Support CESSA: Timotheus Speaks on how CESSA Will Change Lives for Autistic People in Illinois

**Image Description: Two people sitting on the bench, facing each other. On top left and bottom right corners, there is a phrase that reads: Community Emergency Services and Supports Act.** **Painting courtesy of Genevieve Nutley Silva**

Good morning everyone,

For those who don’t know me, I’m Timotheus and I am the blogger and founder of the Black Autist. I use the blog to promote autism acceptance, inclusion, and disability acceptance, culture, & justice in the African Diaspora.

I am also proud to be a part of the group (which is Advance Your Leadership Power, at Access Living) that helped bring CESSA, or the Community Emergency Services and Support Act, to life! I’m thankful to have a been part of supporting the bill, and when it passes, it will benefit autistic people in Illinois immensely.

CESSA is a bill in which the focus of responding to mental and behavioral health emergencies will shift from the police to mobile response options similar to first responders in physical emergencies. The mobile response unit can take people to local resources that could help them in crises, and the best part…the people can choose where to go.

On a personal level, this would benefit me and a lot of people on the autism spectrum. Because of how we see the world differently from neurotypicals and some may not understand us, we face increase fear of law enforcement getting involved. We are scared to either go to jail, forced into going to a hospital, or face police brutality because we’re seen as a threat.

We are not a threat! I am not a threat! All we want is safe access to mental and behavioral health care that is not restrictive and doesn’t involve law enforcement.

CESSA will create opportunities for autistic people to navigate their mental and behavioral health and on their own (or interdependently with a support team), while accessing mental and behavioral health resources in the community and having the option to seek support from someone in your support group (whether you go to that person’s house or you go to the organization that the person is working for). It will diminish the need for police to come in; meanwhile the bill will create opportunities for first responders and volunteers to safely transport autistic people in crisis to supports and resources.

CESSA will benefit me, as a black autistic man in Chicago. Because of instances of police brutality towards disabled, Deaf, autistic, and neurodivergent people of color, and my own fear of hearing loud sirens and seeing the police approach me in any way, I refuse to call 911 if I’m in a crisis or need to go a resource (or someone in my support team) to address a meltdown or emotional shutdown. Instead, through CESSA, I would place my trust in mobile units who can help me get to the resources and people I need to address whatever is going on with me mentally and emotionally.

From now until October 12 – 16, you too can share your story and the importance of CESSA to state legislators! Join me in spreading the word about CESSA. Visit the following link for more info on how to support CESSA:

https://www.accessliving.org/get-involved/join-a-community-organizing-group/advance-your-leadership-power/cessa-virtual-lobbying-week

Godspeed,