Join us [[link removed]] for a special virtual edition of our annual celebration and fundraising event from November 17th through 19th . We’re so excited to share the gala with disability community members and allies from across the country and around the world, who usually wouldn’t be able to attend in-person.

We’re happy to announce that Ask Me, I’m an AAC User! and Mi Cerebro Atípico are receiving our awards for Service to the Self-Advocacy Movement!

A 3 by 3 collage of photos. The photos around the outside are black and white photos of 8 individuals. In the center is the Autismo: Mi Cerebro Atípico logo, a teal square with black and white texts saying Autismo Mi Cerebro Atípico. There is a graphic of a black and white brain surrounded by teal, red, and yellow gears. [[link removed]]

Bio: Mi Cerebro Atípico es un colectivo dirigido por y para personas autistas. Nuestro objetivo es promover los principios del movimiento por los derechos de los discapacitados con respecto al autismo en el mundo de habla hispana. Nace como una iniciativa de acción afirmativa con la intención de corregir la situación de desigualdad y opresión en la que se encuentran las voces autistas en nuestra comunidad, poniéndolas en el centro de la reflexión sobre nuestras diferencias, necesidades y derechos. Trabajamos para empoderar a las personas autistas hispanohablantes y promovemos entre sus familias la constitución de las redes humanas de apoyo a las que todo ser humano tiene derecho. Proveemos comunidad, soporte y recursos para las personas autistas hispanohablantes y sus familias.

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Bio: Mi Cerebro Atípico is a group run by and for autistic people. Our goal is to promote the principles of the disability rights movement regarding autism in the Spanish-speaking world. It was born as an affirmative action initiative with the intention of correcting the situation of inequality and oppression in which autistic voices find themselves in our community, putting them at the center of all reflections made about our differences, needs and rights. We work to empower Spanish-speaking autistic people and promote among their families the constitution of the support networks that every human being has the right to. We provide community, support and resources for Spanish-speaking autistic people and their families.

An electronic AAC board. At the top it says AAC is just as valid as mouth words. [[link removed]]

Bio: Ask Me, I'm an AAC User! is a group where AAC users are the authority on AAC and where AAC users, SLPs, support staff, doctors, parents, family, and others who are interested in AAC can ask questions and get advice and some insight from actual AAC users. We are *not* an autism specific AAC group. While we do have a lot of autistic members we do also have a lot of allistic (non autistic) AAC users as well. Our goal: prioritize the voices of the general AAC user community. In this group all AAC use and need is valid. AAC users range from part time to full time and type of AAC varies between each user. Many use multiple forms of AAC. AAC access and use is a basic communication right, everyone should be able to use and access AAC regardless of perceived speech capabilities.

We’re happy to announce that Zack Budryk is receiving the Harriet McBryde Johnson Award for Nonfiction!

Zack Budryk who is a white man with dark hair swept back. He bears a navy suit, white button up shirt, and black tie. [[link removed]]



Bio: Zack Budryk is a DC-area journalist and crime novelist who covers environmental issues for The Hill [[link removed]] . His reporting on climate change recognizes the importance of bringing disability—and experts with disabilities!—into the conversation. He explores how ableism in climate concerns harms both disabled people and resilience efforts [[link removed]] . His writing has appeared in The Guardian [[link removed]] , USA Today [[link removed]] and The Washington Post [[link removed]] . He also co-hosts Stim4Stim, a relationship podcast by and for autistic people with Charlie Stern. In both his podcast and writing, he discusses the challenges and benefits he finds in his approach to relationships. He lives in northern Virginia with his wife Raychel, their cats Lucky and Tessie, and their chihuahua Ziggy.

We’re happy to announce that Sandy Ho on behalf of the Disability & Intersectionality Summit is receiving the Ally of the Year Award!

Two photos side by side. On the left, the Disability & Intersectionality Summit logo. It has the letter D in a reddish peach, the letter I in light orange, and the letter S in yellow. Beneath is black text that reads disability intersectionality summit. On the right, Sandy Ho who is a queer Asian American woman with short stature, sitting in a power wheelchair in the middle of a grassy field. Sandy is wearing a blue and white striped shirt, a dark grey sweater cardigan, checkered pants, and shiny maroon shoes. She has dark wavy shoulder length hair and tortoise shell glasses. [[link removed]]



Bio: Sandy Ho is a research project manager at the Community Living Policy Center, a student at the Heller School, the founder of the Disability & Intersectionality Summit, and a community organizer in the Boston area. Her areas of interest include civic engagement of people with disabilities, access to Medicaid HCBS for people of color with disabilities, and building research capacity among disability advocates. She identifies as a queer disabled Asian American woman.

The Disability & Intersectionality Summit [[link removed]] (DIS) is a biennial national conference that centers the multiple oppressions that shape the lived experiences of disabled individuals, as told by disabled people, in a setting organized by disabled activists. DIS aims to create dialogue on how our society must address systemic oppressions using an intersectional approach. The conference centers the experiences and knowledge of multiply marginalized disabled people such as, queer disabled people of color, undocumented transgender disabled people, or formerly incarcerated disabled people among others.

We look forward to hearing from all the awardees at our annual gala and hope that you can come celebrate with us! [[link removed]]

We ask that our gala attendees donate if they are able, but no donation will be required to attend our virtual gala events. Proceeds will support our advocacy work and programs for the coming year, and allow us to continue working to empower disabled people across the country.



You can RSVP to our Facebook event and invite your friends! [[link removed]]


Autistic Self Advocacy Network
PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035
United States
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