Autism Advocates

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I thought the list would grow quicker. But perhaps advocates are a little rarer than I thought---or more people are like me and not into advocacy that much---therefore not reading these threads/posts. But I am happy to see that Gitchel has been appointed to the Iowa Autism Council on the state level. At least they promise to represent adults with autism in a positive light---to live independently and be productive citizens. That is a great goal.

I also believe that Ci desires similar ideals in California since he is in charge of a candle making company that involves autistics in the work force. That is a very good program.

I believe the list is as follows based on what I have read on this thread:

Temple Grandin
advocates with autism
ASAN and its board members
Iowa Autism Council

Has anyone looked very closely there? I would be skeptical of much true independence being gained through working in a candle factory.

My organization has been attacked by pride advocates as they called it pity. If you looked close you would see it funds and promotes an area wide inclusion campaign for supported transitional inclusion. Regardless having an option to make candles while living independently and on meager government benefits helps with independent living so this contributes to independence, work ethics, skills development and so on.

The hate against autism opportunity and integration by pride advocates will be the the downfall of the movement. I've sent off some warning PR shots as it was folks claiming to be with ASAN who attacked the organization in PR. If it persists I will do a full onslaught toward the very high functioning who get bent out of shape over many mentions of autism and who do not need compassionate terms for employment and inclusion.

I did not fire the first PR shot but if folks want a social civil war in PR they better hire some experts because your messing with one of the best.

Temple Grandin
advocates with autism
ASAN and its board members
Iowa Autism Council
Add: AAN (Autism Advocacy Network - Critical analyses of issues, conflict resolution, conflict of interest neutralization and consultation. Network component will provide free consultation for local based advocacy projects by family, professionals and individuals with ASD in a complex social and political world that includes autism. Project will database advocacy groups within the Unites States at first. Diverse coverages of advocacy group stories, hopes and intents. No membership required. http://www.autismadvocacynetwork.com / http://www.autismadvocacynetwork.org / http://www.autismselfadvocacynetwork.com / http://www.autismselfadvocacynetwork.org

Domain will resolve within 48hrs with the dedicated website.

Updated list as it stands now:

Temple Grandin
advocates with autism
ASAN and its board members
Iowa Autism Council
AAN (Autism Advocacy Network)

That has not happened here, and neither am I a so-called "pride advocate". My own concern simply comes from having seen many disabled people placed in/at mindless assembly jobs and then either overlooked completely or paraded before others at show-and-tell award banquets. The kind of advocacy I have in mind here in Glider18's thread is more along the line of needing/receiving praise from none other than its actual recipients.

So let's stereotype all facilitated opportunities, PR efforts and whatever else even when ran by individuals with autism. Subjectivity is key to progress in advocacy. Asserting the negative for the creation of a new positive many times may require one to stop complaining and see to the change themselves. I'm not a talker but a doer. I don't simply moan about how I am treated, how others take advantage of my disability to get rich but I assert while doing the change that needs to be made. Aint no folk going to innovate with easy money less you compete for both their attention and function for the same dollar to motivate mutually.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrOeGCJdZe4&feature=player_embedded#at=49[/youtube]

You have completely misunderstood, and who is running things is not even an issue anyway. The question is whether the autistic people being "helped" are actually pleased by whatever is going on. We all know what it is like to have somebody do something and then tell us we should all be appreciative and supportive while nodding our heads along with them, but I live by a much different set of standards.

You wanted to start this conversation by assuming content in my organization in suggestion yet know nothing about it but sought others to look into it and well I'm here so I'm going to take the time to give you some icing. Why don't you try living in a candle factory with little room for personal space because of pallets of supply. As of far another agency comes to my converted home, only those that like pouring candles and who are energetic about it. However I know what it is like to be part of programs ran by people who are out of sink with both needs, desire and a greater and better potentials within society while they get to take multiple vacations a year and we get to just simply make it by.. It is boring to some, the same old prospects, no hope for a raise no matter how good you work and it is all either mowing lawns, cleaning houses, shredding paper, packaging and the alike. Some like it some don't and most would enjoy making more an hour.

Thus far around 200 pages for a new hybrid service design have been made between a consultant and I. People are going to learn to be leaders, think as a group to come up with new job ideas for ourselves and the awareness campaign for sponsored inclusion is to open new doors of opportunity for trail and error with agencies already on board with sponsors. The ability to be part of mainstream and in understanding circumstances. What I and others don't have now is much empowered ability to think for ourselves with the resources already available as standard rates to non-hybrid employment facilitations.

You can't bring a cake of pre-thought to me without expecting the toppings. What I do stands out and has created a type of community awareness that has never existed before nor comparatively near as saturated in awareness. I'd like to use it as an example, innovate from here and see it done in other places with strong leaderships that avoid special interest dictations and control.

Last edited by ci on 22 Mar 2011, 8:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Nope. I was not talking about your organization at all, and I am only saying the actual recipients are the ones to determine the worth of anything offered.

Say so from the beginning. I'm in no mood for tricky words and objections toward my organization in context without clear explanation. For the record I am technically a recipient and as well as a vendor in the making who will also be a consumer of it. Other professionals will run the day to day parts of it but I have final say on quality assurance, PR, big picture strategy and so on. It's to be consumer ran other then the mandates by the states and feds. It's in the final faze with an awareness as an employment program far greater then all others in the area.

There is already a waiting list to join the program. We are now the boss and the boss of the support workers within reason. As far as my having final say that is for reasons of liability but my job is to insure practical design and freedoms within mandates. Folks just can't sit around and watch the boob tube and play games like some other programs.

As an intervention specialist, I have come to realize the importance of diversity in addressing the needs of today’s youth (and adults). And as it applies to the vast spectrum of autism, so to is the need for diversity.

When we get hungry, we eat. But we eat what we like, not what we don’t like. If a certain food doesn’t taste good to you, it will continue to disagree with your taste buds in the future no matter how hard you try to like it. That is why there is such a large variety of foods to choose from. I compare autism advocacy in this way. No single advocate will reach the needs of the entire spectrum. There are therefore several different styles of advocacy to choose from. And if we were to choose just one advocate based on the theory that that advocate would reach the most people, then we would be under-serving those that did not find the advocate as to meeting their needs. Therefore, I see the need for all the advocates listed so far. Just as one is good for some, it will be bad for others. Each one has its place based on each of our personal needs.

Whenever I eat a piece of pecan pie, it is hard for me to imagine how someone else couldn’t like it. But there are plenty of people who don’t like pecan pie. And with advocacy, it is difficult to understand how some of us like a certain advocate, and others dislike the advocate. But that is a part of human nature. There are a lot of personality types---and who I am to say which one is best? We are a diverse culture, and we need diversity (variety) to meet our needs. Therefore, I see the importance of each of the advocates listed.

Pecan pie is a candle fragrance I have. While each fragrance type has its loyal fans and others dislike the same fragrance still serving the needs of creating jobs is important. So I offer a vast variety. Ultimately what you have said make no sense because autism is not a business but autism is a disability so people need to understand this to adapt in society and whom have it. The importance of my having pride in something that hinders seems to be at conflict with adaptation least in the root in potential of others understanding autism.

Read my post ci---I never said autism was a business.

Wasn't implying it was a business. Yet from there in spite of similarities also coexisting with differences and those with differences having similarities within a spectrum each difference and similarity is technically ones own business (person).

List so far for specific advocates of autism:

Temple Grandin
ASAN and its board members
Iowa Autism Council
AAN (Autism Advocacy Network)