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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

NCIL Joins ASAN Urging Sponsors of Autism Speaks to Reconsider, CILs Nationwide Encouraged to Sign On

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is preparing a joint letter to send to Autism Speaks’ sponsors and donors. The letter urges sponsors to end their support for Autism Speaks and makes clear that the organization’s statements and actions undermine the work of self-advocates and do significant damage to the lives of autistic people and people with other disabilities.

A young girl holds a protest sign that says "I am not a puzzle - I am a person"Organizations wishing to sign on to the joint letter should contact Lydia Brown at [email protected] prior to Tuesday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

Co-signatories currently include The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, The Association for Autistic Community, Autism Women’s Network, Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, National Council on Independent Living, National Coalition on Mental Health Recovery, Little People of America, Not Dead Yet, Ollibean, TASH, The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, Queerability, Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, PACLA, and Down Syndrome Uprising.