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ASAN March Newsletter
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Dear friend,
This month saw our community come together in different ways, from remembrance of those we've lost to fighting for our rights. Check out what we've been up to this month and what we're planning for the month to come!
This month began on a somber note, but we’re grateful for everyone who coordinated and attended vigils for our annual Disability Day of Mourning on March 1. It is vital that we come together and remember those we’ve lost to filicide in the last year. Even if you were not able to attend, you can still watch our virtual vigil here [[link removed]] .
ASAN welcomes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed ban on electric skin shock devices for behavior modification. The announcement came last week and the proposed rule will be open for public comments until May 28, 2024. We need everyone to submit comments [[link removed]] telling the FDA to #StopTheShock! ASAN will also be hosting a webinar about submitting public comments on April 11 at 3:30pm EST — register today [[link removed]] !
We’re excited to announce our new Teighlor McGee Grassroots Mini Grants Program [[link removed]] ! These mini grants will provide up to $5,000 in funding to projects focused on creating change for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We will fund up to six projects during this grant cycle. Created in memory of Teighlor McGee’s legacy of empowering grassroots disability work and uplifting self-advocates of color, this program features two different grant categories: The Affiliates In Action Mini Grant and Self-advocates Transforming Equitable Policy (STEP) Mini Grant. Join us for a webinar [[link removed]] on April 18 to learn more about the program.
Despite decades of progress for disability employment protections and civil rights, it is still legal to pay people with disabilities subminimum wage. Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act has allowed employers to pay disabled workers subminimum wage for close to 90 years. Recent data has shown that disabled employees working under a 14(c) certificate earned an average of $3.34 per hour. Many workers make even less than this. That’s why ASAN joined the American Association of People with Disabilities and the National Council on Independent Living earlier this month on a webinar to talk about why we need policy change to end this harmful practice. Thank you to all who attended!
With meetings four times a year, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) will meet on Wednesday, April 17. It is more important than ever to make sure autism research reflects what matters to all of us. Make your voice heard by submitting a comment to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee before each meeting! Learn more about the IACC and how to submit a comment with our resource Autism Research and the IACC: Your voice matters [[link removed]] .
As we welcome Autism Acceptance Month beginning tomorrow, the age of the dinosaurs is making a comeback as we unearth the possibilities of autistic self-advocacy with your support! In honor of our Dinosaur Donor membership tier, we're celebrating with dinosaur-themed socials, emails, and member-exclusive design. We’re excited to share everything we have in store this April!
Sincerely,
The Team at ASAN

* ASAN provided written testimony [[link removed]] on the importance of Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) to the disability community.
* We signed onto a letter [[link removed]] opposing restrictions on SNAP and policy riders that will harm nutrition programs.
* ASAN joined Community Catalyst and UnidosUS as well as other organizations on a letter related to CMS in relation to Medicaid unwinding.
* We opposed anti-diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility funding cuts [[link removed]] in the FY24 appropriations legislation.
* We joined a letter urging the Department of Justice to finalize the Section 504 and web access rules.
* ASAN signed on to AHEAD's letter to the White House urging the release of the Section 504 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
* Alongside the The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Health Law Program, and other organizations, ASAN signed on to a letter calling for a doubling of funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
* We supported the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act [[link removed]] .
* ASAN signed onto a letter led by the National Center for Transgender Equality and Minority Veterans of America calling on the VA to remove the exclusion of gender affirming surgery from the VA Medical Benefits Package
* We pushed for the finalization of Title IX regulations [[link removed]] that protect LGBTQI+ rights.
* ASAN signed on to joint CCD Education and Employment Task Force comments [[link removed]] for NPRM Docket No. ETA-2023-0004 - National Apprenticeship System Enhancements, which are about bringing the program in line with the ADA, the HEA, and DEIA principles in general.
* We supported the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) proposed rule governing Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions.
* ASAN signed on to the Women's Sports Foundation and National Women’s Law Center’s letter opposing HR 7187. This bill would harm trans women and girls by banning them in Olympic and Amateur sports.
* We urged the Census to properly engage with and include the disability community on the ACS disability questions.
* As a part of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Rights Task Force, ASAN urged the Department of Justice to publish annual public reports on ADA Title II and Title III complaints.

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Watch Disability Day of Mourning Virtual Vigil [[link removed]]
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Submit comments to #StopTheShock! [[link removed]]
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Register for April 11 Public Comments Webinar [[link removed]]
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Learn more about the Teighlor McGee Grassroots Mini Grants Program! [[link removed]]
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Learn about submitting comments to the IACC with our toolkit! [[link removed]]
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035
United States
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