Visiting Professor Forced To Leave Canada Because of Autism
Filed Under (Activism) by Estee on 25-03-2012
Visiting Professor Jeffery Niehaus is being forced to leave Canada due to his autistic son. Autism is at fault for being “medically ineligible,” and his son is a “burden” on our system.
This happens because we do not emphasize the value and rights of the autistic person in our society. As a parent, I’m infuriated that autistic people, and their families are rejected. We are exiled and isolated members of our society. Our children are challenges because we do not try and understand them. The one puzzle I find truly puzzling is how we continue to let this happen and why we always blame the autistic person. I’m currently writing a piece on how I have to work on myself; how I am the puzzle. Perhaps more of us typical folks need to not just work on this every day, but bring it to the attention of our politicians (although I did once to Jim Flaherty and he walked away from me as soon as I mentioned the word autism).
This is not autism’s fault, it’s ours. When one family is turned away, we all are.
ESTÉE KLAR
This post and its implications brought to mind a lecture by professor Anne McGuire of UofT who recently presented a talk comparing how autism is percieved today with 9/11 and the “war on terror” in the US…..we seem to live in a twisted society were many have banded against autism instead of becoming allies interested in what autistic people have to say….McGurie points out (and I quite agree) that we live in a society that is “at war” with autism
There is a longer discussion about this also going on on my Facebook page. As we discuss, it’s all about the money. I sure didn’t vote for the Stephen Harper dictatorship (oops, government). Also, autism isn’t a “medical condition.”Autistic people may have medical needs, as do we all. It’s a disability and our families require services and education, not to be exiled from our communities. As I said, when this happens to one family, this is a warning to all of us living in Canada.