The inaugural edition of the Canadian Journal of Autism Equity (CJAE) was published in April 2021, The Autistic-authored content of this particular issue, both in text and images, is a worthy debut for this journal with its broad scope and potential. This issue features works primarily authored and created by the CJAE Editorial Board.
As the Canadian government moves towards implementing a National Autism Strategy, conversations around equity have perhaps never been more urgent. We must ensure that any such strategy does not reproduce past inequities and includes the voices of those who have historically been excluded. The Canadian Journal of Autism Equity represents an important new frontier in scholarship and artistic expression, one that promises to help non-autistic 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.
