The conversations that are weakening discussions about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are sadly becoming more acceptable. The political and social climate around the inclusion and equity regarding diverse groups of people is worsening. More recently, our incoming politicians are already discussing how they will chop away at DEI programs. What gets me is that no one is really talking about what a devastating impact it will be if we lose these essential programs.
The group of people that are at the top of the chopping block of DEI programs are those of different races. The conscious visibility of white supremacy is palpable, and too easily dismissed by many people. The unconscious bias is under the surface that shows itself in passive aggression that many ignore, after all, it's no big deal right? Wrong. The second group of people on that chopping block are LGBTQIA+ especially transgender people. The third group of people that this will impact are the disability communities that are not limited to, but include the Autistic communities. Since many Autistic individuals are represented in just about every other facet of society, where the chopping results will be felt the most.
Why are we not talking more openly about the DEI programs that will be placed on the chopping block?
The conversations that are at the forefront are by the billionaire transnational corporations. Thanks to rapid capitalism, they want their profits to increase and since many DEI programs cost businesses money, they want them chopped. One of the world's leading retail stores has already announced that they will be rolling back their DEI programs. The businesses that are rolling them back will say that they are the cause of job losses and therefore they must go first. Their double talking so called "commonsense" risk rewards analysis will make this look advantageous for the customers. As for the workers who need more representation by DEI programs, they will lose the most resources for advocacy within the workplace.
As for the groups of people that I listed above who will feel the deepest losses of the chopping of DEI programs; are the most at risk. A lot of States in the U.S. do not have human rights laws the protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in jobs, housing, financial support services, and public assistance. When there is an Autistic who is of a different race, who is also say a lesbian, with multiple disabilities and in dire need of economic assistance; their needs can be dismissed by legal discrimination with very little advocacy supports. It is people like these and many others that are being left out of the conversations that are not being had, that will feel the harshness as DEI programs and opportunities get chopped.
When Today's Autistic Moment begins its fifth season in 2025 we will be talking about Navigating the Future of Multi-Dimensional Autistic Leadership. Why? In the times we are living in, our intersectional Autistic communities need to take a leadership role in changing the conversations about why DEI programs are important, and why they need to be maintained and used. These conversations must be held with the diversity within the Autistic and Neurodivergent communities with every multi-dimensional aspect brought to the forefront of our minds. Autistic Adults will need to begin with our self-care as we feel the anxiety and fear of what is happening. As part of that self-care I believe we need to move through those feelings of anxiety and fear and find out how we can become proactive individually and collectively. As Today's Autistic Moment brings on our guests for Black History Month, Women's History Month, Autism Month and onward, you will be hearing about how diverse Autistics are feeling the brunt of what is happening, while telling us how they plan to lead us to be proactive to bring real social change to the conversations that are being silenced.
Today's Autistic Moment will continue to bring you the stories of the Multi-Dimensional Autistic communities to the safe space that the podcast has become. We will allow those voices to talk without being spoken over or silenced. Lastly, we will define how we are going to meet the challenges we face with open conversations to hopefully bring about the birth of a new environment where Autistics do more than lead. As we move forward as leaders, the world will wonder how they ever made progress without acknowledging the strength Autistic people bring to enable and navigate our future.
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