Dear John,

I am a minimally-speaking autistic college student, a research assistant and teacher, and a board member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. I am so incredibly proud to be a board member of this amazing organization which is helping empower autistics in all walks of life. On ASAN’s board, and as a participant in ASAN’s Autism Campus Inclusion program, I have seen the impact of ASAN’s work firsthand. Can you support us this holiday season by donating to ASAN?

I was part of ASAN’s 2019 summer program, where along with 18 autistics I got to learn about autistic identity, self-worth and disability justice. The highlight was Capitol Hill Day, where we got to meet and make a case on legislative measures to congressional staffers on Capitol Hill. At ACI, I was exposed to a range of autistic views which expanded my thinking on autism itself during just the course of just a week. What especially struck me was ASAN’s focus on leadership of the most impacted. When we address and include the needs of the most vulnerable of autistics, like the non-speaking autistics, the net result is justice for all autistics. ASAN not only talks this talk but walks the walk and leads by example: the current Chair of the ASAN board is a non-speaking autistic. 

The work being done by ASAN has been all the more impactful in this difficult year of a global pandemic. ASAN’s work this year has spanned from working to end discriminatory medical rationing during COVID-19, addressing police violence, getting the vote out, to pushing for legislative measures such as the introduction of KASSA (Keeping All Students Safe Act) in Congress. KASSA will mean more accountability in the use of restraints and seclusion in schools; the recipients, often disportionately disabled people of color. 

For autistics, our families and our allies, ASAN not only continues to fight for us, but also provides toolboxes of strategies to carry forward in our future lives. This holiday season, please help support the autistic community by donating to ASAN so that this empowering work can be continued.

Sincerely,

Hari Srinivasan

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035

 

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