I am a woman with autism, OCD, and extreme Anxiety Disorder/Panic Disorder. Although I get out, it’s only with the help of those who understand my conditions and help.

I’ve been very afraid since Trump became the president-elect, especially when I saw his administration picks. As the hearing for DeVos is ongoing and listening to her ignorance on the IDEA and her disgusting view that people with disabilities are somehow less of human beings than others, I want to do something to help.

I may not be a billionaire or make a lot of money, but I run a webcomic called “AuTalkz” which shows the inside of living with autism, as well as displays some anti-bullying messages.
My audience is still growing, but every time someone contacts me to ask a question or tells me that they don’t feel as alone anymore (being on the spectrum, themselves) or that they understand a family member who is going through it better…it makes me feel like I’m really helping to connect a bridge between us, rather than tear it down.

Helping people, not hurting them, is what folks should be doing; especially our government. I’m on Medicaid, and my options are already severely limited. I’m treated like I’m lower on the human ladder often times, and I don’t earn enough on SSI to live on my own.

I’m afraid of all of that support, though not perfect, being cut. The government that wants to alienate and discriminate against the disabled, against women, against people of color…that’s not the America I was raised in. That’s not any of the values I was taught as a child, nor the values I try to teach in my comics.

If I see someone contemplating suicide, I’ll talk to them even if I don’t know them; and I’m not very good with face-to-face communication skills.
If one small speck on this Earth can take the time to do that for someone they don’t know, then why can’t the more important folks (ie-our government) care equally for everyone?

We should be moving forward on equal rights, not taking steps backwards. I feel that people with disabilities have enough to worry about without having to add “will the government take away my healthcare and disability rights?” to that list.

We are no less human than anyone else.

Website: http://mdchan.deviantart.com/