Julia's Journey

08/14/2026

Peek-a-boo

07/23/2026

🧩 💜

In 2010, Ari Ne’eman became the first openly autistic person appointed to the National Council on Disability by the White House.

Not everyone supported the decision. Some organizations argued he should not serve because he challenged traditional views about autism. Others believed autistic people needed to be directly represented in decisions that affected their own lives.

Despite the opposition, the U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment.

Ari went on to serve as an adviser on disability policy, advocating for accessibility, employment, education, and the inclusion of autistic voices in public policy.

Whether people agreed with every position he held or not, his appointment marked a turning point. For the first time, an openly autistic person had a seat at one of the highest levels of disability policy in the United States.

The conversation about “nothing about us without us” continues today, but Ari Ne’eman helped bring that principle into the national spotlight.

Source: White House Archives, U.S. Senate, National Council on Disability

07/18/2026

The R-word isn’t just outdated, it’s harmful.

Too many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have grown up hearing it used as a punchline, insult, or a label to dismiss and dehumanize them.

In our newest blog, people share the real impact this word has had on their lives. Their stories are powerful, painful, and honest—and they show exactly why this word needs to go.

Read their words. Feel their lived experiences. And then make the choice to never use it again and to say something when others use it: https://bit.ly/46eCLLw

07/17/2026

Some children are punished for the very skills they have never been taught.

A child who screams, hits, refuses, hides, cries or shuts down is not always choosing to be difficult. They are often struggling with feelings that are simply too big for them to manage.

Emotional regulation is not something children are born with. It develops through safe, patient and supportive relationships.

Imagine if every adult understood this before reacting to a child's behaviour.

Less shame. Less punishment. More understanding. Better outcomes.

07/07/2026

07/02/2026

This right here.