ASAN President Ari Ne'eman Confirmed to National Council on Disability

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network would like to thank President Obama and the U.S. Senate for the nomination and confirmation of ASAN President Ari Ne'eman to serve as a member of the National Council on Disability (NCD). He will be the first Autistic person to serve as a member of NCD. An independent federal agency, NCD makes recommendations to the President and Congress on issues of importance to Americans with disabilities. To learn more about NCD, go to http://www.ncd.gov.

An article about the confirmation can be found on Disability Scoop:
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/06/22/neeman-confirmation/9133/

White House Internship Program

On Thursday, March 5th, ASAN joined representatives of several dozen advocacy organizations at a briefing at the White House on upcoming changes to the White House Internship program. The White House Office of Public Liaison is actively interested in recruiting a diverse applicant pool, including individuals with disabilities, to the White House Internship program. They have asked us to forward this to our networks and encourage autistic college students and recent college students to apply. Feel free to forward this announcement.


President Obama Launches White House Internship Program

President Obama today launched the White House Internship Program for his administration and announced that applications are currently being accepted for the summer of 2009. Those selected to participate in the program will gain valuable job experience and an inside look at the life of White House staff while building leadership skills.

“This program will mentor and cultivate young leaders of today and tomorrow and I’m proud that they will have this opportunity to serve,” said President Obama. “I look forward to working with those that are selected to participate and I want to commend all who apply for their desire to help through public service to forge a brighter future for our country.”

In addition to normal office duties, interns will supplement their learning experience by attending a weekly lecture series hosted by senior White House staff, help at White House social events, and volunteer in community service projects.

The 2009 Summer Internship program runs from May 22 to August 14, and the submission deadline is March 22, 2009.

Those interested in applying to the White House Internship Program must be:
• US Citizens
• Eighteen years of age on or before the first day of the internship.
• Enrolled in a college or university (2-4 year institution) or must have graduated from college in the past two years.

Interns will be placed in a departmental office for their internship. Below is a list of departments in the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President where interns could be placed.

White House Department of Scheduling and Advance
The Office of Cabinet Affairs
The White House Communications Department
The White House Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of the First Lady
The White House Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA)
The Office of Political Affairs
The Office of Management and Administration
The Office of White House Counsel
The Domestic Policy Council
The White House Office of Presidential Personnel
Office of the Vice President

More information on the White House Internship Program, including application instructions, can be found at: www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships

ASAN Group for Autistic Teens

ASAN has created a new online group for autistic teenagers and would like to invite interested people to participate. More details below:


A new yahoo group has just been created to be open exclusively for adolescents and teens on the autism spectrum, offering an opportunity for autistic adolescents and teens to interact in a supportive, autistic-friendly internet environment. It is sponsored by the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, an international non-profit organization run by and for autistic adults and youth, working to advance neurodiversity, disability rights and autistic culture.

Group Rules:
1. To join you must be on the autism spectrum (self-diagnosed individuals are welcome) and at least 13 years of age.
2. Be respectful of your fellow list members.
3. Do not repost messages outside of the list.
4. If you have a question, feel free to ask.
5. Do not engage in personal attacks against other list members.

The list will be closely moderated by adults from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to ensure that all list content remains legal, age-appropriate, free of spam and solicitation, and in compliance with the group rules.

To join the group, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASANTeens , click the "Join this group" button, and follow the instructions.For more information, contact list moderator Dora Raymaker at dora@aaspireproject.org.

Please pass this information along to any adolescents and teens you know who would be interested!

Comments Needed from Self-Advocates

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is strongly urging autistic self-advocates and allies of our community to submit comments to the U.S. government regarding autism research and services, so that our voices will be heard when the funds are allocated. You can submit a comment regardless of whether you are a U.S. citizen.


The role of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), created in 2006, is to help formulate the direction of future scientific research about autism in the U.S.

The IACC has indicated its willingness to hear from people on the autistic spectrum by including us in their invitation for comments, and by including an adult on the autistic spectrum on their board.

The IACC is currently asking for comments (Requests for Information) on two different topics. These requests for comments are our chance as individuals on the autistic spectrum to have our voices heard by the IACC. This is our chance to help ensure that future research about autism is scientifically sound, ethical, and of real benefit to people on the spectrum. The number of responses really matters; please respond to the requests if you are able.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION #1
Topic: Priority Questions for Supports and Services
Deadline: 19 September, 2008

The IACC would like to know what you consider to be the most important, or highest priority, research questions related to services and supports for people on the autistic spectrum. This includes any high priority questions or concerns related to education, health and medical services (including dental), housing, transitions, employment, community inclusion, safety, older adults, finances, guardianship, and estate planning.

This information will be used by the IACC to guide which autism research projects get funding.

To get more information about the request for information, how to make your points, and other information about the comment period, go to this NIH web site: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-08-016.html

The deadline for comments is 19 September, 2008, so please make your comments prior to that date.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION #2
Topic: Comments on Draft of Strategic Plan
Deadline: 30 September, 2008

The IACC has finished drafting a plan for autism research, and is now asking for comments on that plan. The best way for you to let IACC know that you feel their draft plan could be of benefit to individuals on the spectrum is to contact the IACC with your own thoughts on the draft plan.

A summary of what is proposed in the plan is as follows:

+ Children with a higher probability for ASD will be identified by 24 months and receive appropriate assistance.
+ Discover how ASD affects development, which will lead to targeted and personalized interventions.
+ Causes of ASD will be discovered that inform prognosis and treatments and lead to prevention/preemption of the challenges and disabilities of ASD.
+ Interventions will be developed that are effective for reducing both core and associated difficulties, for building adaptive skills, and for preventing the disabilities associated with ASD.
+ Communities will implement high quality, evidence-based and cost-effective services and supports across the lifespan for people with ASD.
+ Advances in intervention, education and services will support and enable individuals on the autism spectrum to lead fulfilling and productive lives in the community.

To get more information about the plan, how to make your points, and other information about the comment period, go to this NIH web site: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-08-021.html.

The deadline for comments is 30 September, 2008, so please make your comments prior to that date.

R Word

This video, "R Word," is a public service announcement by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. It was produced by Christschool in response to the offensive language in the movie Tropic Thunder. ASAN is part of a coalition of more than 160 disability rights groups protesting the movie.