ASAN affiliate groups are state and local disability advocacy groups that share a basic set of core values and policy positions with ASAN. Affiliate groups receive technical assistance, peer support, and advocacy alerts from ASAN, while retaining flexibility to focus on whatever issues are most relevant to them. Affiliate groups are listed here to encourage collaboration with each other, as well as to help interested individuals connect with groups that are local to them.
In order to become an ASAN affiliate group, your group must be:
- Run by people who identify as self-advocates with developmental disabilities (for example, autistic people or people with intellectual disabilities).
- Inclusive of the entire autistic and disabled community. To give a few examples, your group should be welcoming and accessible to people with intellectual disabilities, nonspeaking people, people with mobility impairments, etc.
- Currently active (have a meeting or event about once a month).
- Willing to update ASAN periodically on your activities.
To apply to become an ASAN affiliate group, please email Reid Caplan at rcaplan@autisticadvocacy.org to receive an application.
List of affiliate groups by state:
California
Sacramento, CA
California Autistic Self Advocates (CASA)
Ashley Robertson – caautisticselfadvocates@gmail.com
Georgia
Atlanta, GA
Autistic Self Advocacy Atlanta
Bennett Gaddes – bennettgaddes@gmail.com
Illinois
Chicago, IL
Autistics Against Curing Autism – Chicagoland
Timotheus Gordon, Jr. and Amanda Burkhart – aaca.chicagoland@gmail.com
Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Autistics United of Kentucky
Bev Harp – bevharp64@gmail.com
Louisville, KY
Kentuckiana Autism Spectrum Alliance (KASA)
Micah Peace – kyautisticalliance@gmail.com
Massachusetts
Boston, MA
Spectrum Boston
Finn Gardiner – fgardiner@autisticadvocacy.org
New York
New York, NY
Autistic Self-Advocates of New York City
Aaron Zisook – autisticadvocacynj@gmail.com
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, PA
Pennsylvania Center for Autistic Advocacy
Cori Frazer – info@autisticpgh.org
York, PA
Advocates for Neurodiversity
Luke Anderson – nonlinearluke@gmail.com
Tennessee
Nashville, TN
Nashville Autism Peer Support (NAPS)
Chad Beadles – NashAPS4you@gmail.com
International affiliate groups:
Australia
Aberfoyle Park, SA
ASAN Australia and New Zealand
Kathy Isaacs – secretary@asan-au.org
Canada
Vancouver, BC
Canadian Autistics United – Vancouver
Vivian Ly – vancouverautistics@gmail.com
Winnipeg, MB
Canadian Autistics United – Winnipeg
Baden Gaeke Franz – cauwinnipeg@gmail.com
