We’ve recently discovered that someone local to our community has falsely presented themselves as a neurodiversity and trauma informed disability advocate to financially benefit from neurodivergent and disabled individuals. They claimed that they worked closely with the library and helped to create inclusive community spaces with us, which is not true. They are not a disability professional or educator, but used the name of the library to gain the trust of potential clients/customers who are neurodivergent or disabled for their own benefit. We find this abuse of our community’s trust appalling and reprehensible. It is not okay, and this is not anything that the library would ever be associated with.
Unfortunately, we feel that to protect our work and integrity, we need to publicly address this. While we don’t wish to publicly shame this person, we are horrified and disturbed that someone would take advantage of our patrons trust. This individual worked separately in the capacity of running their own art centered small business in a location close to the library. They have never worked with us or for us, and definitely never in the spirit of furthering inclusion, disability justice, or the neurodiversity paradigm. We are beyond disappointed that someone would falsely attach themselves to our work of the last nearly 15 years and the trust we have built with each of you simply to pad their resume and prey on our neurodivergent and disabled patrons.
To be clear, we are a small, grassroots organization and do not have community volunteers. This is a project run by the Wiley-Mydske family exclusively. When working in community and collaboration with other organizations and individuals, we will always make sure credit is given! Please be wary of anyone claiming to work for us, especially when they falsely present themselves as trauma, disability, or neurodiversity informed without the knowledge, work, or expertise to back it up. As our friend Radical Neurodivergence Speaking says, “Words mean things!” We believe that 100%!
We are happy to answer any questions you have. Thank you for your support of neurodiversitylibrary.org!
Join Neurodiversitylibrary.org and Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network as we create care packages for local trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people in our community!
We are gathering on July 17th at 5:30 pm at the Stanwood Library Meeting Room to write notes and create art for the care packages. We will also work on thank you notes to our amazing sponsors.
Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Please be COVID-conscious and do not attend if you are feeling sick or have been around someone who is sick. If you are sick, we can work out other ways for you to participate! We will also provide masks and hand sanitizer.
The Stanwood Library is located at 9701 271st St NW in Stanwood, Washington. You can contact Lei with any questions at info@neurodiversitylibrary.org. We hope to see you there!
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, PFLAG Stanwood-Camano, and NeurodiversityLibrary.Org are working together to create another round of care packages for trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people in Stanwood & Camano Island.
I created an Amazon Wishlist (and I know Amazon is not ideal but it’s the most accessible way for a lot of people to order.) The books on this wishlist are also available at either WinkWink in Bellingham or directly from Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Our goal is to create 20 care packages to uplift and support our trans friends, neighbors, and family in our community. We will include resources, pride swag, and gift cards from supportive local businesses. If you are a local business owner, please consider donating! And if you are a local organization or business interested in having some of these care packages to give, please let me know!
If you are a local professional who is supportive of the trans community, you can drop off business cards at Stanwood Tattoo Company to share in these packages.
Image is a flyer for creating care packages. There is an image of a pink/blue rainbow in the trans pride colors above text that reads:
“Help us create care packages for trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse people in Stanwood & Camano Island.
There’s magic in being seen by people who understand—it gives you permission to keep going. – Alok Vaid-Menon (they/them) writer & activist
Donate at Stanwood Tattoo Company 10003 270th St NW Suite A on the old brick road in Stanwood
A helpful guide from NWLC (will have to double check source) on what the initial anti-trans EO means and what it doesn’t. NOTE: From January 2025; information may change.
From r/passports, three upcoming Notice for Information requests relating to changing passport applications. The comments on the thread have helpful suggestions for submitting a comment.
Network of local, national, and international human rights leaders and to support activists and organizers advancing the human rights city organizing framework. Has many helpful resources.
A google doc detailing the actions of various groups seeking to preserve data before the administration destroys it. Includes links for how to get involved.
Gathers news articles from a wide variety of sources and notes which direction the bias is leaning. Also features articles covered/not covered by the left/right, and a “blindspot” option which tracks your reading preferences and gives you articles you may be missing.
17 State AG’s filed this suit against HHS challenging a provision in the introduction to the recent 504 guidance which suggested that gender dysphoria may be an ADA-recognized disability. The suit uses this to then attack Section 504, declaring it to be unconstitutional, and to challenge the “most integrated setting” mandate of Olmstead.
An update from the 17 State Attorney Generals. Despite what may have been said to the media, this report indicates a willingness to move ahead with the lawsuit despite recent EOs and an intention to challenge the integration mandate of 504 (but not to prevent disbursement of funds at this time).
The “kingmaking” Supreme Court decision. This is the case which decided that the president can not be held criminally responsible for any of his actions while in office.
Image is a multicolored gradient background. Lower right of image is the library logo, a flappy pink narwhal with rainbow text that reads “neurodiversitylibrary.org” and “home of the neurodivergent narwhals” Text reads: Have you or someone you love recently come out as transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, bigender or otherwise gender diverse? If you live in Stanwood or Camano Island, we want to uplift and support you as a valuable member of our community. Stop by The Community Resource Center or Stanwood Tattoo Company during their hours of operation and ask for a Trans Care package. Each package contains trans affirming books and workbooks, information on local safe spaces, pride swag and gift cards to supportive local businesses. Everyone has a place in our community. Everyone belongs. For more information, contact Lei: lei@neurodiversitylibrary.org 425-791-0869 (text only please)
Care packages are now available to pick up at both Stanwood Tattoo Company and at the Community Resource Center of Stanwood-Camano!
The library, along with numerous volunteers and help from local community members and supportive businesses have created some care packages for local people who are transgender, nonbinary or otherwise gender diverse.
These packages contain trans affirming books, resources and pride swag. Each one has a personal note from a community member as well!
The person does not need to be “out” publicly either. We understand that coming out is personal and different for everyone and safety is a priority. We will not ask any questions, you do not need to register or sign anything. Just simply show up and ask for a trans care package at these locations. We have a limited number available, but I hope to make this an ongoing project in our community.
This is a small way for us to show trans people in Stanwood and Camano Island that they belong here and are important and valuable members of our community. Please pass this on to anyone who you think could benefit from the support.
Image: Logos of PFLAG Stanwood-Camano, Flora & Fauna, Bean & Brew on 532, Stanwood Cupcakes, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and Neurodiversitylibrary.org. Center of image is a heart with the Progress Pride colors.
The Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Library (neurodiversitylibrary.org) is currently compiling materials to create 20 care packages for local trans and nonbinary individuals. Thanks to generous donations from several organizations, including PFLAG Stanwood-Camano and Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, along with private donations and gift card donations from supportive local businesses (Bean & Brew on 532, Stanwood Cupcakes and Flora & Fauna), we are close to our goal of making these care packages a reality!
If you are interested in learning more or donating, you can reach out to Lei at lei@neurodiversitylibrary.org or stop into Stanwood Tattoo Company, where the library is located, from noon until 7 pm Wednesday through Sunday and just ask Lei!
Image description: Flyer with diagonal rainbow stripes on bottom portion. Top right of image is the Stanwood & Camano Island Pride logo, a rainbow over rainbow mountains and water with text that reads “Stanwood & Camano Island Pride” Middle left of image is the logo of neurodiversitylibrary.org, a purple cartoon flappy narwhal with bubbles around them. The logo of the Community Resource Center is under and to the side of that. It is a teal colored door with four windows and a red heart above it. Text reads: “Community Resource Center of Stanwood Camano” Text on flyer reads: Join us for a Community Conversation with Michelle Huntley, organizer of Stanwood-Camano Pride 2022 What did we learn at Pride and what comes next? Do LGBTQIA+ citizens feel safe, valued and supported in Stanwood & Camano Island? How can others in our community be better allies? September 6, 2022 6:00 PM Community Resource Center of Stanwood-Camano 9612 271st ST NW Stanwood, WA For more information contact: Lei Wiley-Mydske info@neurodiversitylibrary.org 425-791-0869 (Text Only Please)
Guest post by Dom Bryan, friend of the library and neurodivergent and disabled student at Western Washington University. This essay is shared in their exact words:
Local Institutionalized Oppression is Western Washington University’s form of Operation
TLDR: Western is full of classists, ableists, jerks, and ambiguous policy. Western is a state-assisted institution, receiving $28 million this year in assistance from the state. This means your tax dollars go towards perpetuating a system that harms disabled bodies. Please read it.
Image: Black text reads “Disabled Bodies Are Human Bodies Guest Post by Dom Bryan”. Background is faded image of Old Main Building at Western Washington University Campus in Bellingham, WA.
My name is Dom Bryan. I am 26 years old. Bi-racial. Queer. Disabled. Poor. ADHD. I am a 4.0 first-gen student, who just finished my first year back in the classroom on a full financial ride. However, due to my slow progress in physical therapy, Western would rather grant me a waiver until they deem, I am no longer crippled than facilitating sensible access. My medical team assured me if I were to return to campus without any assistance, I would wind up permanently disabled. No one should have to choose between their body/health and the education they pay for.
The following stories are all true stories. However, the names have been changed to keep people’s identities safe.
“Hello, my name is Cassidy. I dropped out of college due to a heart condition. A heart condition that made traversing campus difficult. One that Western refused to accommodate.”
“Hello, my name is Zach. I have MS and use a wheelchair for my symptoms. I went from being a full time student to one class a quarter because Western banned equitable online access. They also failed to accommodate me. I was told I would be accommodated, then was informed I would not be on the first day of the Spring quarter in March of 2022. In order to get around campus, it was easier for me to ditch my wheelchair and suffer the consequences of that choice. However, dealing with the pain hasn’t been easy. I have yet to decide if I will quit pursuing college and my dream career.”
“Hello, my name is Mars. I am a faculty member that is under contract NOT an employee with tenure. I am a glorified substitute teacher. My offerings for online classes were removed from the fall registrar because I refused to teach in person. I have severe osteoporosis. They wanted to stick me on the 5 th floor. They’ve revised the buildings, removing phones from all the classrooms, and only leaving one per floor to be utilized. If I am caught on my personal phone, I am facing immediate termination. Regardless of the circumstance.”
“Hello, I am Tiffany. I still have not been offered disabled living spaces within the dorms. I almost dropped out last quarter. The only access to and from campus is a long 4-story flight of stairs or up a steep hill that is strictly for the community transit bus. This area is never de-iced.
Hello, I am Jacob. I was academically dismissed by the dean because I was hospitalized with sepsis in the middle of a quarter. As a result, my financial aid was frozen. It took 3 months after I was released from the hospital to become re-enrolled. I had to pay my tuition out of pocket for the freeze on my account. I still haven’t been reimbursed.”
Can you see a running theme? Western’s disability access committee admits they are not trained medical staff. They do not have anyone on their team with a medical background. Yet just like insurance companies, they decide what accommodations people need for their bodies. Even if those decisions conflict with medical treatments, wellness plans, and quality of life.
DISABLED BODIES ARE HUMAN BODIES
This department is ran by able-bodied and neurotypical people. They can not understand a reality where someone’s body, mind, or environment are active constraints. They can not understand a reality where someone didn’t cause injury to themselves. They can not understand that we are all one car accident, slip or fall, or violent situation away from a disabled body. We all end up disabled. So why does the institution that claims to be the most progressive, accepting, and the most diverse campus in Washington operate in this way?
Do you know what the difference is between Western and other colleges in this state? Other colleges do not lie to you about their mission, vision, and values. They are sworn to uphold these statements in order to continue their accreditation status.
What can you do?
You can send a letter to the board of trustees, discussing your distress about this information. Providing accommodations under state law, include:
First floor accommodations. (They say it’s too difficult to get faculty to change classrooms.)
ADEQUATE accessible parking. (They currently lottery out their disabled spots. They have more disabled students than spots. For the low price of $99 a quarter, you can sometimes park in disabled parking. If the spots are full you are to park in the nearest empty spot. My particular building? They only have 2 spots. 2.)
Equitable remote access. (While they do have some remote classes offered this fall quarter. They have effectively priced out poor folks. They have attached an additional $230.00 per credit fee on top of base tuition. That’s an additional $1,100-$1,800 in fees per class. Fee waivers are not available.) The fact they are still offering access means that they are capable of offering access. However, they are choosing to create the barriers they swear standing against.
ADA access, signage, and bathrooms. (Some bathrooms the ADA stall isn’t large enough to accommodate a wheelchair user. They have to use the bathroom with the stall door open.)
Closing:
If students have to pay this high permit fee for parking, there should be guaranteed parking for disabled students. Just like an apartment complex. If I pay for the parking spot, I can always park there.
If you can offer online access to the highest bidders? You can offer it to all.
Disabled bodies are human bodies. No one should be forced to use the bathroom with the door open because you refuse to renovate the stalls to provide privacy for those in wheelchairs.
They continue to run up the clock and discourage disabled students. Without any options students feel it is necessary to drop out.
They give the DAC $1.2 million in funding every year. Of that funding $800,000 is use for salaries. Leaving less than a quarter to provide students with accommodations. These numbers were pulled directly from the year actuals/budget. They claim to be broke yet, they have 32 million sitting in reserves. To qualify as a reserve, fund a business must be able to access the cash asset in 60-90 days. Not to mention, they have large profits.
Vaccines, Covid and Neurodivergent Narwhals! Thank you so much to Tiffany Tuttle Collins, who provided image descriptions for this social story!
The rainbow-colored Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library logo is at the top. Below that, black text on a white background with blue bubbles reads: “Caring for Community with the Neurodivergent Narwhals.” There is an image of three round, smiling cartoon narwals below the text: a big magenta one, a medium blue one, and a small green one with happy flapping flippers.
Image: Black text on a white background reads: “COVID-19 has made the last few years very different for all of us! We wear masks to protect ourselves & each other when we go out or when we are around people who are vulnerable!” Below the text is the image of two narwhals, the large magenta one and the small green one, both wearing surgical masks.Image: An image of two narwhals talking to each other through a laptop computer screen is at the top of the page. Below this image is black text on a white background with blue bubbles that reads: “We are finding creative and safer ways to stay in touch during the pandemic!” In the image, the small green, flappy narwhal is visible on the laptop screen, with their mouth open and a word bubble that says, “I’m so flappy to see you but I can’t wait until we can hang out in person again!” A smiling, large purple narwhal is in front of the laptop, with a word bubble that says, “The vaccine can make that happen sooner!”Image: Black text on a white background reads: “Now we have a vaccine to protect us and our community! The more people who get vaccinated, the safer all of us will be!” Near the text is the image of the large, magenta narwhal smiling with a think bubble that shows an image of a hypodermic needle, and a small green covid virus in a red circle with a line through it.Image: Black text on a white background reads: “The vaccine feels like a little pinch. Some people might feel come more pain. Some people might feel nothing at all! Some people will get one vaccine. Most people will get a vaccine and then wait a few weeks and get another vaccine or a booster several months later.” Near the text is the image of a smiling dark blue narwhal with a band-aid on its flipper. The band-aid has a small heart on it.Image: Black text on a white background with blue bubbles reads: “Some people might feel a little tired after their vaccine. Some people might feel a little sick. Some people might have a sore arm for a while afterwards. Some people don’t feel many side effects at all.” Below the text is an image of the large purple narwhal, wearing a heart band-aid on its flipper and with a small frown. Next to the narwhal is a large green covid virus in a red circle with a line through it.Image: Black text on a white background reads: “Side effects are normal but they sure aren’t fun! That’s your body learning to fight the virus. Luckily, those side effects don’t last very long!” Near the text is the image of a medium-sized lime green narwhal who is frowning.Image: Black text on a white background reads: “Getting vaccinated doesn’t just protect you — it protects your friends, family and community too!” Near the text is the image of the lime-green narwhal who is smiling with a thought bubble showing seven other smiling narwhals of different colors surrounded by X-es and hearts. Image: Black text on a white background with blue bubbles reads: “When you get vaccinated, you are doing your part to create a safer, heathier community for all of us!” Above the text is an image of the large, magenta narwhal with flappy flippers and a smile and a word bubble that says, “I got my COVID vaccine!”Black text on a white background with blue bubbles reads: “Read more. COVID plain Language Resources from ASAN: autisticadvocacy.org/resources/covid-pl/.
At the bottom of the page is a watermark that reads: neurodiversitylibrary.org. There is an image of the small, flappy green narwal with a big smile in the lower right corner of the page.
We will return to in-person hours at the library in September! We will be meeting once regularly on the first Tuesday of the month at the Community Resource Center of Stanwood-Camano. We will be holding all events in the evening with exact times TBA for each event.
We will have library materials available for browsing and lending, along with scheduled speakers each month.
Our first speaker will be Satin-Deseree Arnett, founder of SAFE. Satin will be speaking on the topic of equity & diversity in our community on September 7, 2021 at 6:30 pm at the Resource Center. We hope to see you there!
Image Description: Blue/green and cream color flyer. In a circular frame on the left is a picture of Satin-Deseree Arnett, she is wearing a red jacket with arms crossed and smiling with long, dark hair. Cream colored text on the flyer reads: Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Library & Community Resource Center of Stanwood-Camano presents: Equity & Diversity: A Community Conversation with Satin-Deseree Arnett Founder of S.A.F.E. September 7, 2021 6:30-8:00 PM Community Resource Center 9612 271st St NW Stanwood, WA 98292 For more information contact: Lei Wiley-Mydske lei@neurodiversitylibrary.org 425-791-0869 (Text only please) All attendees are expected to follow any Community Resource Center COVID safety guidelines! *Library materials will be available for browsing/lending at this event! Image on lower left is Community Resource Center logo, a teal colored door with a red heart above it and text that reads: Community Resource Center of Stanwood-Camano
Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library 