I've been googling the word 'autism' and noticed that the group in the autism rights movement with the most hits is the Autism Network International. I get the impression that they are the most significant organisation in the field, and Jim Sinclair is the most significant figure in autism rights.
So I'm wondering if anyone knows if they are supporting Autistic Pride Day? There's no mention of it on their webpage, but that seems to not get updated very often. Anybody know?
Roderick
Well some of the well known autism rights groups don't seem to be mentioning it but I don't really know why.
There will be more publicity before APD so hopefully everyone will have got the message.
Good idea, can you e-mail them?
E-mailed Mr Sinclair last night and got a reply - he's never heard of it!
Glad I e-mailed him. Frankly, someone could have told him earlier... Did no-one do a mass e-mail?
Anyway i e-mailed him the URLs for AFF and APD.
BTW for a mindblowingly horrid discussion of the 'Make Me Normal' prog go to the special needs section of the Talk section at
http://www.mumsnet.com.
You should join Amy and give them an alternative viewpoint! :smile:
Thanks for mailing him.
"Did no-one do a mass e-mail?"
I didn't do a mass e-mail, but I let as many people know as I could. We do need more help from everyone to try and promote APD, we only have so much time in a day to work on the site and related issues.
I looked at the mumsnet thing...extremely hard to understand, and some messages have been deleted. Looks more of a mess than anything.
Re: Mumsnet - there was a huge row there so some messages have been deleted, but the earlier comments from people at the bottom of the page are priceless examples of the: "oh those poor kids - isn't autism terrible - I wept for them" variety plus loads of praise aimed at the "brilliant" teachers at the school.
Re: Jim Sinclair - he has stated that he will alert all the members of the ANI-L list about APD. I intend (bad memory willing) to e-mail some other organisations also this week.
Roderick
rocobley
So I'm wondering if anyone knows if they are supporting Autistic Pride Day? There's no mention of it on their webpage, but that seems to not get updated very often.
If they have a webpage that looks like an abandoned project, how important are they in the greater scheme of things?
I would never have heard of Jim Sinclair or ANI or Autistics.org unless I had a keen interest in AS. But every nerd who loves to read popular science books knows who Baron-Cohen is. If it weren't B-C and his popular writings I would still be wondering why I don't fit in.
Jim Sinclair's piece Don't mourn for us, first published in 1993 and available here:
ani.autistics.org/dont_mourn.html
was the first positive public statement about autism that I am aware of. It has had a huge impact and brought much comfort, to parents as well as offspring. ANI, which he cofounded was the first online organisation to be run by and to appeal to autistic individuals rather than their carers. He and the people at autistics.org, and their many connections including heroic Michelle Dawson - who took on ABA in the Supreme Court in Canada and won - surely must be high on anyone's list of who to involve in anything calling itself Autistic Pride! This is both polite and politic so it's great that someone thought of doing it, if a bit belatedly.
ps I had to cover up the emoticons in order to get this written - a potential off switch on the left did not work
Hi Dinah, thanks for making that point.
We hope that as more and more are aware of the day, the word will spread.