Keto - final Correspondence Address: Miranda J. Brady, School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University, Ottawa ON K1S 5B6; email: miranda.brady@carleton.ca ISSN: 1911-4788 Volume 16, Issue 2, 478-485, 2022 Creative Intervention Words, Thoughts, Actions, and Congruence in Autistic Social Justice KATE KETO1 Introduction Originally written as a poem, “Words” was created in response to “person with autism” and other such pathologizing labels and stigmas being projected onto my neurotype during a working group of parents and caregivers of neurodivergent children, which will remain unnamed. Believing my participation could contribute to conversations and actions enabling better understandings, acceptance, accessibility, and support for Autistics in our community in self-guided, meaningful, and humane ways, I eagerly joined the working group with open heart. As the lone Autistic parent in the room, it soon became apparent that my voice was only needed or wanted if it was in alignment with the non-Autistic majority. Alienated and feeling spoken over and gatekept on issues directly related to me, every meeting was an exercise in patience. When the topic of “autism” arose, it was difficult to hear the sympathies parents felt for each other over having to “manage” their Autistic children, but when I tried to explain or present the experience from an Autistic perspective, I was told that my voice was better off silent or that I “took up too much space.” I departed that committee dejected, and any bits of my voice or suggestions that remained were co-opted and appropriated, but not necessarily for the right reasons. It was not my first experience of being silenced, and of oppression and appropriation, and it was certainly not the last. These experiences inspired me to write the piece “Words.” Soon afterwards, it quickly became apparent “Words” were not enough. And so began the journey of “Words, Thoughts, Actions and Congruence.” I hope you enjoy. 1 Editor’s note: Kate Keto is a pseudonym. The author is an autistic mom to an autistic child, and a social justice advocate. In this case, Studies in Social Justice respects the author’s preference to remain anonymous. Any correspondence may be sent to the address below, from where it will be redirected to the author. Words, Thoughts, Actions, and Congruence in Autistic Social Justice Studies in Social Justice, Volume 16, Issue 2, 478-485, 2022 479 Kate Keto Studies in Social Justice, Volume 16, Issue 2, 478-485, 2022 480 Words, Thoughts, Actions, and Congruence in Autistic Social Justice Studies in Social Justice, Volume 16, Issue 2, 478-485, 2022 481 Kate Keto Studies in Social Justice, Volume 16, Issue 2, 478-485, 2022 482 Words, Thoughts, Actions, and Congruence in Autistic Social Justice Studies in Social Justice, Volume 16, Issue 2, 478-485, 2022 483 Kate Keto Studies in Social Justice, Volume 16, Issue 2, 478-485, 2022 484 Words, Thoughts, Actions, and Congruence in Autistic Social Justice Studies in Social Justice, Volume 16, Issue 2, 478-485, 2022 485 Acknowledgments Referenced words used to describe Autistics, as listed in “Thoughts” were identified by Meghan Ashburn in her public Facebook group, Not An Autism Mom, which can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/notanautismmom/photos/a.323348721443783/92 7102087735107/ (retrieved June 26, 2020). The graphic design for this piece was created by Kennedy Ryan.