2007

Successful Response to Ransom Notes

Both the Washington Post and the New York Daily News carried stories about the success of the disability community’s response to the “Ransom Notes” ad campaign, in which ASAN’s…

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Comments at November 30, 2007 IACC Meeting

IACC Urged to Pursue New Direction: We live in a society where the lives and opinions of individuals with disabilities are viewed as less valuable and less deserving of basic human respect than those of other citizens. The IACC must break with that mindset and we encourage the Committee to pursue a new direction in autism research to maximize quality of life and opportunity for every person on the autism spectrum…

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Do we get medical care?

An essay by Joel Smith. One really serious prejudice disabled people face – especially people with neurological and mental disabilities – is getting appropriate medical care. There’s tons of problems in the current system, all of which could quite easily be changed…

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ACTION ALERT: Autistic Six-Year-Old Charged with Assault

ACTION ALERT: Nathan Darnell, a six-year old autistic student at Taylor Elementary School in Bracken County, Kentucky, has been charged with fourth-degree assault for pushing a school aide. While we typically avoid getting involved in judicial proceedings, it is our feeling that the overreaction is so egregious as to require activism by the wider disability community.

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Autism Conference Keynote

ASAN’s Scott Michael Robertson presented the opening keynote at the 10th Annual Penn State National Autism Conference on July 30, 2007. Click here to watch the video webcast.

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Diversity at Work

Employers can realize a significant financial gain when they are willing to be flexible in managing a diverse population of workers. When an adjustment to the workplace environment makes an employee more productive, that equation includes not just the cost (if any) of the changes that are made, but also the value of the added productivity.

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Normal Is Just A Setting On A Washing Machine

An essay by Kate Goldfield: At recess, I would sit outside on the cold, hard ground reading a book. When I did bravely venture out to the playground to go on my beloved swings, it was never with a friend. I felt like I existed in a different world from all the kids around me.

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Autistic Representation Sought in New Jersey

ASAN Urges Autistic Membership on Autism Task Force: However experienced the many experts and advocates are about autism issues, we adults who are ourselves on the autism spectrum know the issues and needs that face our population better than anyone.

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It’s Never Too Late

An essay by Kate Goldfield: I started out college fully confident that it would be the solution to all my problems, but found this was anything but the case. After struggling for a few years, though, I began to make the social connections that I had always dreamed of. I still had problems, and still longed to be like the others, but at least I was starting to develop a sense of community. This is the story of that discovery.

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