Different Voices
I speak out to challenge how society views us—both as survivors and as autistic individuals. My story, like so many others, is one of resilience, strength, and overcoming challenges. We cope with trauma in ways that are as diverse as we are, and it’s time the world sees that. By sharing our experiences, we reclaim our voices, connect with one another, and create spaces where healing becomes possible. Raising awareness isn’t just about education—it’s about dismantling harmful stereotypes and demanding that every survivor is truly seen and heard. At LOTUS, I proudly serve as an ambassador for autistic survivors of sexual violence and I truly believe that together, we can confront the silence around sexual violence, find allies, and collaborate to support an often overlooked community.
Diana Suarez
How it all started
Jun 2024 — by admin
Following my experience of domestic violence and sexual violence, my recovery journey has constantly changed, with ups and downs and many unpredictable moments, good and not-so-good; probably much like that of many other victim-survivors. Whilst I was not so aware at the outset of what I needed in order to regain control of my life, different opportunities gradually emerged. Collectively, the experiences that enabled me to rebuild my confidence and find my voice have included: discussing language and terminology imposed on victim-survivors by outsiders to describe our experiences and locating this in context; exploring similar and different experiences with other victim-survivors; presenting papers in webinars; contributing at conferences; running training; sitting on a survivor steering group; and authoring chapters, articles, and books. These activities have helped me validate who I now am, and inform who I want to be.
