4 to 1 odds

[421odds]

poetry ~ Small Bones Tell ~

From an article: Retired teacher's poem encapsulates horrors of residential schools

"“This was written from a deep sense of sadness,” says the poet, who grew up in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce."

Author of the article: Bill Brownstein • Montreal Gazette

[421odds]

Should this be allowed to happen, anywhere?

28 long-term drinking water advisories for public water systems in First Nations are more than 10 years old.

[421odds]

To all Canadian governments:

Fix the water. Fix the housing. Fix the medical care. Fix the schools.

That's just the start.

[spongebobmauriciopants]

#repost @oncanadaproject from Instagram

__

🗣Please Share & Amplify

➡️Our history in Canada is horrifying, & until we acknowledge that & recognize the truth, we will continue upholding systems built on a foundation of racism, violence & harm without question.

215 Indigenous children were found buried at a Kamloops residential school site, some as young as THREE years old.

That residential school only closed in 1978. The last residential school closed in 1996. This isn't some distant history that we are talking about.

And Indigenous people continue to be oppressed in this country, the effects are very much felt in present day.

We should be collectively grieving this atrocity as a country.

—

Please share any accounts or resources we should follow here or link on www.OnCanadaProject.ca/SettlersTakeAction

Click the title slide for accounts you should follow to learn more.

—

Support is available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports. The Indian Residential School Survivours Society (IRSSS) can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-721-0066.

#oncanadaproject

[421odds]

To all Canadian governments:

Fix the water. Fix the housing. Fix the medical care. Fix the schools.

That's just the start.

[theotherpictureblog]

today, it’s quiet :)

[posterwindows]

Thank you! (and a stress reliever)

Thank you to every one who works in medical and caring professions, and to every one who provides services, looks after people, or just helps others as part of your life.

Many people appreciate what you are doing, especially these days. And it's stressful.

Something easy might help, that you likely already know - looking at peaceful nature, even a glance, reduces stress. I found that it works for me, and it might for you too :)

If you can’t get outside, put up a nature picture you like where you will see it, at work or at home. If you don't have one handy, I don’t mind if you print one of mine for yourself ~

.. Best wishes (and relaxing views ;)

[butterflyoftheday]

The Glasswinged Butterfly Today’s lovely lepidopteran is a member of the brush-footed family called Greta oto, or the glasswinged butterfly. It is named after its uniquely transparent wings, which give it the advantage of camouflage without any extensive coloration. This butterfly fits in wherever it goes! In Spanish speaking countries, this butterfly is sometimes known as espejitos, or “little mirrors”. Its glass-like wings may evoke an air of fragility, but this dainty-looking creature is actually capable of carrying up to forty times its own weight and it has been known to make long migrations. The glasswinged butterfly is typically found in Central and South America, and thrives in tropical rainforest conditions.

Image Source: David Tiller. August 30th, 2008. Wikimedia Commons.

[421odds]

awesome!

[421odds]

A small Red Winged Blackbird chases a much bigger Great Blue Heron away from its nest.

It’s about courage, not size… courage comes from purpose for people too :)

[thatgirlwithadhd]

April 4th: Are there any topics regarding autism that you feel don’t get discussed enough?

Yes, lots! But I think the #1 thing I would like to see discussed more is the problem of infantilization. I want this talked about more because it’s the #1 mistake I see well-meaning allistic people make (especially but not exclusively able-bodied, neurotypical people).

What is infantilization?

To infantilize someone means to “treat [them] as a child or in a way which denies their maturity in age or experience” (from Oxford Languages). Wikipedia calls it “the prolonged treatment of one who has a mental capacity greater than that of a child as though they are a child,” and notes that “Studies have shown that an individual, when infantilized, is overwhelmingly likely to feel disrespected. Such individuals may report a sense of transgression akin to dehumanization.”

What does the infantilization of autistic people look like?

This is not a complete list (my autistic siblings, feel free to add on):

Elevating the voices of parents of autistic kids and allowing them to be the main storytellers of the story of autism (which leads to the story perpetually being about autistic children)

Presuming autistic people are dependent on others to speak and make decisions for them even as adults (I am what most allistics would call “high functioning” and even I have this happen! I’m sure it’s even worse for people who struggle more with masking)

Treating autistic social peers like a young child or a cute dog (I’ve had people use the exact same voice on me that they’d use on pets), instead of true friendship or the respect offered to an equal

Making fun of autistic-like traits but specifically making exceptions for people who are actually autistic, implying both that autistic behavior is worth derision and that we’re too mentally incompetent to be held to the same standards (“Don’t make fun of her for that, she’s autistic!”)

Making a big dealing of autistic people doing regular things (getting a job, getting married, etc)

Portraying our friends, partners, employers, etc as generous saints who only befriend/date/hire us as charity (“oh it’s so nice of her to ask that autistic boy to prom!” or “local shop gives autistic young adult a job!”) rather than because we’re good friends, partners or employees

Thinking autistic people are incapable of understanding or having relationships, including sexual relationships

Not teaching basic sex ed to special ed students, even tho many of them are physically capable and curious like most teens and are more vulnerable to abuse which makes learning about sex even more important

Headcanoning all autistic-coded characters as asexual due to their autistic traits (it is OKAY to have ace autistic characters, but if you headcanon every autistic coded character as ace, ask why—is it bc you see autistic traits as childlike?)

Also in fandom, describing autistic coded characters as “perfect smol beans” or “stupid idiot babies” etc (this happens to ADHD coded characters too)

Talking about autistic people as tho we’re all pure, innocent beings (we’re not anymore than other people, and if we are naive it is often due to information and experiences being kept from us, like autistic kids not being taught about sex)

Basically, if you treat autistic people like oversized children who can’t have real friendships, romantic/sexual relationships, jobs, or other adult accomplishments, and your response to seeing any autistic people doing these things is the attitude of “oh cute, it thinks it’s a person,” you are infantilizing us. Please stop.

Non-autistic people, I would love if you’d reblog this. Like I said, it is the #1 thing I see well-meaning allistic people doing. It is humiliating, degrading, and dehumanizing. Please help more people learn about this so they’ll stop doing it.

[rowan-reads]

This is a huge thing that impacts me often. I’ve had librarians tell me I need a guardian to renew my card (I don’t); I’ve had a vet keep talking to me mom about my dog despite her constantly deferring to me; I’ve had people speak to me in the voice usually reserved for cute baby animals. I’m a grown woman with a job and bills. It’s not fun being treated this way based on people’s incorrect assumptions and I want it to stop.

[421odds]

reblogged :)

[421odds]

[421odds]

Latte?

[421odds]

Hello world :)

I'm moderately optimistic that some things can be helped... (they don't have to be big to matter)