Black Lives Matter
The intersection between being Black and being diagnosed with autism is often overlooked in our legal, political, and social systems. This leads to a lack of resources, understanding, and acceptance. As an organization we are dedicated to:
Advocate for vulnerable populations
Share diverse stories
Meaningful Fundraising
What have we done so far?
Fighting to stop elimination of autism funding in Georgia
With the revision of the Georgia Fiscal Year 2021 State Budget proposals, Emory Autism Center (EAC) faced the potential elimination of all state funds for key autism programs. These sudden and drastic cuts would have required EAC to significantly reduce services and supports when demand is already greater than our ability to serve those in need.
We held a response campaign and secured 612 student and staff petitions. In the end, there was a 10% decrease in funding instead of 100% elimination.
Research Reviews
Sharing stories of Autistic Black Lives
Click here to sign Matt's Petition, created by his mom
Click here to hear Matt's piano compositions
Quotes from Webinar
"I have many fears for my son. He is only 6 years old, but I worry about people treating him differently because he is autistic and Black. I want him to be able to advocate for himself as he grows. I want there to be more panels like this, more people need to hear directly from the autism community and all of those in it."
"I had to change doctors because one did not believe I was actually autistic and said autism was not real."
"My own mother says that I use my autism as an excuse for being rude when I don’t understand certain situations."
"It is irritating when people say you are using your autism as an excuse rather than an explanation for some of your behavior or struggles. Maybe my race also has something to do with it."
"I am brutally blunt at times. I miss social cues. I can often be duped or appear naive. I can get overwhelmed and just meltdown. It doesn’t help when no one knows what to do or why I am overreacting. People just tell me to calm down."
Fundraising that goes directly to communities
Since the spring, we have been planning our dodgeball tournament meant to 1) spread autism awareness 2) raise funds that will directly support Georgia families. In light of COVID-19, we are working hard to ensure that our event will proceed safely. We have not yet solidified which organization we will be fundraising for, but we will be takng input from our members, advisors, and peers.
Click here to learn more about the Dodgeball Tournament