an ADHD psychologist teaching others mental health providers about neurodiversity and the social model of disability. @ReachEveryVoice and @Communica1st focusing on communication rights.

It is not “good enough” to have a parent-centered org that has a few autistic people who are not plugged into and listening to the autistic community. There are other great orgs with a broader disability focus like @kulturec which focuses on the sensory and has autistic rep.

Matthew’s “autism activist” lawyer didn’t even mention echolalia— one of the most common autistic traits— and the whole case was predicated on something Matthew echoed when he was being restrained by white strangers and screamed at immediately following the crash.

Who could have made a better defense for Matthew? Every autistic advocate I know. In fact, we HAVE been making a better case every day. Please listen to autistic advocates. #AskingAutistics and #NeuroLurkers to tag 1-10 autistic advocates, orgs, or allies parents need to follow.

I’ll start: @lilririah (stimming and movement, race, accessibility), @ChiariChey (daily #AskingAutistics questions), @ArulaRatnakar (the neuroscience of bias), @steve_asbell (art and honesty), and @SNeurotypicals (hilarious humor/parody about neurotypicals)

@emgntdivergence (neurodivergence and addiction), @QueerlyAutistic (LGBTQ/gender), @Mis_TAught (education, inclusion, and BIPoC representation), @AspieHuman (sensory/sound), @DuplexStructure (legos! and all the things wonderful and good), @NeuroRebel (autistic culture).