I’m Disgusted and Completely Mortified. Autism Acceptance is Essential, Now More than Ever.

Victor Perez didn’t deserve what happened to him. Police in Idaho shot 17- year-old Perez nine times on April 5th, after responding to a call from neighbors, stating that someone had a knife. Perez was autistic, nonverbal, and had cerebral palsy. This is exactly why autism acceptance is so important, why we need to bring more awareness and understanding around neurodivergence. He deserved understanding and compassion. He deserves to still be alive today.

Perez had found a knife during a family barbecue by accident. There was no actual threat. But, instead of actually listening to the family (who did try to stop and explain the situation), the officers instead decided to open fire, shooting Perez nine times.

Video recording from a bystander, showed that there was a chain linked fence in between Perez and the officers. There was no true threat present, that could in any way justify or even begin to explain the actions of the officers. It was discrimination and complete lack of any care/understanding.

Perez was in critical condition, but just this past Saturday he was pronounced brain dead and taken off of life support. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna201842

It’s disgusting and also an incredibly sad reality that Perez’s family and loved ones have to reconcile with and grieve. But, this shouldn’t at all be the reality. This should never be a reality that people have to worry, or even think about. Victor Perez should still be alive.

Autistic individuals deserve to have autonomy, and they deserve to be given the right to live their life the way in which they want. They deserve support and acceptance. Autistic’s deserve life, just as much as anyone else on this planet. And, shouldn’t have to fear for any type of discrimination or violence acted upon them.

In the US, that seems to be something that has become controversial. Some people, in places of power, see autism as a threat to life. Unfortunately.

They are spreading discriminatory and hateful ideas, thinking that they are “helping”, doing what is best for autism research/understanding. They believe that they have all the knowledge on autism, all while not even talking to a single autistic individual, let alone anyone in the autism community.

In actuality, they are not helping in any way. They are just getting rid of autistic individuals. They want to get rid of autism, permanently.

But, that’s not at all how it should be, or how people should see autism. It’s harmful and leads to the horrific reality that Victor Perez’s family have to live with, now. It’s not okay, and it has to change.

Autism acceptance and understanding is so, so, so very important. Understand and listen to the actual real, lived experience of autistic individuals.

Also, understand that autistic brains and the way in which they process the world, is different. Not less, just different.

There’s a different ways of doing things and different ways of socializing and connecting with others. Autism is not destroying families, it’s not a disease. Autism doesn’t create monsters.

It’s just a difference in the human brain. Autism is not a terrible disease. Autistic Individuals don’t need therapies or treatments to make them functional human beings. We have to fight against and move away from the rhetoric that that autistic individuals are broken neurotypicals.

If you care and want to help, sign the petition to fight for more understanding and acceptance, it’s linked below; https://sites.google.com/view/thevictorproject/petition

We’ve got to fight for change and more understanding and acceptance. It shouldn’t at all be this way.

Thank you for reading and listening, it’s incredibly important to be real and truthful. Things can and will get better. We’ve just got to keep fighting, now and in the future. Autism acceptance is so, incredibly important.

Love, Kaitlin