I think we should learn from the disability rights movement

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Here is a good article on disability rights. I think the policy of nothing about us without us would be a good idea for us to adopt along with a concept that is simmilar to the social model of disability and concepts like inclusion.

http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2004/i ... 04p10.html

*added

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inclusion_ ... ity_rights) (I know it is a wiki article, but it gives the basic idea)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_model_of_disability (wiki article again, but still give the basic idea)

please try and read the links :)

Last edited by matsuiny2004 on 15 Sep 2008, 8:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.

"Nothing about us without us" would certainly be an effective slogan in attempting to reign in the hegemony Autism Speaks seems to enjoy.

The concept of "Nothing about us without us" is already adopted by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
The social model of disability is also adopted by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

Hi, I agree we can all learn from each other, and the disability rights moment has been around along time, many organizations in respect to the autism spectrum are already linked into disabilities organizations because of funding crossovers etc... and as like many minority groups we are apart of the disability rights, human rights etc... good luck with your search for answers.

Nothing About Us Without Us!" is a populist slogan used to communicate the idea that no policy should be decided by any representative without the full and direct participation of members the group(s) affected by that policy. This involves ethnic, ability-based or other groups that are often thought to be marginalized from political, social and economic opportunities." I agree a great inclusive slogan..

I think it's important to make it as widely known as possible that adults with "invisible disabilities", in other words, conditions such as learning disabilities, AS/ASD and ADD/ADHD, have the need for services, support and advocacy; in some cases, even more than children and teenagers with such conditions. There's currently little recognition that there are adults with these conditions, that the conditions don't just go away when they become adults, and that the families aren't the only ones who may need assistance. Right now, most of the groups dealing with these adult issues are only for the family members (a prime example being that horrible hate group, FAAAS).

I recently incorporated a nonprofit organization that I hope to focus on providing services, support and advocacy for adults with AS/ASD, learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD. I'm learning disabled with overlapping AS/ASD tendencies and have long known the need for such a group. But I'm finding out firsthand just how uninterested the media really is when it comes to adults with these conditions as opposed to the family members. They are only interested in barely functional adults, they don't wanna know about those of us who are functional and intelligent and able. I've been unable to interest any of the media in this state in the formation of the nonprofit, despite numerous attempts to do so. This is really hampering my attempts to get some peer and support groups formed and to start getting volunteer professionals in various areas to assist with the goals and, indeed, in developing and furthering the nonprofit's activities. And it really pisses me off.

I even emailed a reporter for a nearby paper who'd done a story on a couple caring for their severely-autistic forty-something son, and he came back with how they weren't really interested in that. Oh, I see. So you're only interested in the poor put-upon suffering families and not the intelligent, HFA adults who have needs, too? Or maybe you don't even want to consider that there may be plenty of HFA adults and not just the stereotypical severe LFA? Or that adults with ADD and learning disabilities exist and have needs, too, that it's not just children, teenagers and schools who deal with them? God, that really pisses me off.

I'm not sure at this point how to overcome such a lack of media interest. I've even tried contacting the communications and public relations departments of several universities and colleges in the state, offering an internship to one of their students who may want to use the experience and materials developed to build their portfolios, with absolutely NO response. I have my first official outreach with the nonprofit at the South Dakota Festival of Books in Sioux Falls, SD, next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27, at their nonprofit exhibit area, so hopefully, just maybe, I'll get some attention rolling then.

Rights? Absurd to even mention the word in association with "disability."

When we are allowed to have both health care AND marriage, when we are allowed to work and maintain health care, when we are allowed to have more than a few sheckels, when we are allowed to own property and fully participate in the American dream, THEN can the two be uttered in the same breath.

As it is now, what- we are supposed to beg for a ramp and then settle for someone telling us we can't marry and keep health care? Obscene.

And why can't we marry? Are we too genetically bent to produce offspring ? Is this a throw-back to Eugenics?

Are we not allowed to own anything substantial because fat asses think it is too painful to ponder that we might have a bit set aside for emergencies AND still have tax payers pay for our upkeep? Is this that protestant obsession with "He who does not work does not eat?!"

Rights? hahaha- yeah right.

I'm curious as to what you mean by not being allowed to marry? Disabled people can marry in the US. There was a time when people with certain types of disabilities weren't permitted to marry (the "eugenics" BS and all of that), but those laws have, thankfully, been struck down for awhile now.

If you're simply talking about not being permitted to marry in terms of qualifying for health care and benefits, then I see what you're saying. Being married generally means your income is too high, unless you're both dirt poor. And the income thresholds are absolutely ridiculous, they practically demand that you be living in a dirt tent under a bridge. Insulting and absurd. I'd rather have my taxes go for assistance to people who need it instead of to bail out greedy, incompetent fatcats who've run their companies into the ground and greatly damaged the US economy through their own mismanagement, incompetence and unbridled greed.

Yes, disabled people can only marry other disabled people or poor people. That's one hell of a way to improve your status in life. Almost every other country at least does not hold health care over your head as a carrot to NOT work or marry or try to improve your life! Completely insane. so totally anti-American that for the disabled, the american dream is more attainable in almost any other country but USA.

And AMEN to taxes going to help the poor instead of co's that destroy the economy.

Not just the disabled, my friend. For any person with a modicum of honesty and conscience, it is impossible. THAT is why I dream of starting a revolution. Every now and then the corrupt politicians need to be cleaned out. It's just like going through a barrel of apples and throwing out the rotten ones. The only problem is, America hasn't cleaned out their barrel in quite some time, which is WHY the American dream is unobtainable in America for anyone not willing to sell their soul. Hell, the copycat countries that have adopted parts of our Constitution have done a better job with it than we have!

This may seem a little off topic, but trust me that, no matter the issue, it all can be traced back to dirty politics. Our plight in this world is no exception.