( Cut for potentially triggering discussion, violence against autistics )

This week's issue of SF Weekly, one of the San Francisco Bay Area's free newspapers, features a good cover story on autism and neurodiversity, including appearances by me and Ari Ne'eman. Here it is, in the online edition:

http://www.sfweekly.com/2012-10-31/news/autism-autism-speaks-autism-self-advocacy-network-fragile-x-syndrome-genetics-medicine- ( Read more... )

I'm going to be starting the new SF Bay Area chapter of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network.

If you're Autistic, in the SF Bay Area, and interested in being involved, let me know.

If you know any Autistic adults or teens in the SF Bay Area who might be interested, please put them in touch with me (embodied.change • at • gmail • dot • com).

"What are five things that could be done to make the world a more comfortable, respectful, and nurturing place for millions of autistic kids and adults - now, starting today ( Read more... )

Chrissy Rivera's daughter, Amelia, has Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. Kidney problems often occur with this condition, as do developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.

Amelia needs a kidney transplant within 6 months to a year.

Otherwise, she may die.

Rivera says Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is refusing to give Amelia the transplant ( Read more... )

Autism NOW National Resource and Information Center Core Values Survey:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/AutismNOWCenterCoreValuesSurvey

"The purpose of this survey is to find out what people think about values and ethics as they relate to autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities. The survey is part of a process to create a Core Values Statement for ( Read more... )

"Last week, the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee met to discuss the future of medical coding in the United States. The ICD-9-CM stands for the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, and is the US government's official system of assigning codes to medical diagnoses and procedures. The day ( Read more... )

Ari Ne'eman's nomination to the National Disability Council has finally been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Unanimously.

Congratulations, Ari!

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/06/22/neeman-confirmation/9133/

If any of you can make this, it would be greatly appreciated. This is an important opportunity to show our voices in the DC area and to hopefully gain some press attention to the problems with Autism Speaks. Here's the facebook info: http://www.facebook.com/event. ( Read more... )

So, some of y'all may remember my post of about a month ago, telling you that I'd be writing an entry regarding a ten year old boy I'd met at the New England TASH conference, whose parents were looking for help vis a vis the school department, with regards to his use of facilitated communication. I'd like to invite you all to read and comment, as ( Read more... )