WithinReach's DEI Newsletter: April 2022

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Centering and Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month



This month, WithinReach would like to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month! April is Autism Acceptance Month and is a great time to learn more about autism and autistic folks. When celebrating this month or anytime of the year, it is important to listen to autistic educators, support autistic creators, center experiences from autistic folks and donate to organizations that are made for and led by autistic voices. This Reddit thread shows some good rules of thumb when supporting autism organizations and explains why April might be a difficult month for autistic people.


(Content warning for Reddit Thread: ableism against autistic folks and brief mentions of violence against autistic children) 

Read: Welcome to the Autistic Community 
Read: "Why Autistic People Are Using #Actuallyautistic on Social Media"
Watch:  "Neurowonderful" and "Ask an Autistic
What Else Is Happening This Month?
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Ramadan 2022: April 2 - May 2

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar for 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. From sun-up to sundown, the physically able will fast. The month is centered on charity, worship, and developing empathy and connection to others. But there is also a strong communal aspect that's an essential part of the experience. 


Learn More

Passover (Pesach): April 15 - 23

Passover is celebrated by Jews every year, commemorating the anniversary of their Exodus from Egyptian slavery and is important to Jews, as it celebrates their birth as a nation. On Passover, Jews may not own or consume chametz, anything containing grain that has risen.


Learn More

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Day of Silence: April 22

The GLSEN Day of Silence is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies all around the country and the world take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools.


Learn More

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Earth Day: April 22

This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the annual event aimed at demonstrating support for environmental protection. This year’s theme is, “Invest in Our Planet.” We know that low-income and minority communities are disproportionately impacted by systems that prioritize profits over humans.


Learn More

Local Community Events and Resources

  • Follow and connect with autistic activists - Whether you’re autistic and looking for a stronger sense of community and to learn about perspectives outside your own, or you’re not autistic and want to support autism acceptance, the following list of activists from Rooted in Rights can serve as a starting point.





Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Team Updates

Affinity Groups are starting-- please complete the pre-work!

 

  • Mark your calendars for the upcoming affinity groups 
  • BIPOC: Took place on 4/13
  • LGBTQIA+: 4/20 from 9:30 – 11 am 
  • White-bodied: 4/27 @ 9:30 – 11 am 


  • Reminder: Please only attend the groups in which you hold that specific identity. You may hold more than one of these identities, we will be doing the same activity in each session so feel free to join just one session or multiple if you would like to do the activities with different aspects of your identity in mind more than once. 


  • Feedback, comments, questions, ideas? Feel free to utilize our DEI feedback form. This is a space for you to use your voice and be heard. This form gives you the opportunity to submit feedback anonymously as well.  


Do you have any DEI-related/DEI Newsletter feedback, resources or ideas? Email us at DEI@withinreachwa.org!

WithinReach would like to acknowledge that we occupy the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular the Tulalip, Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Suquamish and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes and the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, past, present and future, and honor with gratitude the land itself. We see you, respect your right to sovereignty and self-determination, and are committed to being better listeners, learners and in lifting Indigenous voices.
Why are land acknowledgements important?
Land Reparations & Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit
Learn more about Indigenous territories, languages and lands