ASAN's new Ohio State University chapter will be holding its first meeting today in the coffee shop of the campus Barnes & Noble/Long's Cafe. More details about this introductory meeting can be found on the ASAN Central Ohio blog.
The OSU student newspaper, The Lantern, interviewed ASAN members Melanie Yergeau and Benzion Chinn regarding ASAN's goals of changing social perceptions of autism and enabling self-advocacy. The article noted that the Ohio State ASAN chapter will be a source of information for students and faculty alike.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
ASAN's Petition Telling Tony Attwood and Isabelle Hénault to End the Hate
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is asking for your support in telling Dr. Tony Attwood and Dr. Isabelle Hénault, well known clinical psychologists in the field of Autism, to publicly renounce their associations with hate groups that promote the pseudoscientific concept of Cassandra Affective Deprivation Disorder invented by Maxine Aston. Groups such as FAAAS that promote the concept falsely claim that being in a relationship with an Autistic person causes a depressive disorder and that Autistics and people with neurological disabilities are likely to be violent and abusive toward family members. Such stereotypes have resulted in discrimination against people with disabilities who are involved in divorce and child custody cases. Drs. Attwood and Hénault are closely associated with these groups through their membership in FAAAS' Professional Advisory Panel and their history of appearances at conferences promoting the affective deprivation concept.
We hope that you will join us in signing this petition to help secure the rights of all people, regardless of disability, to be treated equally under the law. For those who also wish to e-mail directly, tony@tonyattwood.com.au is the e-mail address for Dr. Attwood and ihenault@internet.uqam.ca is the e-mail address for Dr. Hénault. In addition, ASAN President Ari Ne'eman has issued a statement on the importance of the petition to Dr. Tony Attwood and Dr. Isabelle Hénault. We appreciate your support in ending stereotypes and discrimination against our community.
Update, May 12: This post has been edited to remove a reference to a group that, in response to ASAN's concerns, has taken down an offensive article and has agreed to develop a more realistic and balanced website.
We hope that you will join us in signing this petition to help secure the rights of all people, regardless of disability, to be treated equally under the law. For those who also wish to e-mail directly, tony@tonyattwood.com.au is the e-mail address for Dr. Attwood and ihenault@internet.uqam.ca is the e-mail address for Dr. Hénault. In addition, ASAN President Ari Ne'eman has issued a statement on the importance of the petition to Dr. Tony Attwood and Dr. Isabelle Hénault. We appreciate your support in ending stereotypes and discrimination against our community.
Update, May 12: This post has been edited to remove a reference to a group that, in response to ASAN's concerns, has taken down an offensive article and has agreed to develop a more realistic and balanced website.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
No Myths Autism Awareness PSA
You'll find a different kind of autism awareness in the "No Myths" public service announcement—one that offers a realistic view of the autistic population, instead of stereotypes and myths. ASAN President Ari Ne'eman has issued the following statement about the PSA and encourages supporters to view it and spread the word:
ASAN worked with the Dan Marino Foundation and Kent Creative to develop the following autism PSA. Take a look, tell us what you think and please spread the word with blogs and outreach.
Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_dPZDcX_ck
Captioned Version: http://www.overstream.net/view.php?oid=udtvrbt0rlao
Go to http://www.nomyths.org/ to learn more. This PSA is brought to you by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/), Kent Creative (http://www.kentcreative.com/) and the Dan Marino Foundation (http://www.danmarinofoundation.org/).
About the Public Service Announcement:
The "No Myths" PSA offers a refreshingly positive and optimistic view about life with autism. And it was written and performed by people who should know--individuals who are on the autism spectrum themselves. The purpose of the PSA is to tell society that, with the right supports, people with autism can do anything anybody else can do, even if it isn't in the same way. Ari Ne'eman, president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, leads a cast that includes {in order of appearance} Dena Gassner, Ben Liske, and Jacob Pratt.
The Dan Marino Foundation of Weston, FL sponsored the piece, which was filmed by Nashville-based Kent Creative. Jon Kent directed the PSA and Britt Simmons was the Director of Photography.
"No Myths" was filmed inside the Parthenon in Nashville, TN. The Nashville Parthenon, which was built in 1897, is a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek Temple. The two bronze doors, used as a symbol throughout the PSA, weigh 7.5 tons each, and are thought to be the largest pair of matching bronze doors in existence. The producers wish to thank Citation Film Support and the Filmworker's Club of Nashville for their generous support of this project.
Regards,
Ari Ne'eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/
732.763.5530
ASAN worked with the Dan Marino Foundation and Kent Creative to develop the following autism PSA. Take a look, tell us what you think and please spread the word with blogs and outreach.
Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_dPZDcX_ck
Captioned Version: http://www.overstream.net/view.php?oid=udtvrbt0rlao
Go to http://www.nomyths.org/ to learn more. This PSA is brought to you by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/), Kent Creative (http://www.kentcreative.com/) and the Dan Marino Foundation (http://www.danmarinofoundation.org/).
About the Public Service Announcement:
The "No Myths" PSA offers a refreshingly positive and optimistic view about life with autism. And it was written and performed by people who should know--individuals who are on the autism spectrum themselves. The purpose of the PSA is to tell society that, with the right supports, people with autism can do anything anybody else can do, even if it isn't in the same way. Ari Ne'eman, president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, leads a cast that includes {in order of appearance} Dena Gassner, Ben Liske, and Jacob Pratt.
The Dan Marino Foundation of Weston, FL sponsored the piece, which was filmed by Nashville-based Kent Creative. Jon Kent directed the PSA and Britt Simmons was the Director of Photography.
"No Myths" was filmed inside the Parthenon in Nashville, TN. The Nashville Parthenon, which was built in 1897, is a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek Temple. The two bronze doors, used as a symbol throughout the PSA, weigh 7.5 tons each, and are thought to be the largest pair of matching bronze doors in existence. The producers wish to thank Citation Film Support and the Filmworker's Club of Nashville for their generous support of this project.
Regards,
Ari Ne'eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/
732.763.5530
Saturday, March 7, 2009
White House Internship Program
On Thursday, March 5th, ASAN joined representatives of several dozen advocacy organizations at a briefing at the White House on upcoming changes to the White House Internship program. The White House Office of Public Liaison is actively interested in recruiting a diverse applicant pool, including individuals with disabilities, to the White House Internship program. They have asked us to forward this to our networks and encourage autistic college students and recent college students to apply. Feel free to forward this announcement.
President Obama Launches White House Internship Program
President Obama today launched the White House Internship Program for his administration and announced that applications are currently being accepted for the summer of 2009. Those selected to participate in the program will gain valuable job experience and an inside look at the life of White House staff while building leadership skills.
“This program will mentor and cultivate young leaders of today and tomorrow and I’m proud that they will have this opportunity to serve,” said President Obama. “I look forward to working with those that are selected to participate and I want to commend all who apply for their desire to help through public service to forge a brighter future for our country.”
In addition to normal office duties, interns will supplement their learning experience by attending a weekly lecture series hosted by senior White House staff, help at White House social events, and volunteer in community service projects.
The 2009 Summer Internship program runs from May 22 to August 14, and the submission deadline is March 22, 2009.
Those interested in applying to the White House Internship Program must be:
• US Citizens
• Eighteen years of age on or before the first day of the internship.
• Enrolled in a college or university (2-4 year institution) or must have graduated from college in the past two years.
Interns will be placed in a departmental office for their internship. Below is a list of departments in the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President where interns could be placed.
White House Department of Scheduling and Advance
The Office of Cabinet Affairs
The White House Communications Department
The White House Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of the First Lady
The White House Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA)
The Office of Political Affairs
The Office of Management and Administration
The Office of White House Counsel
The Domestic Policy Council
The White House Office of Presidential Personnel
Office of the Vice President
More information on the White House Internship Program, including application instructions, can be found at: www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships
President Obama Launches White House Internship Program
President Obama today launched the White House Internship Program for his administration and announced that applications are currently being accepted for the summer of 2009. Those selected to participate in the program will gain valuable job experience and an inside look at the life of White House staff while building leadership skills.
“This program will mentor and cultivate young leaders of today and tomorrow and I’m proud that they will have this opportunity to serve,” said President Obama. “I look forward to working with those that are selected to participate and I want to commend all who apply for their desire to help through public service to forge a brighter future for our country.”
In addition to normal office duties, interns will supplement their learning experience by attending a weekly lecture series hosted by senior White House staff, help at White House social events, and volunteer in community service projects.
The 2009 Summer Internship program runs from May 22 to August 14, and the submission deadline is March 22, 2009.
Those interested in applying to the White House Internship Program must be:
• US Citizens
• Eighteen years of age on or before the first day of the internship.
• Enrolled in a college or university (2-4 year institution) or must have graduated from college in the past two years.
Interns will be placed in a departmental office for their internship. Below is a list of departments in the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President where interns could be placed.
White House Department of Scheduling and Advance
The Office of Cabinet Affairs
The White House Communications Department
The White House Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of the First Lady
The White House Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA)
The Office of Political Affairs
The Office of Management and Administration
The Office of White House Counsel
The Domestic Policy Council
The White House Office of Presidential Personnel
Office of the Vice President
More information on the White House Internship Program, including application instructions, can be found at: www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships
Friday, January 16, 2009
Ending Restraint and Seclusion
The National Disability Rights Network presented a report to Congress earlier this week on the harm done to children with disabilities by the use of dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in the schools. ASAN was one of the organizations that signed as a supporter of its policy recommendations. The report described specific cases of children who had been injured or killed as a consequence of being restrained or isolated by their teachers and other school employees, and it recommended policy changes to prevent such practices.
Because the federal government does not keep data on such abuses and there are no national reporting or tracking requirements, it is likely that the number of children injured by restraint and seclusion may be significantly larger than the cases reported. Rep. George Miller, who chairs the House Education and Labor Committee, has promised to schedule a hearing on the restraint and seclusion issue.
Autistic children, because of their behavioral differences, are disproportionately victimized by restraint and seclusion practices in the schools. Evelyn Towry, an eight-year-old autistic girl in Idaho, recently was restrained by two teachers whose goal was to prevent her from going to the school Christmas party wearing a cow sweatshirt. As reported by KXLY.com, Evelyn said that she struggled with the teachers because "they were holding me down and I got thumb bruises on me." She was taken from school in handcuffs, briefly placed in a juvenile detention center, and charged with battery (a charge that was soon dropped)... all because of an argument over a cow sweatshirt.
Children in Ohio also are injured and sometimes killed as a result of school restraint and seclusion practices. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported last week on the case of Faith Finley, a student who suffocated as a result of being held face down at her school. Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller declared her death a homicide. The Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities has banned this practice, known as "prone restraint," because of its danger, but it still occurs in some Ohio schools.
Ohio has no statewide requirement for reporting of incidents involving restraint and seclusion.
Because the federal government does not keep data on such abuses and there are no national reporting or tracking requirements, it is likely that the number of children injured by restraint and seclusion may be significantly larger than the cases reported. Rep. George Miller, who chairs the House Education and Labor Committee, has promised to schedule a hearing on the restraint and seclusion issue.
Autistic children, because of their behavioral differences, are disproportionately victimized by restraint and seclusion practices in the schools. Evelyn Towry, an eight-year-old autistic girl in Idaho, recently was restrained by two teachers whose goal was to prevent her from going to the school Christmas party wearing a cow sweatshirt. As reported by KXLY.com, Evelyn said that she struggled with the teachers because "they were holding me down and I got thumb bruises on me." She was taken from school in handcuffs, briefly placed in a juvenile detention center, and charged with battery (a charge that was soon dropped)... all because of an argument over a cow sweatshirt.
Children in Ohio also are injured and sometimes killed as a result of school restraint and seclusion practices. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported last week on the case of Faith Finley, a student who suffocated as a result of being held face down at her school. Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller declared her death a homicide. The Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities has banned this practice, known as "prone restraint," because of its danger, but it still occurs in some Ohio schools.
Ohio has no statewide requirement for reporting of incidents involving restraint and seclusion.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Obama Transition Autism Policy Recommendations
The Obama transition team invited ASAN and other advocacy groups to present recommendations on policy priorities for autism issues. ASAN President Ari Ne'eman issued the following statement about these recommendations:
Hello,
This past Friday, we met with representatives from the Office of the President-Elect on Autism Policy. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, Easter Seals, TASH, the Marino Foundation, Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of America. At the request of the Office of the President-elect, we presented to the new administration our top three policy priorities for the coming year: 1) Supporting and Empowering autistic adults, 2) Ending School Abuse and Ensuring a Free and Appropriate Public Education for Every Student, and 3) Balancing the Research Agenda in Support of Quality of Life. You can read our recommendations to the new Administration on our website and we encourage you to post them on your blogs, listservs and elsewhere.
Although these are our top three priorities, they do not represent our only action items and we are pleased to report that the incoming administration expressed a strong interest in remaining in continuous contact on these and other issues. It is absolutely essential that we ensure that autistic self-advocates have a voice at the policy table and we will continue to keep you up to date as we advocate for the autistic community.
Nothing About Us, Without Us!
Regards,
Ari Ne'eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/
732.763.5530
Hello,
This past Friday, we met with representatives from the Office of the President-Elect on Autism Policy. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, Easter Seals, TASH, the Marino Foundation, Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of America. At the request of the Office of the President-elect, we presented to the new administration our top three policy priorities for the coming year: 1) Supporting and Empowering autistic adults, 2) Ending School Abuse and Ensuring a Free and Appropriate Public Education for Every Student, and 3) Balancing the Research Agenda in Support of Quality of Life. You can read our recommendations to the new Administration on our website and we encourage you to post them on your blogs, listservs and elsewhere.
Although these are our top three priorities, they do not represent our only action items and we are pleased to report that the incoming administration expressed a strong interest in remaining in continuous contact on these and other issues. It is absolutely essential that we ensure that autistic self-advocates have a voice at the policy table and we will continue to keep you up to date as we advocate for the autistic community.
Nothing About Us, Without Us!
Regards,
Ari Ne'eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/
732.763.5530
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Online ASAN Teen Group
A moderated discussion group for autistic teenagers, sponsored by ASAN, is now open to new members. Information and group rules are posted below:
A new yahoo group has just been created to be open exclusively for adolescents and teens on the autism spectrum, offering an opportunity for autistic adolescents and teens to interact in a supportive, autistic-friendly internet environment. It is sponsored by the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, an international non-profit organization run by and for autistic adults and youth, working to advance neurodiversity, disability rights and autistic culture.
Group Rules:
1. To join you must be on the autism spectrum (self-diagnosed individuals are welcome) and at least 13 years of age.
2. Be respectful of your fellow list members.
3. Do not repost messages outside of the list.
4. If you have a question, feel free to ask.
5. Do not engage in personal attacks against other list members.
The list will be closely moderated by adults from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to ensure that all list content remains legal, age-appropriate, free of spam and solicitation, and in compliance with the group rules.
To join the group, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASANTeens , click the "Join this group" button, and follow the instructions.
For more information, contact list moderator Dora Raymaker at dora@aaspireproject.org.
Please pass this information along to any adolescents and teens you know who would be interested!
A new yahoo group has just been created to be open exclusively for adolescents and teens on the autism spectrum, offering an opportunity for autistic adolescents and teens to interact in a supportive, autistic-friendly internet environment. It is sponsored by the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, an international non-profit organization run by and for autistic adults and youth, working to advance neurodiversity, disability rights and autistic culture.
Group Rules:
1. To join you must be on the autism spectrum (self-diagnosed individuals are welcome) and at least 13 years of age.
2. Be respectful of your fellow list members.
3. Do not repost messages outside of the list.
4. If you have a question, feel free to ask.
5. Do not engage in personal attacks against other list members.
The list will be closely moderated by adults from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to ensure that all list content remains legal, age-appropriate, free of spam and solicitation, and in compliance with the group rules.
To join the group, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASANTeens , click the "Join this group" button, and follow the instructions.
For more information, contact list moderator Dora Raymaker at dora@aaspireproject.org.
Please pass this information along to any adolescents and teens you know who would be interested!
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