About Amy Sequenzia

Amy Sequenzia is a non-speaking Autistic, multiply disabled activist and writer. Amy writes about disability rights, civil rights and human rights. She also writes poetry. Amy has presented in several conferences in the US and abroad, and her work is featured in books about being Autistic and Disabled. Amy is deeply involved with the Neurodiversity Movement and has been outspoken about the rights and worthy of disabled people. Amy serves on the Board of Directors of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), and the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST). http://nonspeakingautisticspeaking.blogspot.com and Autism Women’s Network. You can also follow Amy on Twitter at @AmySequenzia.

Real Consequences

2016-11-10T10:11:40-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Disability Rights, Featured (Homepage), General, Parenting, Search Categories|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Autism Speaks has been hurting autistics for too long. We are fighting back and we are stronger. It is time to say things like they are. This post is because I feel offended by people defending hateful speech.

This Is Autism by Amy Sequenzia

2016-11-10T10:11:41-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, Autism, blog, General, Inclusive Education, Neurodiversity, Politics, Search Categories|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today we are flashblogging to counter Autism Speaks’ wrong view of autism. We are showing what autism really is. We speak for ourselves, even if Autism Speaks refuses to listen. The rest of the world will.

Open Letter To Jon Stewart

2016-11-10T10:11:42-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Featured (Homepage), General, Search Categories, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , |

When I met Jon Stewart I was very disappointed by his lack of knowledge and sensitivity toward autism. During a recent interview, while still a bit condescending, his views seem to have evolved. This is my open letter to him.

Again, We Mourn

2016-11-10T10:11:43-05:00By |Categories: Ableism, Advocacy, Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, Autism, blog, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My soul hurts and I am naming names. And I am saying, if you have a drop of sympathy for the murderers, or almost murderers, you have blood on your hands too.

The Reality Behind Those Walls

2016-11-10T10:11:44-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Featured (Homepage), General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Judge Rotenberg Center is recruiting disabled students in the Midwest to be legally tortured with electric shocks. Help us stop this inhumane treatment of disabled people.

Being Where I Can Simply Be

2016-11-10T10:11:47-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

After a three-day conference, I needed to sleep. I needed to sleep because I was dreamy, trying to keep the feeling of being in a place where I can be myself and also be a little bit like a star. Also, building community.

Because I Stood With Henry

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Amy Sequenzia, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Featured (Homepage), General, Henry, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Because I stood with Henry I am happier today and you should too. Henry not only got his rights, he proved that presumption of competence should be the default for every student.

Untitled

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This is not directed at anyone in particular. It is about several people I’ve met throughout my life. I sometimes need to remind myself that being me means following my own agenda and not pleasing the ones who will not be part of my story.

Amy Sequenzia: Does it matter?

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Should it matter that some of us are labeled intellectually disabled? Read the definitions, look at us in a realistic way and ask yourself; Does it matter? Aren’t we all worthy?

Mother

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Amy Sequenzia, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Editor's Picks, General, Parenting, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

This is for every person who embodies the meaning of motherhood. This is for the ones who nurture and protect, who never consider their lives more important than the lives of the ones being nourished, educated, protected and loved.

Standing With Ashley

2016-11-10T10:11:50-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , |

I stand with Ashley because she is part of our community, she is brave and she survived brutality.I stand with Ashley because I hope to show her, one day, that the joy of belonging to our caring community trumps the memories of pain.

“Loud Hands – Autistic People, Speaking” A Review

2016-11-10T10:11:55-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Around the Web, Author, blog, Books You Need, Editor's Picks, General, Neurodiversity, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The title of the book should be enough for anyone who wants to know, know more or know anything, about autism and Autistics to buy it and read it.

I Feel Tired

2016-11-10T10:11:56-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Disability Rights, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), General, Parenting, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Some parents understand that autism is a natural part of some children’s lives and they fight the societal attitudes toward autistics. That’s love. Some parents don’t, and they fight, and hurt, their own children. This is not love and is one of the things that make me very tired.

When Autistics Grade Other Autistics

2016-11-10T10:11:59-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Disability Rights, Featured (Homepage), General, Parenting, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree…”We know how functioning labels are not helpful, despite being largely used by neurotypicals. But some autistics also grade members of our community and I want to understand why.

I Am Autistic and I Know What Autism Is

2016-11-10T10:12:00-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Autism is not a set of deficits. Autism is complex and all of us can self-advocate despite the difficulties we might face. Autism is life. I am Autistic, I self-advocate and I am happy.

It is About Respect

2016-11-10T10:12:00-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Respect for one another is one basic quality if we want to have meaningful conversations and relationships with other human beings. The ableism that disabled people experience is a form of disrespect.

Amy Sequenzia: I Need to Thank Some People

2016-11-10T10:12:02-05:00By |Categories: Amy Sequenzia, blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

After “Non-speaking, ‘low-functioning’” was published, lots of people wanted to hear from me. I met so many amazing people, autistic bloggers with so much to share and the smartest people I know. Parents of autistic children also valued my words.

Amy Sequenzia: I, Too, Want to Understand.

2016-11-10T10:12:05-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, blog, Featured (Homepage), General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Why would a parent of an autistic child decide that it is better not to listen to other autistics? Why? I, Too, Want to Understand.

Amy Sequenzia: To You, Young Autistic Friend

2016-11-10T10:12:05-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, blog, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Autistic advocate and poet Amy Sequenzia's message of acceptance and respect for young autistics for 2012 Autistics Speaking Day. "There is nothing wrong with being who you are. You are perfect in your uniqueness."

Supporting Young Autistics

2016-11-10T10:12:05-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, blog, Featured (Homepage), General, Lifestyle, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

We hope that young autistics today will be proud of themselves and without shame. The message that boy received at that moment was the opposite of acceptance. It was ableist and it came from someone who is part of our own community.

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