An Advocate’s Dream

An Advocate’s Dream

My name is Jam Gamble and I’ve been a proud advocate for 17 years and an even prouder educator for 6 years. My career primarily revolves around promoting disability awareness. At first, I wasn’t as outspoken and passionate about promoting Autism awareness but as a grew in the field, I learned that being an advocate is more than just working with my students/clients, it also includes educating my community.  

I came up with my ‘Advocate’s Dream’ as a way to express how we as a community can be much more inclusive and understanding towards people with Autism.

“An Advocate’s Dream”

• That people will realize the pain they cause others when they use degrading names like the R word.
• That more employers will welcome the opportunity to hire more adults with Autism and see that they are hard and dedicated workers just like any other employee.
• That society will stop assuming that people with Autism are unteachable.
• That our community will change their glaring looks into friendly smiles.
• That our community will see the person FIRST and their diagnosis later.
• That parents will educate their children about classmates in their class who may be ‘different’.
• That society will become more empathetic towards parents who’s child may be having a moment (just like any other child) while in public.
• That restaurants, clothing stores, and business realize that being accessible is more than having the right washrooms and a ramp, it’s have an accessible attitude and mindset.
• That wait list be shortened, that funding be increased, and more free services be available.
• That we can stop focusing on only curing Autism, when we should be working towards understanding Autism.
• That there be WAY more: love, unity, acceptance, inclusion, education, support, and awareness (just to name a few)
• And less: stigma, judgement, stereotypes, bullying, closed doors, lost voices, hurt feelings, and misunderstood individuals.

And last, but not least…that everyday be an awareness day, and not just one day in a month.

Like I already mentioned, accessibility is more than clearing physical barriers, it’s dismissing our judgments and stereotypes, and getting to know someone first who has Autism rather than make assumptions.

Have any questions? Interested in my inclusion workshops? I’d love to help. Visit me at www.msjam.ca and let’s talk.