Voices of the disabled community have been consistently unaccounted for, hinting at a larger systemic problem of ableism in Canadian society, further exacerbated by societal implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, a committee of the Autism Alliance of Canada met and thoroughly examined barriers to equity within the organization itself. One thing is certain: Autistic and underrepresented voices need a platform beyond social media for advocacy.
Established in 2021, The Canadian Journal of Autism Equity (CJAE) is an open-access e-journal focused on critically engaging with a variety of equity discussions within the autism community and public policy. Seeking authorship primarily by first-voice Autistic people or people with lived experience with autism and intersectionality, CJAE seeks to offer a platform to amplify marginalized voices and share these perspectives with decision-makers and Canadians alike.
The CJAE represents an important new frontier in scholarship and artistic expression, one that promises to help Allistic people, or any privileged group, understand how to engage appropriately and respectfully with communities and cultures that may be different from their own.
By promoting the values of diversity and equity, and most importantly providing a validating voice that promotes the strengths and value of Autistic people, the journal should be of interest to everyone in the autism community, and beyond.
Aim & Scope
- A discussion on equity in the autism and disability sector in light of challenges related to equity.
- The Editorial Board will look primarily for authors with lived experience included in submissions, and, when possible, a minimum of 50% of published pieces will be authored by Autistic people.
- Provide resources to inform decision-makers about barriers to equity faced by members of the community.
- The Editorial Board in collaboration with Autism Alliance of Canada may develop Equity Toolkits, related to issue themes, based on lessons learned from the Journal to be shared with decision-makers.
As we navigate through one of the most historical moments of our nation’s collective memory with the adoption of Bill S-203, “An Act Respecting a Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder,” it is going to be a time of much celebration for many activists like myself who have spent a good chunk of our adult lives fighting for autism equity in many aspects of our lives. However, it also means that journals such as the Canadian Journal of Autism Equity, which work to amplify our voices, will be looked up to as those who will helped pave the way to this historic moment because the Autistic voice is the foundation of this journal.
