The Autism Self Advocacy Network

Cordially Invites You to

An Autism Acceptance Month Multigenerational Community Gathering

At: First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist

3 Church St.

Cambridge, MA

Saturday, April 12

Time: 1:00- 4:00 pm

Come join us for an hour of poetry and prose by members of the autism community, on the subject of autism advocacy. This will be followed by a reception to get to know one another, make connections

and friends, and celebrate the wonderful autism community that we have here in the Boston area.

Children are welcome. There will be no alcohol served at this event. There will be light snacks, including gluten and casein free food.

The cost is free, although donations to help offset the rental and related costs will be gratefully received.

The church nursery will be available for people needing a quiet space at any time.

In consideration of people’s sensory sensitivities, please do not wear perfume/cologne/ heavily scented products.

The church is wheelchair-accessible and has gender-neutral bathrooms available.

RSVP’s to asannewengland@hotmail.com are *greatly* appreciated.

Please also contact us if you’d like to contribute / read at the event or if you have any other access needs.

Social Story

I’m autistic. That means that I experience the world differently than most people. It means that I have some special gifts and some special challenges.

It also means that I belong to a very special community, the autism community.

April is Autism Acceptance Month. This means that during this month, the autism community works to change the way that people think about autism and to encourage an environment where I, and all of my friends, can be our wonderful, authentic, autistic selves.

In celebration of this, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, which is a group that is run by adult autistics, is showing a movie about autism advocacy. They will show the movie, then there will be a talk, then there will be a social hour, which means hanging out in a room full of people and talking about whatever you like and getting to know other members of the community.

This event is being held in Cambridge. It is being held at a church.

When we go to the event, I can wear a name tag if I want. I can use my name tag to indicate if I want to talk to people or not, and who can talk to me.

During the movie, I can watch it, or I can hang out in the room next door. It is called a nursery but it is not just for babies. It has some toys and couches in it. I can play with my own toys and read my own books if I want.

Later, I can listen to the hour-long discussion, or ask questions, or just do my own thing.

During the social hour, I can eat, talk to people, or hang out in the nursery again. It is all up to me.

There will be many interesting autistic adults there for me to meet, as well as adults with other types of disabilities. I can ask about their disabilities if I want.

If I want to stim or run around, that is okay. During the movie, however, I might try to be quiet so that people can follow what is going on.

If I have a tough time, that is okay. I can go home early, or take a break, or take a walk. Nobody will judge me.

If I don’t feel like making eye contact or talking to people, that is fine, too.

The autistic community is a place where I can be my whole self. I will not be judged here. I am welcome.