The Prejudice Against Minorities Stops Here, Part 6
Autistic women worldwide endure prejudice every day. Imagine what racial and ethnic minorities have to deal with. Two years ago, I befriended a gamer online who confided in me that he might be autistic. To safeguard his overall well-being, I peer-evaluated him. To ensure the process was reliable, I used accurate context with my information. His response was, “I have a lot of those traits but it seems like they are natural.”
This guy is an African-American ex-convict who earned a psychology degree while in prison and is a father of two. I suspected his past involvement with gangs was the result of his autism not being diagnosed. Talk about having your life ruined. He has no healthcare and was falsely imprisoned for parole violations. I will vouch for his integrity. Before any autistic minorities can thrive, this prejudice has to stop now.
It is no understatement that racial and ethnic minorities have long had to endure sickening prejudice, discrimination, and, in some cases, death. In fact, they still do. On March 20, 2019, Osaze Osagie was shot in the back and killed by police who lacked training with autistic people who have difficulty communicating. Then, on April 17, 2023, Ms. Irisa Leverette and her son Darius were the victims of an incredibly dangerous swatting call to police.
Given the identical demographics, the similarities of autism, and a lack of law enforcement improvement, Darius is lucky to be alive. What does this say about the diversity-championing politicians in both states? A lot. No one has learned from Osagie’s tragedy. Fortunately, Irisa was with Darius. She also had a safety alert door sign. It will happen again because no one is prioritizing race or autism.
Prejudice hurts the lives of autistic minorities who are not impaired as well. I found an autistic woman who, as a child, was targeted for grooming by a sex offender. Her skin color reflects her racial heritage. A certified healthcare professional told her, “Did you think you were special?” Are you kidding me? What good is a medical license if a professional is this bigoted? Racial inequalities also affect the consideration of autism.
Studies find that race and class still contribute to disparities in medical care. For example, according to the Organization for Autism Research, “Hispanic children are 65 percent less likely and black children 19 percent less likely … to be diagnosed with autism.” It is disgusting that human beings are still mistreated based on race, income, and ethnicity. So, it is important for me to put a face to the suffering they endure.
For the last year, I have observed thousands of autistic people via social media. This has helped me see the true diversity of the global autism community. Some have a lighter skin color. Some have darker skin. They come from different cultures. They have varying ethnic heritages. Some have a multiracial background. There are a number of religious denominations. Many do not have a sufficient income. One thing shocks me the most.
Many live where governments are responsible for discriminating against minorities. Consider my best friend in California. Parole officers arrested him once for attending a group meeting that they had prearranged. He lost his good job at Tesla. Last month, they arrested him again for gang registration that he had already completed. He lost his temp job. Technically, this is modern-day slavery — in the United States!
Prejudice and discrimination against minorities are still grim realities that those in power are ignoring. As a result, with or without a diagnosis, autistic people have a tougher life because of their skin color and heritage. How are they supposed to prosper or have access to affordable, quality health care if they are still treated with such bigotry? How can they trust any healthcare professionals? Word travels fast, especially on social media.
I have found many people who see this happening to others like them. They express their frustrations and concerns every day. They should. This should not be happening. These are real people with critical needs. Imagine if my best friend could thrive in an occupation in which he has a skilled interest, such as music. Autistic minorities have waited long enough to be prioritized. Minorities deserve better, too.
My observations go even further and will reveal serious problems for those younger in age…
#EndAutismDenial
