Eric Garcia

I'm a journalist. I'm a writer. I write about autism, but I'm not, I don't advocate for a policy thing. But my overture and my olive branch and my fig leaf is the people who are on the front lines.

I'm a journalist. I'm a writer. I write about autism, but I'm not, I don't advocate for a policy thing. But my overture and my olive branch and my fig leaf is the people who are on the front lines.

I'm a journalist. I'm a writer. I write about autism, but I'm not, I don't advocate for a policy thing. But my overture and my olive branch and my fig leaf is the people who are on the front lines.

advocating for your kids are those same speaking autistic advocates and those same self-advocates it's funny when i was uh uh one when i was interviewing julia bascom the former head of the autistic self-advocacy network she has in her office one of the signs that they made for uh pushing back against the repeal of obamacare saying please don't cut medicaid so we could stop making so autistic people have to stop making phone calls you know um

advocating for your kids are those same speaking autistic advocates and those same self-advocates it's funny when i was uh uh one when i was interviewing julia bascom the former head of the autistic self-advocacy network she has in her office one of the signs that they made for uh pushing back against the repeal of obamacare saying please don't cut medicaid so we could stop making so autistic people have to stop making phone calls you know um

advocating for your kids are those same speaking autistic advocates and those same self-advocates it's funny when i was uh uh one when i was interviewing julia bascom the former head of the autistic self-advocacy network she has in her office one of the signs that they made for uh pushing back against the repeal of obamacare saying please don't cut medicaid so we could stop making so autistic people have to stop making phone calls you know um

They are on the front lines this time to prevent the cuts to Medicaid that Republicans want to do, that RFK's administration, the Trump administration wants to do, and House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to do, and Republicans in the House want to do.

They are on the front lines this time to prevent the cuts to Medicaid that Republicans want to do, that RFK's administration, the Trump administration wants to do, and House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to do, and Republicans in the House want to do.

They are on the front lines this time to prevent the cuts to Medicaid that Republicans want to do, that RFK's administration, the Trump administration wants to do, and House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to do, and Republicans in the House want to do.

I see. So you're saying you as a speaking – advocate or writer are not making a distinction between high needs, not high needs. You're just out there raising awareness for autism more broadly, whether it's for her kid, for yourself, for society, just to generally understand autism.

I see. So you're saying you as a speaking – advocate or writer are not making a distinction between high needs, not high needs. You're just out there raising awareness for autism more broadly, whether it's for her kid, for yourself, for society, just to generally understand autism.

I see. So you're saying you as a speaking – advocate or writer are not making a distinction between high needs, not high needs. You're just out there raising awareness for autism more broadly, whether it's for her kid, for yourself, for society, just to generally understand autism.

And I'll say this. I'll say this. This is what I would say. And I mean this from the bottom of my heart. And forgive me for being, I don't know how emotional I could be in this thing. As much as you want. I think meeting other autistic people, including high support needs, non-speaking autistic people, helped me learn about myself.

And I'll say this. I'll say this. This is what I would say. And I mean this from the bottom of my heart. And forgive me for being, I don't know how emotional I could be in this thing. As much as you want. I think meeting other autistic people, including high support needs, non-speaking autistic people, helped me learn about myself.

And I'll say this. I'll say this. This is what I would say. And I mean this from the bottom of my heart. And forgive me for being, I don't know how emotional I could be in this thing. As much as you want. I think meeting other autistic people, including high support needs, non-speaking autistic people, helped me learn about myself.

You know, I think about how when non-speaking autistic people, for so long they're diminished and people write them off as not worthy or not valid. I'm reminded when I was called a retard in college. elementary school.

You know, I think about how when non-speaking autistic people, for so long they're diminished and people write them off as not worthy or not valid. I'm reminded when I was called a retard in college. elementary school.

You know, I think about how when non-speaking autistic people, for so long they're diminished and people write them off as not worthy or not valid. I'm reminded when I was called a retard in college. elementary school.

And so what I would say to them is that like, I don't know what it's like to be not speaking autistic, but I do know what it's like to be overwhelmed and overstimulated in a world that doesn't, you know, I didn't drive, I don't drive, I didn't drive a car to get here because I can't drive. Some autistic people can drive and God bless them. I just can't.

And so what I would say to them is that like, I don't know what it's like to be not speaking autistic, but I do know what it's like to be overwhelmed and overstimulated in a world that doesn't, you know, I didn't drive, I don't drive, I didn't drive a car to get here because I can't drive. Some autistic people can drive and God bless them. I just can't.