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Showing posts with label current events and news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label current events and news. Show all posts

Saturday, April 19, 2025

RFK Jr.’s Statements on autism



 I will correct him for free.

Blog Post Update: 4/20/25
(Yeah, I should have posted this two days ago, but I really sat on it... maybe too long. ๐Ÿ˜… Are there other moms out there who this lit a fire under too? Feel free to drop your soapbox moments below—I want to hear how you processed this. ๐Ÿ’ฌ๐Ÿ’›)

Who Hired This Guy?! …Oh ๐Ÿ˜’… and he’s paid too.
Ugh. Let me help him—for free.


RFK Jr.’s recent input on autism...
As a neurodivergent parent of kids on the spectrum and with other challenges—and someone who’s done the work, the reading, and the advocating—I couldn’t scroll past this without speaking from my heart.

Let’s break down what he said… and what’s actually true:


๐Ÿงพ “They’ll never pay taxes.”
Aww, boo-hoo. I see your top concern here.
Fact: Many autistic adults do work and pay taxes. Let’s stop pretending they can’t contribute to society.


๐Ÿ‘” “They’ll never have a job.”
False.
Hey—bet they could list facts better than this guy and follow rules more closely, too.


✍️ “They’ll never write a poem.”
Wrong.
Neurodivergent minds create some of the most beautiful, brilliant, and haunting art I’ve ever seen.

Someone doesn’t read—I see! Read. A. Book.
Might I suggest The Midnight Library by Matt Haig? An autistic author. International bestseller. You're welcome.


“They’ll never play baseball.”
Oh, be quiet. You sound ridiculous.
I know someone who lives and breathes sports. Stop putting people in boxes.


๐Ÿšฝ “Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”
Support needs vary.
That doesn’t make anyone less—and this kind of stereotyping is just gross.


๐Ÿ’” “Autism destroys families.”
Nope. Stigma does. Judgment does. Lack of support does.

We’ve had good and bad days—but through it all, we’ve gained clarity.
We see through a lens most people can’t.
Maybe it was a golden opportunity—one that pushed me into a passion I didn’t even know I had a voice for.

Knowing I had to be the one to stand up for my children—because of people like this.

They speak the loudest, knowing the least.
Unable to place themselves in someone else’s shoes.


I went back to school.
I read. I researched. I showed up.
Endless appointments. Doctor-hunting. Trial-and-error routines and meds.
I’ve had to advocate without a guidebook—just instinct, pain, and a whole lot of hope.

And still, I often felt alone.
I still feel there aren’t enough community groups or services for moms who want real answers—not just to be told to accept it, or to put their child in a hospital for a “break.”

✔️ Earned. ✔️

Because of all this… I know I’m a better person.


So why does he keep saying these things?
What’s his passion—what inspired him?
I know why I’ve dug into this… but what’s his reason?
Because from here, he seems pretty clueless.


And lastly… the one that really got me:
“What are we doing to our kids?”
Grrrrr.

He’s barking up the wrong group of mama bears.

I can't speak for all moms, but I know I’m not the only one who has questioned everything.
EVERYTHING—before, during, and after my children were born.

I blamed myself.
But the truth is—there are multiple studies on this.
It’s in the genes.
Even if it skips a sibling or a parent.


#Advocacy #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #MamaBearMode #FactsOverFear


  • CDC Autism Facts:
    https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
    → For up-to-date data on prevalence and developmental monitoring

  • Genetic factors in autism spectrum disorders – NIH Study:
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7229854/
    → Key insight: “Genetic factors contribute substantially to ASD risk”

  • Autism Speaks: Genetics & Heritability:
    https://www.autismspeaks.org/genetics-autism
    → Breaks down inherited vs. spontaneous genetic mutations

  • The Art of Autism:
    https://the-art-of-autism.com/
    → Showcases poetry, art, and writing by neurodivergent creators

  • National Library of Medicine – ASD and Toilet Training Difficulties:
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8039181/

  • Evidence that stigma—not autism—hurts families:
    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613221084652
    → Science-backed support for your point about stigma being the real issue

  • Sunday, April 06, 2025

    Who is Ron Vara?

     Peter Navarro,

     a former trade adviser to President Trump, introduced a fictional character named Ron Vara in his writings. "Ron Vara" is an anagram of "Navarro" and was used by Navarro as a literary device in his books. ​


    In his 2001 book, If It's Raining in Brazil, Buy Starbucks, Navarro presented "Ron Vara" among other fictional characters to illustrate points in his analysis. However, in later works, "Ron Vara" was cited without clear indication of its fictional nature, leading to confusion about the character's authenticity. ​




    The use of "Ron Vara" was acknowledged by Navarro as a whimsical device, but this practice drew criticism, especially when readers and co-authors were unaware of the character's fictional status. ​

    Therefore, "Ron Vara" was not a real person but a construct created by Peter Navarro within his publications.


    SOURCES: 

    • www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/22/one-important-thing-people-are-missing-about-peter-navarro-ron-vara/. Accessed 06 Apr. 2025.
    • “White House Adviser Peter Navarro Calls Fictional Alter Ego An ‘Inside Joke.’” NPR, 18 Oct. 2019, www.npr.org/transcripts/771396016. Accessed 06 Apr. 2025.
    • “The Entire Tariff Executive Order Is Based on Bogus Numbers and a Fake Expert Economist.” Daily Kos, www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/5/2314736/-The-entire-tariff-Executive-Order-is-based-on-bogus-numbers-and-a-fake-expert-economist. Accessed 06 Apr. 2025.

    Wednesday, April 02, 2025

    Federal Freeze Puts Mississippi Libraries at Risk

    A Trump-era executive order aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy has left Mississippi libraries in a bind. Signed on March 14, the order drastically limited operations at several federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the main source of federal funding for libraries and museums across the U.S. The IMLS, a small agency with about 70 employees, awarded over $266 million in grants last year. Mississippi received $2.1 million to support tech upgrades, internet access, interlibrary loan programs, Talking Book Services for visually impaired readers, and childhood literacy initiatives like summer reading. While most local libraries are funded by city, county, and state taxes, federal grants often fill crucial gaps—especially for one-time improvements and accessibility programs. Due to staffing disruptions at IMLS, grant processing and fund disbursement have stalled. Advocacy group Every Library warned, “This is not merely a bureaucratic activity; it is a crisis for the library, museum, and archive communities across the United States.” This pause in federal support could delay key programs and leave Mississippi libraries struggling to maintain essential services.

    Monday, March 24, 2025

    They Couldn’t Control Me—So They Turned My Kids into a Political Target- a DEI story part 1

    They Couldn’t Control Me— I advocated for her rights (DEI) So They Turned My Kids into a Political Target. (And they called it counseling.)





    DEI isn’t what you think.
    Give me one minute to explain—before you start yelling “leftist" or "Crazy"
    This isn’t about politics. It’s about people.

    Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.
    I hear your defense forming.
    But now—hear me.
    Equity ≠ Equality
    ◘ Equality gives everyone the same thing.
    ◘ Equity gives people what they need to succeed—because not everyone starts at the same line.
    MERIT?
    How do you know they don’t have merit?
    You know how people often want what they don’t have?
    Straight hair wants curly. Brown eyes want blue.
    Now imagine yourself or your child being denied the job, a class, or the future you dreamed of—not because of ability or effort, but because of a box someone else decided to check for you.
    Maybe—because of that passion, that deep longing—they can do it even better.
    Merit isn’t missing.
    It’s not a lack of drive—it’s a lack of access, and who’s holding the keys.

    Now picture this: it’s your child.
    They’re denied the class they asked for, the chance they were ready for—
    not because they couldn’t handle it,
    but because someone decided they didn’t belong.
    You’ve seen the late nights, the anxiety, the courage.
    And still, a gate they never built is slammed shut in their face.
    Then... oh, you better believe there's more.
    But I’ll save that part for another post—because this kind of discrimination?
    It comes in three parts.
    So, buckle up…
    while you sit pretty in that carefree life of yours.
    This happened with DEI protections in place. Now imagine it without it!
    you don’t just see the injustice—
    you feel it in your bones.

    ๐Ÿง ๐ŸชทRooted in resilience, burning with truth๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ”ฅ — Kimberly Rae Ollison
    #RootedInResilience #BurningWithTruth #DEIclarity #LetUsIn #GatekeepingIsReal #MamaBearAdvocacy #MeritMeetsBarriers







    Monday, February 24, 2025

    Justice Department purge under Trump administration | 60 Minutes

     

    Despite not being a huge fan of some news channels myself, I always keep an eye open to all viewpoints, even those I disagree with. I've been tooting this horn for years, despite judgement and negativity. I honestly, just do not understand how this looks like justice. Have they seen the actual footage on that day?

    Roses are wilted

    Quote inspirational bookmark with roses. by Kimberly Ollison

    About Me

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    Hi there! I’m Kimberly Rae, an artist, writer, and advocate passionate about creativity, neurodiversity, and parenting. This blog is my little corner of the world where I share my journey—whether it’s painting custom artwork, writing heartfelt children's books, or navigating the ups and downs of motherhood. Here, you’ll find a mix of behind-the-scenes looks at my art, creative inspiration, custom pieces, kid-friendly activities, and advice for parents—especially those raising neurodivergent children. As a mom who understands the beauty and challenges of raising kids with unique minds, I love sharing insights, resources, and encouragement for fellow parents. I believe that art, storytelling, and parenting all go hand in hand—shaping who we are and the world we create for our children. So, whether you're here for inspiration, support, or just to connect, I’m so glad you stopped by!