I am autistic and have had first-hand negative encounters with police, all thanks to insufficient training derived from Autism Speaks. This particular training program, initiated in May 2018 by the Canadian Police Knowledge Network, was crafted at a tumultuous time when the Canadian media was rife with narratives vilifying autism. The one-hour course claims to educate officers on autism, yet it is orchestrated by Autism Speaks, an organization notorious for its exclusionary and harmful practices.

https://www.cpkn.ca/course/autism-spectrum-disorder/​

https://medium.com/artfullyautistic/autism-speaks-is-the-largest-autism-organization-so-why-dont-autistic-people-like-it-f7b3bd30dd5c

Autism Speaks is often labeled as a eugenics organization due to its historical mission focused on eradicating autism through selective abortion and current promotion of coercive conversion therapies designed to enforce conformity to neurotypical standards. Their disdainful approach reflects the content of their training materials, which include notoriously offensive and damaging hate speech videos targeting the autism community. These training resources propagate harmful stereotypes and contribute to the systematic marginalization of autistic individuals.  https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AutismSpeaksFlyer2020.pdf​

https://a4aontario.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Why-We-Oppose-Autism-Speaks.pdf

A significant flaw in the current police training is the complete absence of input from autistic individuals themselves. How can a program claim to educate effectively when it wholly ignores the perspectives and insights of those it professes to support?

The ramifications of inadequate and misinformed training are profound. We’ve witnessed tragic encounters between police officers and autistic individuals, often due to misunderstandings or misinterpretations rooted in lack of proper understanding. These incidents highlight an urgent need for revamping the existing training structure.

We urge Canadian authorities to reconsider their approach by incorporating comprehensive autism training programs directly informed and reviewed by autistic individuals and advocacy groups. Offering realistic, empathetic, and real-world strategies will equip police officers with the necessary tools to interact with respect, understanding, and dignity.

We call for a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies and autistic advocacy organizations in Canada to ensure that our communities are safe for all. Support our demand for practical, genuine autism training for police by signing this petition, and help eradicate the harm that inadequate training perpetuates.