APD is on June the 18th -
Are people preparing articles we can send to the press?
I wish to have something detailed, which explains APD in its wider context. Something which enlightens the readers about the past, present and future of the autistic community, its web sites, gatherings and culture.
I wish to send it to all sorts of scientific, cultural and social magazines, in hope that some of them actually publish it.
Therefore, I wish to have it ready as soon as possible.
Shall we hold an APD press releases authoring competition?
(Shalll the winner receive an Autistic Pride badge?)
Language is one problem. I think it would be better if any volunteers could write something in their native language, such as dutch, and emailed it to a newspaper, then we have more chance.
Anyone feel free to write to newspaper and ask if they will mention it (preferably before hand).
If you send one, post about it, so we know where has been written to already.
I'll try to write one for Australia and Melbourne.
Then I will send it to the Leader newspapers.
My uncle was involved in newspapers and my father was a journalist, so I have something of a pedigree in that area.
My TAFE magazine will be doing something on mental illness and they're generally pretty supportive of autism awareness.
Autistic pride may be something new on them, though.
A competition with badges may well motivate people.
That will be very helpful if you can write something Bronwyn Kate. :smile:
Please send this press release far and wide.
<begin press release>
Autistic pride celebrates neurodiversity at Scienceworks
Sunday June 18 2006 will mark the first celebration of Autistic Pride Day in Australia, at the museum Scienceworks in Melbourne. Autistic individuals and support groups, as well as their friends and allies, will embrace pride in themselves in an exciting location.
Autistic Pride Day is run under the auspices of Aspies for Freedom, an organisation based in North Wales. Aspies for Freedom hopes to have online and offline meetings all over the world of autistic individuals interested in their aims and goals. They emphasise civil rights for all autistic people and support the development of autistic culture.
Aspies for Freedom was started in July 2004 by Gareth Nelson and Amy Roberts through a website. Its roots come from the website Aspergia which was a place for people with autism and Asperger syndrome to gather. Aspergia's overriding narrative was inspiring for many people, and soon after it closed many sites were created and friendships made among far-flung users of those sites.
Reflecting the multicultural nature of Aspies for Freedom and of Autistic Pride Day, 2005 events included a parade in Brazil, a picnic in Sweden, an event run by DANDA in London and another parade in Seattle. Many others have decided to celebrate the event individually or in small groups. There was even a previous suggestion to have the Melbourne events in a nightclub where participating in musical and artistic activities would be the chief focus, emphasising creativity and imagination.
Aspies for Freedom has become known for strong anti-cure campaigns and certainly made people aware of the viewpoint of many autistic adults around the world, who believe their condition is a part of who they are and not something to be misunderstood or denied. They believe in treatment for comorbidities but the essential autism is a valuable part of the individual.
Melbourne anticipates strong support of autistic pride, especially the 2006 message "Celebrate Neurodiversity". Autistic Melburnians and their friends and allies anticipate meetings from far and wide to celebrate the idea of autistic pride, which in general is not very well-known or organised in Australia. Until now that is.
Autistic Pride Day has already had some strong support through a minibus from Pakenham which will bring Asperger support group members together. Autism Victoria has advertised Autistic Pride Day on their website and many people are aware of it from there.
After Autistic Pride Day, Melburnians hope to get together to form an Aspies for Freedom offshoot, consistent with the aims of the parent organisation to create offline meeting spaces.
Autistic Pride Day will be celebrated at Scienceworks, 2 Booker Street, Spotswood, Victoria, Australia, on Sunday June 18 2006. There is no cost apart from general Scienceworks costs of $6 - children and concession card holders are free of charge.
<end press release>
<sidebar>
Interesting facts about Aspies for Freedom and Autistic Pride Day
* The date for Autistic Pride Day was decided because it was the birthday of one of the youngest members of Aspies for Freedom.
* The biggest event was celebrated in Brazil.
* Aspies for Freedom's chatroom was said to have held the biggest gathering of autistic people in the world for a common purpose.
* In 2006 Germany will be holding an Autistic Pride camp.
* Aspies for Freedom are campaigning to have autistics held as a minority group by the United Nations.
<end sidebar>
The press release was written by Bronwyn Gannan on April 27 2006. It is based on her own views and should not be taken to represent those of Aspies for Freedom, Autistic Pride Day, Autism Victoria or any other individual or organisation.
Bronwyn Kate, can I release that through an online service? It would appear under my account but I could say that you wrote it and I edited it.
You may put that through an online service.
A billion people could potentially be reading this.
"Be proud, be not afraid".
Just heard from The Daily Mail that they will not mention Autistic Pride Day unless is it in a medical context. That is quite disappointing.
I have been asked to email them, it may be worth trying if it is only a choice of that, or nothing, though it is unfortunate that a completely non-medical event should have to be recognised in that light.
For anyone who doesn't know The Daily Mail are a prominent newspaper in the UK.
Yes, I know that newspaper.
I hope the Age, the Herald-Sun and the Australian are far more receptive.
What other newspapers in Britain will mention it?
Any disability-specific magazines? I know there's the NAS's Communication, the ASA's Advocate and Autism Victoria's
The Spectrum. There may be others like Mouth, Disability Now and Ragged Edge.
And did you send something about Autistic Pride Day to the Leeds JISC list?
It might be good to talk to Stuart Murray. If he hasn't heard of Aspies for Freedom already, then this is his chance.
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studie...autism.htm
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disabili...earch.html
I can certainly make a subpage, and afterwards it can have some photos on.
Do you want to pm me with the info that you want on it.
Did *anyone* in the media accept the press releases? It may be worth while sending them again at this point; usually the media only takes notice of something like this if it's only a few days away.
Yes because it related to a group in Australia that were sending a bus there, and inexplicably are no longer attending, though they have not bothered to email or give any explanation.
The event will still go ahead for anyone who wishes to go, but that one group, it seems, have cancelled.