Dear friend,
During a month that should be full of celebration — LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, Autistic Pride Day, and the Olmstead Anniversary — we have instead seen our community and others under attack. We know that pride and progress are something we build toward together, and we will keep doing so. Read on to see what we’ve been doing and how you can join in this month.
We have heard far too many myths, misconceptions, and blatant lies about autism recently. It’s important that autistic voices are louder. This month, we were excited to launch The Truth About Autism — the first in a video series by autistic people shifting the narrative to our own experiences. When an autistic person pushes back against harmful narratives, we are often told we’re either too autistic or not autistic enough to be listened to. This pushes the idea that the only real autistic people are the ones who never disagree. We know that’s wrong. You can check out the first Truth About Autism compilation here.
Do you believe in the work ASAN does and want to be part of it? Come apply your skills to serve our community! ASAN is hiring a Deputy Director of Programs. If you’re excited about autistic culture, project management, and supporting people, consider applying today. The Deputy Director of Programs will build robust, reciprocal working relationships with partner organizations and state and local advocates, oversee ASAN events and programs, and coordinate work among ASAN’s Grassroots team. The job is a full-time salaried position paying $80,000 annually with a comprehensive health insurance plan and other benefits including a 32-hour four-day workweek, retirement plan, dental insurance, commuter benefits for office-based employees, and up to 5 weeks of paid time off per year.This position is remote, with an opportunity to work in ASAN’s DC office if local. This is a union-exempt management position. Consider becoming a part of the team and helping us advance community-driven disability policy! For more information, including a breakdown of responsibilities and how to apply, see all three postings here.
On June 1st, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) came out with a bad rule. The rule says people have to work to get health care from Medicaid expansion or programs like Medicaid expansion. This means millions of people will lose their health care. If someone who gets health care from one of these programs loses their job or can’t find a job, they could lose their Medicaid. This rule will hurt people with disabilities and many other people. The rule tells states how to limit who can get health care from Medicaid expansion, or programs like Medicaid expansion. This would make it harder for many people to get the health care they need. Millions of people with disabilities or serious health conditions have health care through Medicaid expansion. This rule will make many people with disabilities, people with serious health conditions, and older adults lose the health care and services we need. Read ASAN’s full statement and keep an eye out for ASAN’s help submitting comments about this bad rule!
June 22 marked the 27th anniversary of Olmstead v Lois Curtis, or Olmstead for short. Olmstead is an important ruling by the Supreme Court. Olmstead is about our right to live in the community. Olmstead says that people who can live in the community should not be forced into institutions. Earlier this month, the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) wrote a memo about the integration mandate. The integration mandate is a rule that says people with disabilities have a right to live, work, and get services in the community. The OLC can’t change laws. But, this memo does tell the federal government what the federal government should think the law says. To learn more about what this memo says and how it may impact our community, check out our plain language explainer.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education made another bad decision that will hurt students with disabilities. They are moving two important departments away from the Department of Education. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS is going to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is going to the Department of Justice (DOJ). This decision will hurt students with disabilities. Moving these offices will make it harder for students with disabilities to get accommodations, respond to discrimination, and more. You can learn more about this in ASAN’s press release here. OSERS and OCR should stay in the same department. OSERS and OCR should stay in the Department of Education. ASAN’s Policy Director, Greg Robinson, said, “Students with disabilities deserve protection. Students with disabilities deserve civil rights. Students with disabilities deserve a government that helps them and cares about them.”
There are many ways to identify. Everyone is different and that’s good! Maybe you are LGBTQ+ and want to learn more about the community, or maybe you are looking for ways to be an ally. LGBTQ+ people deserve to be treated with respect, just like everyone else! That’s why we held a webinar this month all about resources for LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You can check out the recording here! We shared resources like Proud & Supported and Before You Go: Know Your Rights & What to Expect at the Doctor and in the Hospital. We also shared resources from organizations like U.S. Gender and Disability Justice Alliance and more.
This month we were excited to share a blog post from Libby Banks about navigating grief, loss, and guilt as an autistic person. Libby Banks, MA, LPC, LCDC is a therapist and writer whose work explores neurodivergence and legibility. You can read “Autistic Grief: You’re Not Doing It Wrong” here.
As we move through this month, we recognize and honor the holidays, celebrations, and important events that hold meaning for our community and beyond.
- Islamic New Year
- Juneteenth
- Summer Solstice
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.
This has been a hard month for many of us, but we also hope it has been a time for community. Uplifting, supporting, and fighting for each other is the greatest thing we can do in response to the attacks on our communities. As we head toward July and Disability Pride Month, we’re thinking about Laura Hershey’s poem “You Get Proud By Practicing.” Being proud of ourselves and using that in service of ourselves and our communities is something we can keep practicing.
With warm wishes,
The Team at ASAN
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