This Autism Acceptance Month comes during a heavy time for autism policy. Medicaid is under threats of funding cuts, quacks have found their way into important health care positions, and people with developmental and intellectual disabilities’ rights to make our own choices are under increasing attack. Policies that threaten our community’s rights to live and thrive are rising like floodwaters in a heavy storm.

But every storm passes. Our community has made it through storms like this before.

We know times like these are frightening, and that they can challenge our belief in a future where autistic people are respected and accepted as we are. Here at ASAN, even as we are often frustrated and disappointed by dangerous misinformation and poor policy decisions that insult and harm our community, hope keeps us going every single day. 

Hope is not just a feeling in our hearts, it is a thing we choose, over and over again. Hope is in the things we do every day to keep our community safe.

Hope is sharing information with your neighbors what to do if ICE knocks on your doors.

Hope is calling your representatives to make sure they know how important Medicaid and other programs are to you and your community.

Hope is sharing a meal with your friends after the protest ends, because being together reminds us we’re fighting to protect our joy.

Hope is made by your generosity. When you support ASAN, you make sure our team has the tools we need to:

• Work in coalition with other organizations to keep language about “severe and profound autism,” phrases we know hurt our community, out of the latest Autism CARES act.

• Encourage legislators to pressure the Department of Health and Human Services to protect crucial resources for people with disabilities including Developmental Disability Councils, Centers for Independent Living, and Protection and Advocacy agencies.  

• Teach more people about what’s happening with Medicaid and how they can help.

• Fight to protect diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies alongside other organizations. 

• Push back against increasing anti-vaccination rhetoric and the use of the “severe autism” label through our work on the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities’ Autism, Developmental Disability and Support Taskforce.

• Post a weekly round up of important issues that people can take action on.

• Continue to provide free educational webinars to our community, including a panel on Autism Myths and Misconceptions on Thursday, April 17. Register here to join us!

This work and much more is made possible by the generosity of community members like you. When you donate to ASAN you put resources into the hands of self-advocates across the country.

This April, we ask you to choose hope with us by supporting ASAN and our work. Some of the ways you can support our team are:

• Donate to us directly here

• Or become a member and get exclusive perks here

• Start a Facebook fundraiser at no cost to you, and share with friends

• Buy a copy of Loud Hands or another one of our books here

• Get a sticker or other item from our Threadless shop

• Spread the word about us! You can tell your friends about us on social media, via email, or in person

Together, we can rise up to meet this flood of misinformation and unfair policies and hold the line for our communities. Each and every day, we can practice hope.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035

 

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