Uncategorized 18 - Autistic Self Advocacy Network

Reverse Van Winkle

An essay by Mark Stairwalt. For all that I’m still learning something new every week about what’s been happening with autism in society over the last decade or so, that fact itself provides me with a perspective that is likely unique from that of just about anyone else writing on the subject. Until a few months ago when I went out looking again, my picture of this world I’m writing about now was frozen in time, hardly updated at all since about 1999.

November 27, 2009

Bringing Neurodiversity into the Classroom

An essay by Stephanie Allen Crist. A little boy steps off the bus, confused by his unexpected surroundings. This year—the year he starts kindergarten—the bus stops at the backdoor of a new school, instead of the front entrance of his neighborhood school, after a much longer bus ride. Maybe he knows he’s being ushered into this new school through the backdoor, maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he even knows the classroom he enters is segregated from his peers.

November 17, 2009

Stirring Up Action: The Winds of Disability

An essay by Elesia Ashkenazy. Media plays a colossal role in shaping public perception. Unfortunately, disability in the media is often centered around fear and pity, or treated with benevolence and do-goodery. Well-intentioned or not, such messages are adverse, ruinous, and useless in raising and shaping effective and positive mass consciousness.

November 11, 2009

Comments at November 10, 2009 IACC Meeting

The use of the term, and concept of “severity,” is questionable for several reasons. First, “severity” is often contextual, over both time and other things like situation and location. What is being looked at when using the “severity” criterion is how “observable” the autistic characteristic is. Whether or not a characteristic is observable and to what degree does not necessarily correlate with other aspects of the person. Again, the focus needs to be on improving the quality of life and not on reducing autistic traits.

November 10, 2009

Autism Speaks Controversy in Time.com

ASAN’s ongoing protests against Autism Speaks and condemnation of the “I Am Autism” video were discussed in a Time.com article, which also mentioned the numerous parodies…

November 6, 2009

New York Times Article

A report on the proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism and the deletion of the Asperger’s Syndrome diagnostic category included an interview with ASAN President…

November 3, 2009

TV Coverage of DC Protest

ASAN’s protest against Autism Speaks in Washington DC on October 31, 2009, received local media coverage that included a WAMU news story and an article…

October 31, 2009

ASAN New England Testimony on Aversives by Sara Willig

Legislative Hearing Testimony Calling for Action Against Aversives: Local activist Sara Willig attended a Massachusetts legislative hearing and spoke out against inhumane practices at the Judge Rotenburg Center.

October 27, 2009

Comments at October 23, 2009 IACC Meeting

Information about Services Needed: Research into causes, biomarkers, prevention, etc. will not help people who are alive today and need evidence-based information about services and supports. Recent research and initiatives in the United Kingdom can provide a model for services-oriented research and also research into adult issues.

October 23, 2009

Motor Home Factory Worker

I was on time for the 9 AM appointment, dressed in my best casual clothing, new jeans and shirt. I had just entered the man’s office, when he got a phone call, and asked me to wait outside. Then he was busy on that phone all day, or dealing with “emergencies”. At the end of the day, he called me in, and because I had sat there patiently all day, I guess he wanted to give me a job.

October 22, 2009

Call for Action to End the Judge Rotenberg Center and Aversives

Joint Letter Seeking Government Action Against Judge Rotenberg Center: 29 disability organizations concerned with the humane treatment of people with disabilities have contacted U.S. government departments and human rights organizations regarding the need to put an end to abusive practices at the Judge Rotenberg Center.

October 12, 2009

Letter to the Sponsors, Donors and Supporters of Autism Speaks

Disability Coalition Calls on Sponsors to End Support for Autism Speaks: Over 60 disability rights organizations sent a joint letter to Autism Speaks’ sponsors, stating that the use of fear, stigma, misinformation and prejudice against Autistic people as a fundraising tool does real damage to people with disabilities everywhere.

October 7, 2009

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