DU! Please Support Ari Ne’eman's Nomination to the National Council on Disability

[HuckleB]

Please write and/or call your senator today!

For more information on his nomination:

Nominee to Disability Council Is Lightning Rod for Dispute on Views of Autism
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/health/policy/28autism.html?hpw

Thank you!

:hi:

[usregimechange]

1. Will do, will you do the same?

Goodwin Liu, judiciary. Thanks!

[HuckleB]

2. Sure thing!

I'm writing it on my Monday calendar!

Cheers!

:toast:

[usregimechange]

4. Thanks, and k+r

[usregimechange]

3. Sent to Bond and McCaskill:

Please support Ari Ne’eman's confirmation to the National Council on Disability. He has excellent experience with issues related to disabilities both personal and professional.

[Odin2005]

5. So the Curbie Bigots have already started attacking Ari? Disgusting!

"Autism Speaks" should be labeled a hate group.

[HuckleB]

6. You'll get no argument from me on that front.

Cheers!

:toast:

[Odin2005]

7. Thanks!

I hated those SOBs ever since they showed themselves to be the bigots they are with their ransom note billboard ads.

[tammywammy]

9. Can you tell me more about this?

I have a few friends with autistic children and they're big supporters of Autism Speaks. I'd like to learn more about them from you.

Thanks.

[Odin2005]

11. Here are some good sites supporting the rights of autistics:

http://www.autistics.org
http://www.taaproject.com
http://ballastexistenz.autistics.org
http://autismdiva.blogspot.com

Autism Speaks is dismissive of people on the spectrum, even those with substantial impairments like Amanda Baggs (the 3rd site I posted), to speak for themselves and they tend to promote negative, insulting notions about autistic people (they would say "about autism", but that is incorrect and insulting because our autism is part of who we are).

[tammywammy]

14. Thanks for the links

I'll check them out. :)

[Odin2005]

15. You're welcome!

[KamaAina]

12. I call it "Neurotypicals Speak for Autism"

("neurotypical" is the word we use to describe everyone else)

Autism Speaks has no self-advocacy presence on its staff or board (unlike, say, the Autism Society of America). All it is ia a bunch of family members and doctors talking about "what's best for us" and "how to cure us". I say, NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US!

[tammywammy]

16. Well, yes, a group that speaks for you and not with you is pretty demeaning

Thanks for your post.

[Odin2005]

8. KICK

[KamaAina]

10. I have a pretty good idea who the culprit is

several of the Autism Speaks board members have donated to him.

Yup, us people with autism sure are good researchers!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8044227&mesg_id=8044227

edit: I have heard from a mutual friend that, for whatever reason, Ari does not wish to make a public ruckus about this right now.

[Odin2005]

13. Edit: oops, shot my mouth off too fast...

[usregimechange]

17. kick