Trustee Video Statement - World Autism Awareness Day - Trustee Curtis Jordan
Video World Autism Awareness Day - Trustee Curtis Jordan - Speech at Parliament Hill
Speech at Parliament Hill (In Writing) :
“The greatest honour of my life thusfar has been the opportunity to help people. The opportunity to empower folks who have been failed by the very systems meant to help them. The opportunity to lead change.”
“On October 24, 2022 - when I won the election by a landslide victory— my life flashed before my eyes.”
“I remember being a young school-age autistic child. Expelled because of my frequent meltdowns.”
“My poor, sleep-deprived single mother who has her career aspirations ripped from her because of my diagnosis.”
“Being disowned by our relatives because ‘a child like that should be put up for adoption’”
“I remember each of the 27 schools I attended. I always prayed one of them would accommodate me.”
“I remember my mom being belittled by school staff back in the day when she would try and advocate for me.”
“Teachers, principals and VP’s would often say about me - albeit in not an empowering way ‘HE CANT BE STOPPED’” —- and they were RIGHT. I couldn’t be stopped.”
“Despite having a Grade 7 education, I started a rewarding career in the nonprofit sector in my late teens. I couldn’t be stopped.”
“Despite being told I’d never live independently, I bought my own home at 27, and I also own a little triplex as well as some development land. I couldn’t be stopped.”
“I’ve been an expert on education policy for a decade plus, and have helped thousands of individuals and families navigate the system. I couldn’t be stopped.”
“On October 24th 2023, I became the first Autistic individual in Canadian History elected to public office. No matter how hard they tried —- I couldn’t be stopped.”
“Every day, I’m reminded of the injustices I faced in our education system - and it guides me in every decision I make and every action I take as an elected official in the province of Ontario.”
“During my inauguration, I made it VERY CLEAR - I may have been the first elected official with Autism in Canada — but so help me God, I won’t be the last.”
“I‘m honoured to be here today, and I want to make this very clear — We need to see more individuals on the spectrum ELECTED. We need to see more Autism Moms and Autism Dads ELECTED.”
“There is so much change we need to lead - and that begins when people with LIVED EXPERIENCE get elected to positions of power.”
“So the call to action begins NOW. We’ve got to work together and build that future we’re dreaming of.”
“We need REAL representation, REAL collaboration, and REAL change. And we’re going to make it happen. My friends, it’s not ‘if’. It’s ‘when’”
“I’m trustee Curtis Jordan — I may have been the first autistic elected in Canada. The FIRST OF MANY.”
“The greatest honour of my life thusfar has been the opportunity to help people. The opportunity to empower folks who have been failed by the very systems meant to help them. The opportunity to lead change.”
“On October 24, 2022 - when I won the election by a landslide victory— my life flashed before my eyes.”
“I remember being a young school-age autistic child. Expelled because of my frequent meltdowns.”
“My poor, sleep-deprived single mother who has her career aspirations ripped from her because of my diagnosis.”
“Being disowned by our relatives because ‘a child like that should be put up for adoption’”
“I remember each of the 27 schools I attended. I always prayed one of them would accommodate me.”
“I remember my mom being belittled by school staff back in the day when she would try and advocate for me.”
“Teachers, principals and VP’s would often say about me - albeit in not an empowering way ‘HE CANT BE STOPPED’” —- and they were RIGHT. I couldn’t be stopped.”
“Despite having a Grade 7 education, I started a rewarding career in the nonprofit sector in my late teens. I couldn’t be stopped.”
“Despite being told I’d never live independently, I bought my own home at 27, and I also own a little triplex as well as some development land. I couldn’t be stopped.”
“I’ve been an expert on education policy for a decade plus, and have helped thousands of individuals and families navigate the system. I couldn’t be stopped.”
“On October 24th 2023, I became the first Autistic individual in Canadian History elected to public office. No matter how hard they tried —- I couldn’t be stopped.”
“Every day, I’m reminded of the injustices I faced in our education system - and it guides me in every decision I make and every action I take as an elected official in the province of Ontario.”
“During my inauguration, I made it VERY CLEAR - I may have been the first elected official with Autism in Canada — but so help me God, I won’t be the last.”
“I‘m honoured to be here today, and I want to make this very clear — We need to see more individuals on the spectrum ELECTED. We need to see more Autism Moms and Autism Dads ELECTED.”
“There is so much change we need to lead - and that begins when people with LIVED EXPERIENCE get elected to positions of power.”
“So the call to action begins NOW. We’ve got to work together and build that future we’re dreaming of.”
“We need REAL representation, REAL collaboration, and REAL change. And we’re going to make it happen. My friends, it’s not ‘if’. It’s ‘when’”
“I’m trustee Curtis Jordan — I may have been the first autistic elected in Canada. The FIRST OF MANY.”