Autism Activism Ideas

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I. LEGAL ACTIVISM
II. CONNECTING UP WITH THE DISABLED COMMUNITY
Autistic Advocacy Groups:
a. The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, www.autisticadvocacy.org [Ari Neeman]
b. Academic Autistic Partnership in Research and Education, http://aaspire.org
c. The Autism Acceptance Project, www.taaproject.com [Amanda Baggs]
d. Autism National Committee, www.autcom.org
e. Autism Network International, www.autreat.com [Jim Sinclair]
f. Autistic People Against Neuroleptic Abuse, www.dinahm.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
g. Autistics.org, http://autistics.org
h. Autism Society of America, www.autism-society.org
i. All Lewisham Autism Support, www.bach.demon.co.uk/alas
j. Asperger IRC Channel, www.inlv.demon.nl/irc.asperger
k. Asperger's Syndrome Resources, www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger
l. Autism Victoria, www.autismvictoria.org.au/home
m. Autism Resources, www.autism-resources.com
n. The Society for the Autistically-Handicapped, www.autismuk.com

III. AUTISTIC POLITICAL RALLIES

Mission Statement: The intention of this thread is to further the cause of Autistic Socio-Political Activism, Self-Advocacy, and Autistic Rights.

Last edited by Demon-Chorus on 08 Jul 2009, 4:12 pm, edited 11 times in total.

Learn about the person you call 'my self' first. You see everything else through a filter generated by this person, so surely best to figure that one out first? Your word wizardy deceives *you* first.

Is this thread an attempt to help us become better activists? I am a very poor one, and would like to improve. My primary interst in these forums is to put my viewpoint out then use the reactions to them as feedback.

I think it is my autism, but I am an (warning - PC alert) idiot/savant. I don't have extreem tallents, but I can do some things quite well, then other, sometime more simple things, so poorly its a joke.

I would be challenged to convince a hungry man to eat his favorite meal!

Yeah, I think it is.

Perhaps this will be of some help: www.autistics.org/library/allies.html

Sounds good.

I'm a bit idiot-savant challenged as well. What you said made me laugh.

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This is the highest compliment anyone can pay me - I am honored

And thanks for the link and the encouragement!

Alba sent me a PM about this thread. ~ Thanks.

So here's one more idiot/savant, checking in.

I went to Autreat last week. Jim Sinclair, Ari and Amanda were there.
Yes, of course it was awesome.

So, what are we doing here?

I have never been, but an aquaintence of mine goes and LOVES it. Apparently she was a co-key note speaker last year with Jim Sinclair.

IACC: http://iacc.hhs.gov/

Autism Rights Movement wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_rights_movement

High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx

Disability Accommodation links:

http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm

http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/atoz.htm

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/accommodation.html

I think Demon-Chorus set up this thread as an opportunity to share ideas about autism activism and as Awiddershinlife said--what we can do to "become better activists".

We're researching, posting helpful links, and brainstorming. Above all, brainstorming is encouraged. Check out some of the links Demon-Chorus has listed if you like. Post to the thread about good links you come across.


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Last edited by alba on 10 Jul 2009, 1:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ok, follow my thinking on this one. It takes a few twists and turns, but I really am going somewhere. What we need is a network of extremely low-budget conference centers. (At someone else’s expense.)

Start with the link below about the “Cave” in Autreat’s history.

Actually, the idea first came to me when I wanted to attend a political event in Washington DC. I looked it up and found that a round-trip train ticket would cost about $100. That alone would break the bank, and leave me nothing for food and shelter while I was there.

I thought of it again while participating in a “Professional Services Group” (PSG) which is an extension of the State Department of Labor (unemployment). It’s a bunch of unemployed professionals who volunteer to give each other lectures, workshops, classes and manage a call center for job leads… It’s very involved. Anyway, with the economy crashing, the meetings have become standing-room-only, and they desperately need more physical space. They’ve been looking into it for a while, but they have a low budget. I’d hate to be the one to break it to them, but it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

Also because of the current situation, other government agencies and non-profits are going to need more space. Healthcare, welfare, probably others that I haven’t considered. Flu shot dispensaries, soup kitchens, you get the idea.

What we need is to persuade some huge real estate management company to see that there is a market for organized groups that need huge, low-budget, temporary space. With electricity and showers. A PSG meeting on Wednesdays, a clinic on Fridays, a political rally over the weekend… Whatever the local groups need.

Also, in this climate, undiagnosed Aspies (like me) are going to start coming out of the woodwork. Between all the economic and cultural shifts, it’s getting harder and harder to fake it.

This is just a brainstorming session. Feel free to jump in anytime.

Re: Home, Sweet Cave
(my message to the Autreat gang)

[Edit: I had written an essay on The Origins of The Autism Community and Roots of Activism, which was derived from Jim Sinclair's write-up on the history of ANI, Autism Network International [link posted by Tahitiii]. It was lost in a cyber attack. The rant about that has been deleted and here is where it picks up.]

On p. 10 of the history...

(going to submit this and then continue....so it isn't lost to cyber attack)


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Last edited by alba on 10 Jul 2009, 1:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.

On p. 11:

Thank you Jim for articulating that warning to activists. We need to be vigilant regarding this threat.



The 'coup de gras' is on p. 19:



Being neurologically different [as opposed to "impaired"] is not always a "devastating tragedy". For Aspies, it is often no tragedy whatsoever. But because we are tormented by the status quo nearly from birth, they [the status quo] force us to accept that we are defective, because they make us defective. To be clear: The damage inflicted on Aspies and High Functioning Autistics (HFAs) from NT society exacerbates an already delicate neurological sensitivity. Obviously we need accommodation, not abuse and discrimination, in order to be more productive and cooperative members of society. It is only common sense, one would think, to realize that the same damage inflicted upon Aspies and HFAs would have an even more deleterious effect upon LFAs, who require more patience, positive encouragement, and accommodation of their neurological differences.

ASDs--autism spectrum disorders--are currently regarded as disabilities by government agencies, help organizations, and NT society in general. Discrimination, abuse and torment of the disabled is an outright violation of the U.S. Constitution, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), and other legal protections including but not limited to those recently enacted by the United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights--which theoretically protect all humans living on planet earth.

The more severe aspects of our inability to function in society may result not primarily from our inherent neurodiversity, but rather from the abuse we receive in society from the time we are small children. It would be arguably prudent and necessary to recognize that those who torment and deny us a voice in the administration of our own affairs-- are the people who empower themselves to act on our behalf, who refuse to listen to what we have to say, and who are actively implementing our disenfranchisement and the discrimination wrought against us.

Because policy and treatment is being enacted for us, while simultaneously denying our input, the following slogan has come into existence: Nothing About Us, Without Us. We have already suffered enough from a clueless NT society and the powers that run that society. Time to put our foot down [our collective feet down] and say--"Enough!" We are self-determining and will advocate on our own behalf!.

One of the major obstacles in pushing for accommodation from NT society, and in particular the parents of LFA children, is that Aspies and HFAs are regarded as being nearly perfectly normal and therefore in no need of assistance. The debilitating fact that we cannot survive in NT society is overlooked and denied. That those 15% of us able to obtain employment are repeatedly fired from jobs for inability to be team players-- is swept under the carpet, never to see the light of day again. These issues are simply kept off the agenda of discussion topics, by those organizations and agencies empowered to help us. [It would seem to the casual observer, as well as the informed researcher, that NT society doesn't want Aspies and HFAs to survive. I do not believe this is an exaggeration and am more than happy to listen to opinions challenging this perspective.]

In addition, we higher functioning autistics, are seen as counter-productive to any treatment and policy targeted toward LFAs. Parents of LFA children frequently fail to appreciate or understand the idea of an autism spectrum, and may in most cases, seek to disempower Aspies and HFAs from speaking on behalf of LFAs or any autistics they regard as experiencing the devastating tragedy of autism.

It is suggested that we take the opportunity provided by this thread, to discuss and brainstorm possible solutions to the above issues.

Thank you.

Last edited by alba on 10 Jul 2009, 3:16 pm, edited 5 times in total.

That is soooo frustrating AAARRRRGGGGGH!!



I think this is a point that needs careful consideration. IMHO I think we need to understand our opponants deeply in order to stay one step ahead and maintain our credibility. We will need to be able to raise above attacks. I also think we need to have at least a core group who collects opinions and concerns of the group (a clearing house) to compose and deliver well considered responses. We are fighting for our very lives - this is an emotional issue - I know I can over-react in a way that is alienating rather than convincing.

We may want to create a "virtual cave" where we can rant and cry as needed, then process our next moves in secured privacy (where our opponants can't evesdrop).

*

Last edited by Awiddershinlife on 09 Jul 2009, 5:15 pm, edited 5 times in total.

Identify them.....who/what are our opponents? How do we stay one step ahead? Would you be willing to work on that? Research the various organizations and agencies tasked with implementing policy, treatment options, and accommodation for those with ASDs. Depending on media coverage, find out when they meet and what they conclude. Online research and some email correspondence with knowledgeable groups, like perhaps Ari Ne'eman's ASAN. Also put together a history of what has been done in the past.....along with projects and proposals for the future.


Excellent suggestion--ensuring our responses are refined and well considered. They also need to be precise in terms of nailing whatever point we are making. Like a highly skilled attorney, delivering his/her opening and closing arguments.


IMO, we need to think through very carefully the sequence of our presentation...when we get ready for a presentation. Perhaps we should collect "damage testimonies"---people who have been badly tormented psychologically and physically for no crime other than the crime of being "different". We need to draw comparisons with the black community and other groups of disabled people. Then when we pop off, which may be unavoidable, it will be seen as justified because of the prejudice and discrimination we have had to endure.

Agreed.

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This is a huge project. I think we need to create a committee to divide and conquer this mission (Please start signing up now…..) We also need people to just generally keep eyes & ears open to anti-neuro sentiments and PM their leads to me.
Alba would you like to take this one & nominate people who might be especially skilled in the areas of research, debate and editing?

Maybe everyone who reads this will comment on other threads and other forums that we want their stories. Who wants to be the clearing house for this?

So who is knowledgeable enough to set up our secure virtual cave?