Critical Questions: Equity and Inclusion
What to Expect
The October 2021 START Connecting introduced readers to ASD 365: Inclusion & Equity Every Day, a campaign that was formed in spring 2021 in response to the need for greater intention regarding neurodiversity, inclusivity, equity, and acceptance of autistic individuals as part of our society. The article shared the ASD 365 Compelling Why:
It is crucial that individuals with autism and their families are fully included in their communities, moving society beyond an awareness limited to one month on the calendar to authentic acceptance, respect, and appreciation of all autistic individuals and their inherent worth as human beings with abilities, ideas, voices, and value every day of the year.
The article also shared Critical Questions which offer thought-provoking questions addressing equity for individuals on the autism spectrum, noting the critical questions are intended to guide and expand our thinking when making decisions about the practices we use. START acknowledged that these questions are a continuous work in progress and that we would spend more time on each of these questions in the future. START is also committed to the ongoing provision of resources and dialogue to support our audience toward authentic inclusivity.
Our team has been working hard behind the scenes to honor this commitment. We hope that you will join us by engaging with the ASD 365 updates in future START Connecting emails! These updates will provide articles, podcasts, websites, webinars, and activities that will encourage deeper exploration of the Critical Questions for you to explore individually and/or with your team.
We are grateful for the work you do and for your desire to grow. We look forward to growing together!
