autistic self advocacy network webinar with autism now april 7, 2011

8/7/2019 Autistic Self Advocacy Network Webinar with Autism NOW April 7, 2011

1/20

Neurodiversity & Autistic Self-

Advocacy

Sarah Pripas

The Autistic Self-Advocacy NetworkApril 7, 2011


2/20

The Medical Model of Disability

The medical model of disability conceptualizes

disability as something which is inherently

wrong with the disabled person and is in need of

fixing


3/20

The Social Model of Disability

The social model of disability conceptualizes

disability in terms ofsocial factors which cause a

person to be disabled within a particular society.

These factors include prejudice and systemic

barriers to equal access. The social model is

concerned with removing these barriers through

accommodations and services, rather thanfocusing on the disabled individual as somehow

deficient.


4/20

Some Key Disability Principals

No pity

Nothing about us without us


5/20

How Does This Apply to Autism?

Neurodiversityis essentially about applying

the social model of disability to autism

Instead of seeing the autistic person(preferred terminology) as deficient and in

need of cure, neurodiversity looks to changes

in the environment and the provision of

services which can help the autistic person to

more comfortably live as an autistic person


6/20

So, Whats Wrong with Autism

Awareness?

As generally practiced, autism awareness

looks at autism from the medical model


7/20

Autism awareness typically does not take

autistic viewpoints into accounts, instead

focusing on non-autistic caregivers

Very little focus on autistic adults in general

When the accomplishments of autistic people

are highlighted in autism awareness, this is

often done in a condescending way

Autism awareness typically promotes pity and

stereotypes rather than true understanding ofautistic people and our needs


8/20

An Alternative to Autism Awareness:

Autism Acceptance

April 1, 2011: First Autism Acceptance Day

Focus is on accepting autistic people as we are

and providing accommodations to improvequality of life, rather than focusing on pity,

cure, or normalization


9/20

The Language of Acceptance

Instead of. Say

Symptoms, warning signs, red flags Traits, differences

Deficiency Area of difficulty, impairment

Illness, disorder, disease Different way of being

Person with autism/Aspergers Autistic person

High functioning/low functioning Nothing. Dont try to categorize autistic

people in dehumanizing and inaccurate

categories, but rather focus on the

individual.

Co-morbidity Other conditions

Special needs child Child with a disability

Epidemic, tsunami Nothing. The presence of autistic people

is not a disaster.


10/20

Not Just A Language Change

The language of neurodiversity and autismacceptance should go along with differentattitudes

When working with an autistic person, goalshould not be to make them look more like aneurotypical person, but rather to provideeducation and services which will help them best

realize happiness as an autistic person Focus on talents and areas of strength as well as

areas of difficulties.


11/20

Two Types of Self-Advocacy

Personal self-advocacy

Community advocacy

Example: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network


12/20

A Brief Overview of ASAN

Founded in 2006 by Ari Neeman and Scott

Robertson

17 chapters in U.S. and expanding

Collaborations with cross-disability organizations

Issues worked on in past and currently:

preventing restraint and seclusion in educational

settings, de-institutionalization and communityliving, better services, educational inclusion,

media representations of autistic people and

others with disabilities


13/20

Neurodiversity in Practice: Media

Representations


14/20

Neurodiversity in Practice: Research

AgendasStandard Research Agenda: Neurodiversity Research Agenda:

Cause, genetic research Not interested in cause or genetics, but in

helping autistic people already here

Biomedical Research Quality of life research, research into

provision of services,augmentative/assistive communication

research

Usually doesnt include autistic advocates Very concerned with the inclusion of

autistic researchers, and lay feedback

from other autistic people


15/20

How to Ally with Autistic Self-

Advocates?

Inclusion of autistic people in autism-related

organizations, at all levels.

Recognize autistic people as primarystakeholders in autism-related issues


16/20

Reframe treatment and intervention

programs to respect and reflect

neurodiversity. Consider, why am I teaching

this person this skill? Why am I altering a

particular behavior? Who is this benefitting?

Is what were doing geared towards trulyteaching the autistic person a valuable skill, or

simply teaching them how to better pass for

neurotypical?


17/20

Consider how particular eventsincluding

autism-related eventsmight be made moreaccessible to autistic people (some of whom

may have other disabilities)

Encourage allautistic people to self-advocate

for their needs as early in life as possible


18/20

When considering which autism organizations

to support, ask whether a particular truly

follows neurodiversity principals. Are autistic

people included at all levels within the

organization? What is this organizations top

priorityresearch or providing services?What, if anything, does this organization do

for autistic adults?


19/20

Consider what you say about autism carefully,

remaining mindful that an autistic person may

be watching

Think critically about media representations of

autistic people that you consumeespecially

during Autism Awareness month. Do notassume that all awareness = good awareness.


20/20

Think about how to make life in general more

accessible to autistic people.

-Examples: movies, airport security

Accept the autistic people in your life for who

they are.

autistic self advocacy network webinar with autism now april 7, 2011

Documents