I originally posted about politics and one of my in laws on November 8, 2011, which was election day.
As my regular readers know, my spouse has a younger brother who is autistic. He is also quite interested in politics.
In 2016, he voted in the New York presidential primary in April.
He made his mind up from watching the TV news shows he watched.
Not only that, he voted for President, and voted the opposite of how
his mother (who he relied on so emotionally and physically at the time)
intended to vote. It led to some interesting comments from my mother
in law, who wasn't seeming to like the fact that he wasn't just
following along with whatever she said.
In 2018, though, I don't think he voted. We don't press him one way or the other, as he has
a right to his private thoughts, so we don't know why. I wonder, though, if the intensity of this election cycle overwhelmed him. His mother was also terminally ill. She died the day after Thanksgiving that year.
Yesterday, brother in law's two brothers and two sisters in law (I'm one of them) visited him, and we were told he already had voted, by absentee ballot. We are proud to say that. Voting, for someone with a disability, can be a hard thing. Believe it or not, a person with intellectual disabilities can actually be stripped of their right to vote.
Or, it can otherwise be difficult. In fact, my brother in law, who is in his 60's, voted for the first time in 2004.
I repeat this post in honor of my brother in law. And please, if you
are in the United States, vote on November 3. This will be one
of the most important elections in our country's history.
This is a non partisan resource for those who are disabled and those who care for them.
Please be aware, each state has its own rules and, although 41 states allow early voting (New York's early voting started today), some early voting periods are nearly over.
VOTE!
From November of 2011 - Autism Votes
The day I first posted this was election day in the United States, where I live.
Her son voted for the first time that day. Although she is his legal guardian, her son retains his right to vote. She told her Facebook friends that her son has looked forward to exercising his vote for years. This was a big day for him.
It's also a big day for our country for another reason.
Her son is on the leading edge of a wave of soon to be adults with autism. Some say 1 in 100 live births in this country result in an individual with autism. Not too long ago it was 1 in 166. Then it was 1 in 150. (Update, in 2016 some 6% fewer voters with disabilities voted than those without. Let's step back a moment and see what that means.
Those babies are going to grow up. In fact, the "leading edge" of the autism epidemic I just mentioned are now legal adults in many states, including New York (age of 18). Just wait until all those adults with autism, who have been given the tools and supports to vote, start to exercise that right.
Growing up, my brother in law was never encouraged to vote nor were people like him ever expected to vote. This just didn't happen. The belief was that they weren't "normal". So their voices, and opinions, were unheard.
In 2004, a person who worked with him in a support role decided that my brother in law should exercise his right to vote. He watches a news station that carries a lot of political discussions and has formed very definite political opinions. Why shouldn't he vote? She worked with him, he did vote, and he was very proud of voting for the presidential candidate of his choice.
For the first time, his voice was heard.
It is not easy for a person with autism to vote, as described here, but it can be done with proper education and proper support. This issue isn't restricted to the United States, either.
It will be interesting to hear what these new adults with autism have to say in the voting booth.
What a wonderful post! Your brother-in-law is a strong man to have been able to vote opposite his mother. He's to be commended for deciding based not on emotion or family pressure, but his own decision made from learning what was going on. Good for him. We can all take a lesson from that. Laws discriminate against disabled persons quite a bit. It was recently pointed out to me, someone on disability does not have marriage equality. If he or she marries, they lose their disability (unless they marry someone else disabled). This is assuming their spouse is able and willing to take on not only the loss of income, but would provide medical coverage (which would be lost when disability ends, since it would be Medicare). Of course, that would be one of those "pre-existing conditions" we hear so much about now too! When people say couples shouldn't live together without marriage, well, don't force it with laws like this!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, sorry to step up on your soapbox! I appreciate your post. And, this election is more important than I ever have remembered one being before.
No worries about stepping on my soapbox. I could write a blog on my experiences with having a disabled brother in law. Maybe, one day, I will.
ReplyDeleteAutism votes ...and it should.
ReplyDelete...voting when well informed is a vote well cast.
ReplyDeleteSo glad he vote and his voice is heard. I only believed I had one person I took care of voted. And people who I took care is one who really need to cast there ballots.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. My son, 22 years old, is on this leading edge and he is definitely politically aware and has his own opinions. He has voted since he is 18 and will be voting again in early November.
ReplyDeleteMy brother is 67 and even though he has never been diagnosed, I believe has autism as well and also votes and follows the news.
He's probably better informed than most of the electorate. Such an important election, I'm glad he voted. I have already voted, too.
ReplyDelete