Ally Garber

The War on Cancer vs. The War on Truth | Allison Garber What happens when political theatre replaces science? We saw it this week when Trump and RFK Jr. stood in the Oval Office and proclaimed they had solved autism. As a communications professional, and m...

What happens when political theatre replaces science? We saw it this week when Trump and RFK Jr. stood in the Oval Office and proclaimed they had solved autism.
www.linkedin.com/posts/alliso...

There’s no turning back. I have gone and increased the text size on my phone.

The Machine Stops The neurologist Oliver Sacks on steam engines, smartphones, and fearing the future.

In a letter drawn from a posthumous collection of correspondence, published in 2019, the neurologist Oliver Sacks argued that society had no immunity to the seductions of digital life. “What we are seeing—and bringing on ourselves—resembles a neurological catastrophe on a gigantic scale,” he wrote.

Poster: Join us for a session exploring the differences between heart attack and cardiac arrest, including how symptoms can vary between men and women. We'll also provide a hands-on demonstration of CPR and AED use, along with training on Naloxone administration. This is a great opportunity to learn practical skills that could help protect yourself, your loved ones and community. Join us and empower yourself to make a difference! All are welcome! FOR MORE INFORMATION and to register: seriouslycheerful@gmail.com 902-443-2947. There is also a QR code on the poster.

Rockingham friends: Join us for a session exploring the differences between heart attack & cardiac arrest, including how symptoms can vary between men & women. We'll also provide a hands-on demonstration of CPR & AED use, along with training on Naloxone administration.
Jun 3, 6pm @ hillside church

An open letter to @mark-carney.bsky.social
"At a time when the global conversation on autism is being hijacked by misinformation and harmful rhetoric, Canada must lead with clarity, compassion, and commitment." autismalliance.ca/open-letter-... #cdnpoli #canadapolitics #cdnmedia #autism

How can we make sure #Canada is truly inclusive, and that no one in the autism community is being left out? Our panelists at #CALS2025 dove into Priority Area Four of Canada’s #AutismStrategy2024.

Stephanie Cadieux says it best: we wouldn’t have the Accessible Canada Act without a disabled person leading the charge. She shared how Canada's Autism Strategy can bring cohesion across governments—with lived experience guiding the way.

This afternoon at #CALS2025, we unpacked Canada’s #AutismStrategy2024. Panelists from the session “Improving Screening, Diagnosis, and Services” shared ideas to make autism screening and services more accessible across the country.

The morning started on a powerful note. After a warm welcome and Land Acknowledgement from Honoured Elder and Knowledge Keeper Vince Kicknosway, Rebekah Kintzinger, Dr. Jonathan Lai, and Dr. Deepa Singal shared their inspiring vision for #CALS2025 and what’s ahead.

Deep thanks to the Joyce Family Foundation for their generous support of the National Centre for Autism Collaboration (NCAC). Their commitment is helping make #CALS2025 possible—and ensuring Autistic perspectives and community-led insights remain at the heart of conversations across the country.

The front-line and first-voices panelists of our #education breakout session at #CALS2025 explored the current landscape of K-12 education in #Canada and how #federal leadership can help advance equity and consistency across provinces.

RFK Jr. says there aren't autistic poets. We asked an autistic poet. "I will challenge RFK Jr. to write a poem as good as me any day of the week."

RFK Jr. says there are no autistic poets, so we interviewed one.

Hear from Elizabeth McClellan, @popelizbet.bsky.social, an award-winning poet, attorney, and legal educator based in Memphis, Tennessee.

Just shattered by the latest comments from RFK Jr., possibly the most dangerous appointment to USHealth Secretary in the history of ever.

World Autism Day 2025. On the bottom right, silhouettes of different people in different shades of colours.

This #WorldAutismDay, we have so much to celebrate!

Throughout Autism Acceptance Month, we’ll be sharing stories of impact from our members—stay tuned! In the meantime, check out our latest blog for resources, updates, and ways to get involved.

Read more: autismalliance.ca/wad-2025/

It's #WorldAutismDay! Please take time to learn from #actuallyautistic people today, and amplify their voices!

Canadian media friends, Wed, April 2 is #WorldAutismDay. If you're looking for Autistic first voices to speak to the current landscape, particularly the recently announced Canada's Autism Strategy, @allianceautism.bsky.social is a great source of info and expertise! autismalliance.ca/autism-day-2...

Lots of news today. @slorgebutler.bsky.social got a great Molly Seidel update on the Fast People podcast. (Highly recommend listening in a podcast player. Just search for "Fast People.)

Seidel has parted ways with Puma, and she discusses that and much more. fastpeople.buzzsprout.com/2442756/epis...

Following now ❤️❤️

If only that outrage and collective call for justice came earlier, emboldened with the courage to really see, to really understand, and to really talk about the debilitating, torturous depth of mental illness that exists./end

And when the unimaginable things happen, we scream our outrage and demand justice.

What we don’t talk about, what we are so scared to even acknowledge, is the type of mental illness that exists that can make people do unimaginable things. To themselves. To others.

Our mental health policies exist largely to support the mental illnesses we can stomach. The illnesses we can be comfortable existing in the same room with.

These are considered neat and tidy mental health conditions. They will donate money to help with that, they will wear a coloured shirt for that. They will celebrate the redemption arc.

It’s relatively easy for me to talk about my anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder, my history of alcohol addiction. People can find a way to be ok with that, sympathize even.

The Let’s Talk campaigns, the mental health awareness days…they are futile if we don’t talk, and become more aware, about the full spectrum of mental illness

I don’t know the answers, but I do know that many Nova Scotians live in constant fear and a constant state of helplessness that they too will get a call that their loved one has done the absolute unthinkable. Despite their advocacy, their pleas for help, we as a society have failed.

It’s complex. People experiencing mental illness deserve agency and autonomy, but there are situations like the one this mother is sharing where we need better options, we need more action, we need more intervention.

So often we hear, “they have to make the choice to get help,” as if the ability to make rational and logical decisions is something someone experiencing psychosis can make independently.

Like everyone else, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this event. The horror, the trauma, the absolute nightmare that came seemingly out of nowhere.

What do you do, though, when someone you love is severely sick and refuses help?

I was not going to post anything as the police warned me that social media is not a helpful place but I feel like you all deserve to know. Yesterday a horrific crime was committed involving a 19 year old stabbing a 6 year old child. The 19 year old is my daughter Elliott. She didn't know the child and from what information I received, the poor child just happened to be around Elliott while she was having a psychotic break. As I can imagine it happened very quickly and with no warning and so the parents of the boy should not be blamed. This is a big reason why I'm making this post. In no way at all is it the fault of the child or the child's family so please stop judging and knocking the boys support system as they are going to need their strength to get through this. My heart goes out to the boy and his family and I wish I could change it. As for Elliott, she is my daughter, I love her deeply but due to her unchecked mental health, I haven't known her for a long time. She is a severely unwell person and her father and I have been trying desperately for years to get her the help she needs. She needs treatment and we have called police, child protective services, doctors etc. I kept telling everyone that she was a danger if she isn't on medication and I said I'm scared that something will happen to someone if she loses touch completely. This is the whole reason why she wasn't living at home because I have another child that needs protection and I felt she was too unpredictable and we didn't feel safe. Unfortunately in Nova Scotia you can not force someone to take medication against their will, they can't be committed anymore apparently and dispite trying everything, Elliott did not get the help that she needed and the little boy has suffered needlessly despite our efforts to try and protect the community.

The image below is a post made by the mother of Elliot Chorny, the 19 year charged with the attempted murder of a six year old child. /🧵