AASPIRE Gateway Project Launched. The project serves as a gateway for research that is committed to inclusion, respect, accessibility, and community relevance. To learn more about the project and how to participate, read the announcement here.

ASAN has issued a statement commenting on the AFAA report by Autism Speaks and several other organizations, which discusses adult supports and services. Click here to read our statement.

Dr. Tony Attwood has not responded sufficiently to our recent petition, in which we called upon him to disassociate himself from anti-Autistic hate groups that advocate discrimination in family law. ASAN's statement regarding Dr. Attwood's inadequate form letter can be read here.

ACTION ALERT: ASAN has launched an action alert calling on Congress and President Obama to include Long Term Services and Supports in Health Care Reform. Click here to send a message to Congress that people with disabilities have a right to be supported in the community, not relegated to institutions.

The Autistic Community Mourns the Passing of Alyric, a long-time activist and supporter of autistic rights and neurodiversity. She passed away on April 18, 2009, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Her blog A Touch of Alyricism will remain intact. With her incisive commentary, Alyric was unwavering in her commitment to defend the rights of autistics to respect, honesty and accuracy in science and reporting, and was unafraid to take a strong stand about issues she believed in. Alyric touched many lives. She was always ready to help advocates with research, support, and encouragement. She was a well-respected advocate who made profoundly important and meaningful contributions to our community. We will miss her vibrant presence. Several bloggers have posted tributes to Alyric; here is one that describes her advocacy efforts in more detail.

ACTION ALERT:The Autistic Self Advocacy Network has launched a petition to tell Dr. Tony Attwood and Dr. Isabelle Hénault to stop associating with anti-Autistic hate groups that try and write discrimination into the law. To learn more, read ASAN President Ari Ne'eman's message to the community here. Click here to sign the petition and make your voice heard!

S-CHIP Legislation Signed: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network was among a group of 6 national disability advocacy organizations to observe the signing of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) during a special ceremony held at the East Room of the White House on February 4, 2009. ASAN President Ari Ne'eman represented the Autistic Self Advocacy Network at the S-CHIP signing. Click here to watch video of the S-CHIP signing from C-SPAN.

Plan to Close NJ State Institutions Announced: New Jersey State Assemblyman Louis Greenwald has announced the introduction of bill A-3625. The legislation proposes to close 5 state institutions for people with developmental disabilities and redistribute the state funding to develop living services for residents of the institutions that can enable them to live in the community. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is among several disability organizations that advocated for the legislation, and would become a member of the proposed oversight committee for the funding redistribution. Click here to watch the press conference announcing bill A-3625 (with an opening by ASAN President Ari Ne'eman), and click here to read a summary of bill A-3625.

Transition Recommendations Presented: The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network presented its top 3 policy recommendations to the Transition Team for President-Elect Barack Obama. Click here to read the recommendations, and click here to read a press statement about the meeting.

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ASAN President Ari Ne'eman is profiled in Newsweek Magazine discussing the Autistic community's concerns around genetic testing and the need for a new direction in autism advocacy. Click here to read more.

ASAN President Ari Ne'eman delivers NFB Disability Law Symposium Keynote: On Friday, April 17th, 2009 ASAN President Ari Ne'eman delivered the keynote address at the National Federation of the Blind's Disability Law Symposium. Click here to listen.

Autistic Culture Movement: An article in Salon.com describes the prominent role of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in advancing the Autistic culture and seeking to improve quality of life and ensure full access in society.

NJ Looks to Close State Institutions: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network was mentioned in stories about the proposed closing of 5 state institutions in New Jersey that ran in The Press of Atlantic City and The Vineland Journal.

Autistic Adults Video Produced:ASAN Vice President Scott Michael Robertson was among several autistic adults featured in Second Look: Adults With Autism: Autism Affects Every Person Differently, a 17-minute video produced by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's Bureau of Autism Services. The video can be obtained for free from the Bureau of Autism Services by sending an email to DPW-AutismOffice@state.pa.us with your shipping address and the DVD title. It will also soon be available to watch online as a streaming video.

National Autism PSA Filmed:The filming of a national public service announcement about autism that is being jointly produced by the Dan Marino Foundation and the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network was highlighted in stories that appeared on WTVF-TV, the CBS affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tennessean.com, and in the Nashville newspaper The Tennessean.

Keynote Delivered:ASAN President Ari Ne'eman delivered a keynote titled "Representations of Disability: Fighting the War of Ideas in the Disability Rights Movement" at TASH's National Conference 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee.

College Article Published:ASAN Vice President Scott Robertson and President Ari Ne'eman authored an article titled "Autistic Acceptance, the College Campus, and Technology: Growth of Neurodiversity in Society and Academia" for Disability Studies Quarterly, a scholarly journal. Click here to read the article.

Autism Documentary Features ASAN and Allies: ASAN President Ari Ne'eman and allies Estee Klar-Wolfond and Michael Moon of The Autism Acceptance Project appeared in the CBC-TV News documentary Positively Autistic on Oct. 27. Click here to watch the video of the documentary and click here to read the text transcripts of documentary interviews.

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