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Author Archives: Ianthe Dempsey

ASAN Statement on GAO Report on Autism Research Funding

| Ianthe Dempsey

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network takes note of the recently released June 30th, 2015 analysis of autism research funding from the Government Accountability Office. The report, which updates a November 2013 analysis, sheds light on the continued significant gaps in autism research funding priorities, most notably the lack of...

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ASAN Calls for Increased Support for Self-Determination and Effective Communication in Adult Protective Services

| Ianthe Dempsey

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the nation’s leading advocacy organization by and for autistic individuals ourselves, applauds the recent announcement by the United States Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services regarding their partnership to help child welfare agencies remain in compliance with federal civil...

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ASAN Atlanta Statement on Georgia’s Illegal Segregation of Students with Disabilities

| Ianthe Dempsey

The Atlanta Chapter of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network strongly condemns the state of Georgia’s illegal segregation of students with disabilities, violating Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The United States Department of Justice’s recent letter of findings, which identified widespread segregation of children with disabilities at school,...

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ASAN Letter to FCC Regarding Relay Services

| Ianthe Dempsey

This letter is available as a PDF here. August 10th, 2015 Thomas Wheeler Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20554 Dear Chairman Wheeler, The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the leading autistic advocacy organization run by autistic people, asks that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)...

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ASAN Praises ED Letter Urging Schools to Look Beyond ABA

| Ianthe Dempsey

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network applauds the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for their July 6th Dear Colleague letter to states expressing concern that schools may be inappropriately limiting services offered to autistic children to those offered by Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapists. “Some IDEA...

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Announcing the ASAN Autistic Scholars Fellowship

| Ianthe Dempsey

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is very pleased to announce the beginning of a new college scholarship program for autistic students, the Autistic Scholars Fellowship. The ASAN Autistic Scholars Fellowship program, a new ASAN project to advance campus...

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ASAN is Beating The Odds

| Ianthe Dempsey

Last week, ASAN sponsored Elly Wong, an incoming freshman at Syracuse University, to attend the First Lady’s Beating The Odds summit as part of the #ReachHigher initiative. Here is what Elly had to say about the experience:  The White House, evidently, believes in us. [A person named Elly Wong...

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ASAN Testimony on Assisted Suicide

| Ianthe Dempsey

I write as Director of Public Policy of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), and a member of the Board of Not Dead Yet, to oppose the Death with Dignity Act. Physician-assisted suicide legislation endangers people with disabilities, including disabilities resultIng from illness. Supporters frequently focus on the “indignity” of needing help...

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ASAN Unveils Resource on Medicaid Coverage for Autism-Related Services

| Ianthe Dempsey

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is proud to announce the release of a new resource for autistic people and our families on Medicaid coverage for autism-related services. These services can include developmental approaches regarding social communication, sensory integration, emotional regulation, and adaptive skills. Until now, much advocacy for coverage...

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