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| ⚫ | {{Short description|Autism rights group}} | ||
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| {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} | |||
| {{AfDM|page=Aspies For Freedom (4th nomination)|year=2010|month=June|day=9|substed=yes|origtag=afdx}} | |||
| {{Infobox organization | |||
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| | logo = File:Aspie_for_freedom.png | |||
| ] | |||
| | logo_alt = Aspies for Freedom Logo featuring the a ranbow infinity symbol with the letters AFF on top | |||
| ⚫ | {{Autism rights |
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| | formation = {{start date and age|2004}} | |||
| '''Aspies For Freedom''' (AFF) is a group which is aimed at creating public awareness of the ], a term coined by the organization. The term "Aspies" refers to people who have been diagnosed with ], but the group also welcomes anyone on the ]. | |||
| | founder = Amy Nelson, Gwen Nelson | |||
| | purpose = Disability advocacy | |||
| ==Aims== | |||
| | website = {{URL|http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/}} | |||
| The aim of Aspies For Freedom is to educate the public that the autism spectrum is not always a ], and that there are advantages as well as disadvantages. For this purpose, the group organizes an annual ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Autistic Licence|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,589-1960650,00.html|publisher=Times Online|date=December 31, 2005|accessdate= 2007-11-08 | location=London }}</ref> The group also campaigns against abusive forms of therapy, and against the idea of a cure for autism. The AFF hopes to have autistic people recognized as a ]. | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Aspies For Freedom''' ('''AFF''') is a solidarity and campaigning group that aimed at raising public awareness of the ]. The aim of Aspies For Freedom is to educate the public that the ] is not always a ], and that there are advantages as well as disadvantages.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9RrshCudnIAC&q=%22aspies+for+freedom%22&pg=PA82|title=Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Reference Handbook|last1=Bernier|first1=Raphael|last2=Gerdts|first2=Jennifer|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010|isbn=9781598843347|pages=82}}</ref> For this purpose, the group organizes an annual ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Autistic Licence |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,589-1960650,00.html |work=Times Online |date=31 December 2005 |access-date=8 November 2007 |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103050400/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C589-1960650%2C00.html |archive-date=January 3, 2006 }}</ref> AFF provides support for the autistic community and protests attempts to cure ].<ref name=":0" /> | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| {{Autism rights movement |orgs}} | |||
| Established in 2004 by Amy and Gareth Nelson, AFF has received supportive letters from such ] experts as ], ] and ], as well as press from publications such as '']'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Trivedi|first=Bijal|title=Autistic and proud of it|date=18 June 2005|publisher=New Scientist|url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18625041.500.html|accessdate=2007-11-08}}</ref> As of August, 2007, '']'' estimated the group's membership at 20,000.<ref>{{cite news|date=2007-08-12|page=12|work=]|last=Saner|first=Emine|title=G2: 'It is not a disease, it is a way of life'}}</ref> | |||
| Established in 2004 by Amy and Gwen Nelson, AFF has received coverage from publications such as '']'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Trivedi |first=Bijal |title=Autistic and proud of it |date=18 June 2005 |work=New Scientist |location= London |url= https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18625041.500.html |access-date=8 November 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070815184818/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18625041.500.html |archive-date= 15 August 2007}}</ref> As of August 2007, '']'' estimated the group's membership at 20,000.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/aug/07/health.medicineandhealth|title=G2: 'It is not a disease, it is a way of life'|last=Saner|first=Emine|date=12 August 2007|work=The Guardian|location=London|page=12}}</ref> Rob Crossan, writing for the BBC, mentioned their belief that higher functioning autistics are often in possession of extraordinary talents in the fields of mathematics, memory, music or arts.<ref name="OuchAspies">{{cite web |last=Crossan |first=Rob|title=Ouch Q&A #19: Aspies |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/fact/ouch_q_a_19_aspies.shtml |work=Ouch! It's a disability thing |publisher=BBC |access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> | |||
| ==Current activities== | |||
| The protest against National Alliance for Autism Research, by then-AFF member Joe Mele, was the first anti-cure protest by an autistic person. The protest received international media coverage.<ref name=Harmon>{{cite news |last=Harmon |first=Amy |title=How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading |date=December 20, 2004 |publisher=New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/health/20autism.html |accessdate=2007-11-07}}</ref> Seen as a pivotal moment in the history of the ], Mele's protest was followed shortly by a protest against ]'s ] campaign. There was also a protest against ] in 2005, and there is a current protest against the ] for its use of electric shocks on autistic children. | |||
| AFF provides a chatroom<ref></ref> which provides support for autistics and their carers such as family members. AFF also helps organise and encourage meetups within the autistic community. | |||
| ==Activism== | |||
| Aspies For Freedom has an ongoing aim to have members of the autistic community recognised as a ]. This started in November 2004 after discussion and debate with members, after which a statement was released called 'Declaration of the autism community'.<ref name=UN>{{cite press release |url= http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb179444.htm |title=Declaration From the Autism Community That They Sre a Minority Group |date =November 18, 2004 |publisher=PRWeb, Press Release Newswire |accessdate=2007-11-07}}</ref> This detailed reasons for seeking such official recognition from the ] and the work continues towards achieving this. AFF was cited by '']'' as a resource for autism employment assistance.<ref>{{cite news|date=2009-10-17|title=Work: Giving autistic people access to work|page=2|work=]}}</ref> | |||
| Gwen Nelson, the founder of Aspies For Freedom, has made internet parodies of ], saying that they were silencing opposing views.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Biever|first=Celeste|date=2008-02-02|title=Dispute rages over who speaks for autistic people|journal=New Scientist|volume=197|issue=2641|pages=9|doi=10.1016/S0262-4079(08)60259-6}}</ref> Aspies For Freedom petitioned the ] in 2004 to have members of the autistic community recognised as a ].<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AY5mlqWXx5QC&q=%22aspies+for+freedom%22&pg=PA279|title=Sex and Disability|last=Groner|first=Rachael|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0822351542|editor-last=McRuer|editor-first=Robert|pages=279|chapter=Sex As Spock|editor-last2=Mollow|editor-first2=Anna}}</ref> A statement was released from the group titled 'Declaration of the autism community'. This article detailed reasons for seeking such official recognition from the ] and the work towards achieving this.<ref name=UN>{{cite press release |url= http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb179444.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050116110914/http://prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb179444.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 16 January 2005 |title=Declaration From the Autism Community That They Are a Minority Group |date =18 November 2004 |publisher=PRWeb, Press Release Newswire |access-date=7 November 2007}}</ref> AFF was cited by '']'' as a resource for autism employment assistance.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 October 2009 |title= Work: Giving autistic people access to work |page=2 |work=The Guardian |location= London}}</ref> Gwen Nelson and Aspies For Freedom have spoken out against prenatal ] for ], portraying autism as a difference as opposed to a disease.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="GatesQuestion">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7899821|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317064645/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7899821|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 March 2013|title=Would you have allowed Bill Gates to be born? Advances in prenatal genetic testing pose tough questions|last=Caplan|first=Arthur|work=NBC News|date=31 May 2005 |access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> | |||
| The usage of the ] symbol as a representation of autism, started by Aspies For Freedom in June 2004, was a reaction to the negative connotations associated with the jigsaw symbol commonly used by parents to represent autism. The jigsaw symbol is seen by much of the autistic community as an insulting reference to the fact that autistics can appear puzzling, in need of "fitting in" with society, or as having "a bit missing". It was felt that the infinity symbol better represents autistics by representing ], persistence, perseverance, and unity of form. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | |||
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| ⚫ | *] | ||
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| *] | *] | ||
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| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | * | ||
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| *, an opposing point of view, advocating what it claims to be "tolerance" over fighting for ones rights. | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
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| ⚫ | ] | ||
| {{Autism resources}}{{Anti-psychiatry}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 21:12, 22 December 2024
Autism rights group
 | |
| Formation | 2004; 20 years ago (2004) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Amy Nelson, Gwen Nelson |
| Purpose | Disability advocacy |
| Website | www |
Aspies For Freedom (AFF) is a solidarity and campaigning group that aimed at raising public awareness of the autism rights movement. The aim of Aspies For Freedom is to educate the public that the autism spectrum is not always a disability, and that there are advantages as well as disadvantages. For this purpose, the group organizes an annual Autistic Pride Day. AFF provides support for the autistic community and protests attempts to cure autism.
History
Established in 2004 by Amy and Gwen Nelson, AFF has received coverage from publications such as New Scientist magazine. As of August 2007, The Guardian estimated the group's membership at 20,000. Rob Crossan, writing for the BBC, mentioned their belief that higher functioning autistics are often in possession of extraordinary talents in the fields of mathematics, memory, music or arts.
Current activities
AFF provides a chatroom which provides support for autistics and their carers such as family members. AFF also helps organise and encourage meetups within the autistic community.
Activism
Gwen Nelson, the founder of Aspies For Freedom, has made internet parodies of Autism Speaks, saying that they were silencing opposing views. Aspies For Freedom petitioned the United Nations in 2004 to have members of the autistic community recognised as a minority status group. A statement was released from the group titled 'Declaration of the autism community'. This article detailed reasons for seeking such official recognition from the United Nations and the work towards achieving this. AFF was cited by The Guardian as a resource for autism employment assistance. Gwen Nelson and Aspies For Freedom have spoken out against prenatal genetic testing for autism spectrum disorders, portraying autism as a difference as opposed to a disease.
See also
- Anti-Psychiatry
- Autism friendly
- Controversies in autism
- Neurodiversity
- List of autism-related topics
References
- Bernier, Raphael; Gerdts, Jennifer (2010). Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 82. ISBN 9781598843347.
- "Autistic Licence". Times Online. London. 31 December 2005. Archived from the original on 3 January 2006. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
- ^ Saner, Emine (12 August 2007). "G2: 'It is not a disease, it is a way of life'". The Guardian. London. p. 12.
- Trivedi, Bijal (18 June 2005). "Autistic and proud of it". New Scientist. London. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
- Crossan, Rob. "Ouch Q&A #19: Aspies". Ouch! It's a disability thing. BBC. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- chatautism.com
- Biever, Celeste (2 February 2008). "Dispute rages over who speaks for autistic people". New Scientist. 197 (2641): 9. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(08)60259-6.
- Groner, Rachael (2012). "Sex As Spock". In McRuer, Robert; Mollow, Anna (eds.). Sex and Disability. Duke University Press. p. 279. ISBN 978-0822351542.
- "Declaration From the Autism Community That They Are a Minority Group" (Press release). PRWeb, Press Release Newswire. 18 November 2004. Archived from the original on 16 January 2005. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
- "Work: Giving autistic people access to work". The Guardian. London. 17 October 2009. p. 2.
- Caplan, Arthur (31 May 2005). "Would you have allowed Bill Gates to be born? Advances in prenatal genetic testing pose tough questions". NBC News. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
External links
| Anti-psychiatry | |
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| Topics |
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| Organizations |
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| People |
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| Publications |
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| Psychiatry portal | |