Autistic Self Advocacy Network
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities They work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure autistic voices are heard in the national conversation about autism. Autistic people themselves should be the ones involved in the national dialogue about autism.
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. ASAN is a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community. They work to make sure autistic people are included in policymaking, so that laws and policies meet the needs of the community. They support self-advocacy and want to change the way people think about autism. Their members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators, and friends.
ASAN works to make society more inclusive for autistic people. Autistic people need to be in control in their own lives and have a say in policies that affect them. They work to protect disability rights and civil rights. They celebrate and promote autistic community and culture. They do this work in many ways, including: