Stop Accommodating The System that Oppresses Us
Autistic Pride Day Speech 2025
This is a speech I gave for an Autism Pride Event hosted by Autistic Adults of New York on April 14, 2025.
Hello everyone.
My name is Mario Gomez, I use he/him and él pronouns.
It is such a pleasure to be here with all of you. I want to thank Nicole and the team at Autistic Adults of New York for inviting me to speak today and for organizing this incredible event.
Before I go any further, I would like to share one access need I have. In my speech, you may occasionally hear me have a slight stutter or notice that I take a brief pause. That is just the way my brain and my mouth work together, so I want to ask for a little grace if/when that happens.
Thank you in advance.
I found out I was autistic later in life. That gave me the drive and passion to advocate for Disability Justice and support disabled and autistic people in different places and capacities. From leading a neurodivergent theater in Rhode Island, to being the mentor for The Kennedy Center’s International Accessibility Network in 2024 (before the current administration!), to talking about Neurodiversity in the Arts and Culture with the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, to mentoring young neurodivergent students. It has been rewarding, hard work. Much needed work.
This work allowed me to learn and grow and strive to do better.
There is one thing I’ve learned in this journey that I want to share with you today. It’s an important one, one thing we all need to do as a community;
We need to
STOP ACCOMMODATING THE SYSTEM THAT OPPRESSES US
Every day, every single one of us, we navigate a system that’s not built for us. A system built to exclude us. A system that pathologizes us, that treats us as lesser than. A system that punishes us for the way our brains and our bodies exist in this world?
So why do we continue to prop up this system that oppresses us?
Why should we continue to accept a system that shames us? That mocks us. That abuses us.
For example, did you know that TODAY, in all but 3 states, the government is allowed to forcibly sterilize us? In all but three states! Three!
And no, New York is not one of those states. In fact, it is still explicitly legal in New York!
So, I ask you again why do we continue to accommodate the system that oppresses us?
You may be asking yourself, How AM I accommodating that system?
Let me tell you.
When we mask, especially when we do it for the comfort of the neurotypical. We are accommodating the system that oppresses us
When we don't demand the accommodations we need. When we are shamed into accepting inadequate support. We are accommodating the system that oppresses us
When we let others make us feel weird or down or defective, we are accommodating the system that oppresses us.
When we make ourselves sick just to try to fit in, we are accommodating the system that oppresses us.
When we stay silent when one of us is being made fun of, targeted, or bullied. We are accommodating the system that oppresses us.
When we don't stand in solidarity with each other and with others who are being oppressed, we are accommodating the system that oppresses us.
When we stop ourselves from trying, from reaching for the stars, we are accommodating the system that oppresses us.
When we isolate ourselves, we are accommodating the system that oppresses us.
When we don't do the things that bring us joy, we are accommodating the system that oppresses us.
So, let’s stop accommodating that system.
Let’s us say no more!
That system is not going to change itself. Systems like that never do. It is up to us to do so.
How do you start?
Always remember that you are good, and worthy, and amazing just the way you are. There is nothing wrong with us.
Ask for the accommodations that you need to succeed. We all need help from time to time, it’s only natural.
Unmask! Be yourself! Show everyone how cool you are.
Follow your passions, your bliss, your joys.
Tell your stories, Share your Joy and your sorrows. And do it your way!
When you are in a position of power, make the system around you accessible and autistic friendly.
Support each other, uplift each other, be there for each other.
Stand up and resist when the system tries to oppress us.
And always remember, you don’t need to be fixed.
That is how we start to change the system.
And, let me be clear. It is going to be hard. Those of us who speak out, who stand up, who resist. We will have to pay a price. Systemic change is never free.
But we are already paying a price. We have been paying a price for a long long time. And the longer we wait, the costlier the change will be.
The more of us who are willing to stand up and speak out. Who proudly proclaim who we are and what we need. The more of us who work to normalize who we are. The better, the faster, the easier it will get.
Let us change the system our way.
Let’s to do it at our pace and let’s do this together.
Let’s transform that system that oppresses us to one that embraces us. That uplifts everyone and their bodyminds.
And one last thing.
Pride celebrates resistance. Pride celebrates change. Pride celebrates equity. Pride celebrates the fight for our rights and our lives. Pride celebrates fighting for the most oppressed.
So, let’s show everyone what Autistic pride can do!
Thank you
Free Palestine.