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Panel tells global leaders: 'Nothing about us without us' and press for funded, everyday inclusion
Summary
Young autistic advocates urged policymakers to move beyond awareness to funded, everyday action—calling for inclusive education, public diagnostic centers, employment accountability and explicit inclusion of autistic voices in policy design.
Panelists at an online Institute for Neurodiversity event delivered a consistent call to action: include autistic people in decisions that affect them and fund concrete supports rather than symbolic gestures.
Martin Cortez summarized the panel’s chief demand: "If policies affect autistic people, autistic people must be a part of creating those policies," and he called for investments in leadership and inclusive education. That phrase—"nothing about us without us"—was echoed by Vincent Tubisu, who urged global institutions to engage autistic staff and communities when designing early-childhood programs and education funding.
Ayan Watip Joshua highlighted the need for accessible public services in low-resource settings, saying diagnostic assessment and early intervention are often expensive and available mainly to wealthier families. He urged global leaders to support public diagnostic and support centers and to shift funding away from deficit-focused charity models toward empowerment and inclusion.
Panelists offered concrete suggestions: sensory‑friendly environments (in airports, classrooms and parks), individualized education plans, peer-led supports and accountable hiring practices that go beyond token diversity campaigns. Ayan said, "Let there be a basic amenities for individual on the autism spectrum" in countries with few public services, urging public centers and creative spaces such as art galleries where autistic people can display strengths.
On the role of awareness, the panelist who identified as 'Mullen' warned: "Awareness without action is just making noise," and called for everyday policy changes rather than once-a-year attention. The panel closed by asking leaders and funders to embed autistic representation at the start of policy design and to reject narratives that prioritize 'cure' over dignity and participation.
Next steps suggested by panelists include funding inclusive education pilots, expanding low-cost diagnostic access in under-resourced regions, and adopting procurement or hiring measures that create clear accountability for employment inclusion. Panelists asked institutions and funders to report actions publicly and to co-design measures with autistic communities.
The panel’s messages were framed both as human-rights obligations and practical steps for 2030: embed autistic leaders, fund public supports, design sensory-friendly spaces, and make inclusion structural and measurable.
