#pacla

Well, obviously we will rec our own site! 

http://autisticadvocacy.org/ : The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for Autistic people. ASAN was created to serve as a national grassroots disability rights organization for the Autistic community, and does so by advocating for systems change and ensuring that the voices of Autistic people are heard in policy debates and the halls of power while working to educate communities and improve public perceptions of autism. ASAN’s members and supporters include Autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators and friends.

There’s also Autism Women’s Network (AWN) who specialize in the experiences of women (and are inclusive of gender variant individuals) who are autistic. There is some overlap there, but that’s because they’ve drawn in a lot of autistics who are also mothers of autistics. 

If you are more comfortable sharing your own experiences, PACLA provides an autistic-welcoming environment for autistics to share their insights with parents. A lot of the usual parent group issues that make autistics feel unwelcome in those spaces are not tolerated by their moderation team. Their goal is to create an environment of love and respect that allows autistics to safely share their insights so that the next generation have loving and respectful parents. 

From Leah Kelley

It has recently been announced that Sesame Street intends to partner with Autism Speaks to create programming for children, which is definitely not a positive move for reducing stigma for Autistic people. Please sign and share this petition urging Sesame Street to reconsider this partnership, in favour of an organization that is inclusive of Autistic people and exclusive of negative stigma. Autism Speaks tells my child, my students and their families that Autistic people are a burden, an epidemic, and a tragedy. I hope Sesame Street will look deeper… because this needs to be ended. I hope they will shift their partnership to an organization that includes Autistic people and supports them and their families with acceptance, and a strength-based perspective. It is important they end their partnership with Autism Speaks, so that they continue to support and celebrate the diversity that has always been a hallmark of acceptance on Sesame Street. And what might be an alternative you ask??? There are organizations like The Autism Women’s Network, ASAN, and PACLA, that are run by and/or inclusive of Autistic voice and are working to support Autistic people within a framework of acceptance.