(Ben’s words are in ALL CAPS to show they were transcribed.)
MY NAME IS BEN BREAUX. I AM 18 YEARS OLD, AND I AM A NON-SPEAKING AUTISTIC. I BEGAN EXPRESSING MYSELF THROUGH LETTER BOARD WRITING ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. IT HAS BEEN A LIFE CHANGING JOURNEY. I TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN WRITING ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS SHARING MY THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS. BELOW IS A PIECE I WROTE ABOUT VOTING AS I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
VOTING AS A NON-SPEAKING AUTISTIC IN THE U.S.
May, 2018
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” –Francis of Assisi
TODAY, IN THE UNITED STATES, PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND OTHER DISABILITIES DO INDEED HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THIS IS A BLESSING. IT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY. THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF MANY DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY’S HISTORY, WE NOW HAVE THIS AFFIRMATIVE RIGHT. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NOT ONLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SIMPLY VOTE, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO ANY NECESSARY ASSISTANCE IN VOTING FROM A PERSON OF THEIR CHOICE.
YES, THIS MEANS PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THE ASSISTANCE OF ANOTHER PERSON IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY CAN VOTE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF WHOMEVER THEY CHOOSE. RPM-ERS CAN VOTE! LETTER-BOARDERS CAN VOTE! TYPERS CAN VOTE! FACILITATED COMMUNICATORS CAN VOTE! AND THE LIST GOES ON.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE STILL OBSTACLES THAT GET IN THE WAY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME. I WAS NEVER GIVEN THE CHANCE TO REGISTER TO VOTE WHILE IN SCHOOL LIKE MANY GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS ARE. SOME STATE GUARDIANSHIP LAWS MAKE REGISTERING TO VOTE MORE DIFFICULT SINCE I AM NOT AS INDEPENDENT AS MOST NEUROTYPICALS ARE. BUT THANKS TO MY MOM, I PLAN ON VOTING IN MANY UPCOMING ELECTIONS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVEL.
HAVING THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS A PRIVILEGE THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON ELIGIBLE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF TAKING PART IN OUR DEMOCRACY. UNFORTUNATELY, FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES FAIL TO GET REGISTERED TO VOTE AND THEREFORE LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING A SAY IN WHO LEADS OUR GOVERNING BODIES. IN ADDITION, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE PEOPLE WHO REGISTER TO VOTE DO NOT END UP VOTING AT ALL.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS; IN MY IMMEDIATE PEER CIRCLE, THIS MEANS; PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, THERAPISTS, COMMUNICATION PARTNERS, EDUCATORS, ETC. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE WITH AUTISM IN YOUR LIFE ABOUT VOTING AND THE VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS.
PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THE AUTISTICS IN YOUR LIFE ARE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL HAVE A VOICE IN OUR SOCIETY.