🌸 ASAN March Update 🌸

March 31, 2025

ASAN March Newsletter

Dear friend,

As we begin Autism Acceptance Month tomorrow, we know that our communities are feeling the weight of an increasingly hostile government. We have seen attacks on disability rights, trans rights, the rights of people of color, and so many other marginalized groups intensifying. It is incredibly easy to feel discouraged — but we also know that our strength comes from each other. Together, we have faced many of these threats before, and we will keep fighting for a world that values and protects all of us. Read on to see what we’ve been working on and how you can get involved.

We are grateful for each and every vigil coordinator who made the 2025 Disability Day of Mourning possible. On March 1, we saw the disability community come together to mourn those we’ve lost to filicide. We know how incredibly difficult it is to process. If you were not able to join a vigil on March 1, you can still watch our virtual vigil here.

On March 20th, the Trump administration released an executive order calling on the Secretary of Education to take steps to close the Department of Education and withhold federal funding from schools that support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. ASAN condemns this executive order, as well as any further attempts to defund or dismantle the Department of Education. It’s important to know that an executive order doesn’t change the law. The Department of Education was created by Congress, so it can’t just be shut down without an act of Congress. The actions described in the executive order would be harmful, especially since the Trump administration has already made it harder for the Department to fulfill its duties. Shutting down the Department or using it to unfairly target students would go against the government’s promise to ensure equal access to education. This is unacceptable. We know this is a very upsetting time for our community. We encourage autistic people to know your rights, and to learn as much as you can to advocate for yourself. If you are experiencing a crisis, please reach out to your loved ones or other resources for support.

Medicaid is under attack in Congress, and it’s time to fight back! We have a new plain language Action Alert all about Medicaid. Medicaid is a program run by the government to help people pay for health care and services. Medicaid helps people who do not have a lot of money. Medicaid also helps people with disabilities. Medicaid is very important, but Congress is trying to make it harder for people to get Medicaid services. We need you to tell Congress: NO cuts to Medicaid! You can learn everything you need to know about what is happening with Medicaid in Congress right now by reading our plain language Action Alert.

Our Congress unfairly prioritizes phone calls over emails and letters, but all of us deserve to be heard. That’s where our proxy caller system comes in! If you want to call your legislator but you can not talk on the phone due to a disability, you can use our proxy caller system! The proxy caller system lets volunteers call your legislators for you. You can sign up here, and a volunteer will tell your legislator your message and questions. Want to help someone else make a call? Consider signing up to be a proxy caller! Request a call, volunteer, or learn more here.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is excited to announce the second cycle of our Teighlor McGee Grassroots Mini Grants Program! Created in memory of Teighlor McGee’s legacy of empowering grassroots disability work and uplifting self-advocates of color, this program features two different grant categories: The Affiliates In Action Mini Grant and Self-advocates Transforming Equitable Policy (STEP) Mini Grant. Applications open in May, but we held a webinar earlier this month to learn more about the program, ask questions, and get ready for applications to open. Check out the recording here!

As a part of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s 2024 gala, we have the honor to share and uplift our remarkable awardees’ words and their service to the self-advocacy and disability community. This month we were excited to share remarks from Long COVID Justice, recipient of the Creating Community Together Award.

This Autism Acceptance Month, we’ll be partnering with streamers to support our work and educate folks on autism acceptance! Whether you’re speedrunning or cozy gaming, you can help create a world where autistic people have a say in the policies that affect us. Your streams can support advocacy, accessibility, and a better future for autistic folks by raising funds for ASAN and educating people while doing what you love. Email slove@autisticadvocacy.org to get involved!

Congratulations to all of our charity runners who ran the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon this month. We are so proud of the effort they put into their training and are grateful for the more than $16,000 they raised to support our mission! We have several other races available for runners who want to fundraise for ASAN, including the 2025 BMW Berlin Marathon. Learn about these races on our website and through our new #TeamASANRuns Instagram account!

As we move through this month, we recognize and honor the holidays, celebrations, and important events that hold meaning for our community and beyond.

Ayyám-i-Há
Bahá’í Nineteen Day Fasting Period
Eid al-Fitr
Hola Mohalla
Holi
Laylat al-Qadr
Lent
March Equinox
Martyrdom of Imam Ali Ibn Aboutaleb
Navaratri
Nowruz
Purim
Ramadan
St. Patrick’s Day

We know there are more holidays that we didn’t know to list here. Whether this month brings moments of joy, reflection, remembrance, or connection for you, we wish you peace and fulfillment. We hope this month brings opportunities for growth, kindness, and support.

Through every challenge, our community shows up. We advocate, we organize, and we support one another, knowing that none of us are alone in this fight. The road ahead may not be easy, but we are not backing down. Thank you for being a part of this movement with us — your strength, support, and solidarity make all the difference. Let’s keep going, together.

With warm wishes,

The Team at ASAN

ASAN supported The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act again.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which ASAN is part of, sent letters asking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to do three important things: support a strong and independent CFPB, back the overdraft rule and resist efforts to get rid of it, and stand by the medical debt rule while opposing attempts to eliminate it.
We also signed a letter to the Senate opposing Harmeet Dhillon’s nomination as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
ASAN signed on to a letter urging Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act.
We signed onto a letter from Public Citizen and Coalition on Human Needs urging Senators to reject the long-term continuing resolution (CR). This CR threatens to cut vital funds for essential services like health care, affordable housing, and clean water, which would hurt many people, including veterans, disabled people, families, and seniors.
ASAN submitted comments against three harmful passport rules that could endanger the safety of trans, non-binary, and intersex people.
We joined a statement from National Women’s Law Center, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, and Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network condemning the ableist attacks on trans health care.
As a part of the The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Task Force, we wrote to the Senate Committee on Finance and House Committee on Ways & Means highlighting concerning actions taken by Elon Musk and the Social Security Administration (SSA) Acting Commissioner that have put the lives of people with disabilities at risk, and calling on Congress to take action to protect SSA.