FROM THE STACKS
EDITOR’S NOTE: There are literally thousands of journals published around the world that relate to the disability community. It is virtually impossible to capture even a fraction of them. HELEN receives "stacks" of journals and selectively earmarks what we feel are "must read" articles of interest for our readers. It's a HELEN perk!
The Gifts of People With Autism
By Timothy Shriver, PhD (Special Olympics website)
As we come to the end of Autism Awareness Month, we want to join with self-advocates and friends and family members around the world in celebrating the gifts of people with autism. We have been reminded again and again that people with autism can and will continue to be wonderful children, brothers and sisters, and members of families. They can and will continue to go to school, be great friends, join teams, and contribute to their communities. People with autism can and will continue to date, hold jobs, marry, and pay taxes.
Slurs and statements that demean, devalue, demonize and identify people with intellectual and developmental differences as hopeless are not only inaccurate but they are also deeply damaging to the hopes and dreams of millions of people who struggle for dignity every day. Over a decade ago Special Olympics athletes and Best Buddies asked both of our organizations to champion ending the use of the R-word— a label that has repeatedly caused severe damage.
To summarize Alex Burns, Special Olympics athlete, staff member, and advocate, there have been some misconceptions floating around about people with autism and intellectual disabilities – assumptions that they’ll never contribute, never connect, never create, never belong.
Out of respect for Alex and millions of others, we will continue to invite leaders of all ages to join us in affirming that people with Autism and other forms of intellectual disabilities have gifts.
Our family has been active in the work of promoting the gifts and contributions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for more than half a century. We have learned so much from the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of people with intellectual disabilities — including many with autism — who have touched our lives--all our lives. They have shown us skills, grace and empathy. Toughness, determination and courage. Humor, smarts and wisdom. They are friends. Great friends. And there are thousands upon thousands of athletes, of course. Marathon runners, soccer stars, downhill skiers, and open-ocean swimmers. But also, actors, computer experts, graphic designers, artists, activists and old married couples. We know their gifts are immeasurable, and we will not stop promoting them in the United States and around the world.
As we celebrate, we also know that having a disability is often not easy. Many people who have severe physical or intellectual disabilities have limited life options. They are familiar with pain and adversity, often struggling every day with what many of us take for granted. So, we will continue to support the best research and care that can help all people with intellectual differences remain strong and lead fulfilling lives.
Even in the midst of difficulty, there are gifts too. If you want to be amazed and humbled by humanity in all its diversity, join Special Olympics and Best Buddies, read our stories, there are many. We invite you to learn. It's a lifelong process, but it's never too late to start. Or just go to work or school or church. Look around and see the dignity in everyone, and you may well discover the best in yourself too.
About the Author
Timothy Shriver leads the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, and together with 6 million Special Olympics athletes in more than 200 countries, promotes health, education, and a more unified world through the joy of sport.
Disability-rights Arguments Grow Heated at Supreme Court
…Though sweeping ruling appears unlikely
AP (04/28/2025)
A disability-rights case at the Supreme Court grew unusually heated on Monday, including accusations of lying and references to one side's position being a potential “five-alarm fire.”
The appeal comes from a teenage girl with a rare form of epilepsy whose family says some courts have made it too hard to sue public schools that fail to make sure students get what they need to learn.
Her family appealed to the Supreme Court after lower courts blocked their discrimination case despite findings that her Minnesota school hadn’t done enough to accommodate her.
Their attorney, Roman Martinez, said the district’s position had shifted to a potential “five-alarm fire” for the disability-rights community.
Instead of defending the lower-court decisions that set a different legal standard to sue schools, they argued that all claims over accommodations for people with disabilities should be held to the higher same standard.
The school district’s lawyer, Lisa Blatt, pushed back on the idea that their arguments had changed. “They are adding words to our mouth. We never said you should have a double regime,” she said.
At the insistence of Justice Neil Gorsuch, she withdrew the allegation that the other side had lied but held firm to the contention that disability-rights claims should be held to a higher legal standard.
The justices appeared skeptical of that argument, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett calling it a “sea change” and questioning whether any lower courts had adopted a similar view.
A decision in the case is expected by the end of June.
NTG (National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices)
GUIDE - A NEW PROGRAM THAT CAN OFFER SUPPORT TO FAMILIES
CARING FOR AN ADULT WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND
DEMENTIA
REGISTRATION REQUIRED. SCAN QR CODE (See image above) TO REGISTER.
Free Webinar for Family Caregivers
An informational webinar for families of people
with intellectual disabilities.
Monday, May 19 @ 7 PM EDT