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Neurodiversity paradigm
Philosophy Autism rights movement Bodily autonomy Disability rights movement Independent living movement Self-advocacy
Organizations Aspies For Freedom Autism Network International Autistic Self Advocacy Network National Autistic Society
Events Autism Acceptance Day & Month Autism History Month Autistic Pride Day Autscape Disability Day of Mourning Neurodiversity Celebration Week Weird Pride Day
Issues Ableism Anti-autism All in a Row Applied behavior analysis Augmentative and alternative communication Autism-friendly Autism Speaks Communication Shutdown Community integration Controversies in autism Deinstitutionalisation Disability-selective abortion Double empathy problem Employment Ethical challenges to autism treatment Eugenics Facilitated communication Filicide Inclusion in education Inclusion as a right Judge Rotenberg Center Neurodiversity and labor rights Social model of disability Societal and cultural aspects of autism Universal Design for Learning Violence
People Alex Plank Ari Ne'eman Damian Milton Daniel Lightwing Devon Price Donna Williams govy Greta Thunberg Jim Sinclair John Elder Robison Josef Schovanec Judy Singer Julia Bascom Lydia Brown Mel Baggs Michelle Dawson Morénike Giwa Onaiwu Morton Ann Gernsbacher Nick Walker Robert Chapman Roy Richard Grinker Shain Neumeier Stephen Shore Steve Silberman Temple Grandin William Davenport M. Remi Yergeau
Films Citizen Autistic Deej Loving Lampposts Neurotypical
Criticism Pro-cure perspective National Council on Severe Autism Matthew Belmonte Manuel Casanova Jill Escher Michael Fitzpatrick Bruce Hall David Miedzianik Jonathan Mitchell Alysson Muotri Jonathan Shestack Alison Singer
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Aspies For Freedom (AFF) is a group which is aimed at creating public awareness of the autism rights movement, a term coined by the organization. The term "Aspies" refers to people who have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, but the group also welcomes anyone on the autism spectrum.

Aims

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. 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 minority status group.

History

Established in 2004 by Amy and Gareth Nelson, AFF has received supportive letters from such autism experts as Simon Baron-Cohen, Tony Attwood and Donna Williams, as well as press from publications such as New Scientist magazine. As of August, 2007, The Guardian estimated the group's membership at 20,000.

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. Seen as a pivotal moment in the history of the autistic community, Mele's protest was followed shortly by a protest against NBC's Autism Speaks campaign. There was also a protest against Cure Autism Now in 2005, and there is a current protest against the Judge Rotenberg Center for its use of electric shocks on autistic children.

Aspies For Freedom has an ongoing aim to have members of the autistic community recognised as a minority status group. This started in November 2004 after discussion and debate with members, after which a statement was released called 'Declaration of the autism community'. This detailed reasons for seeking such official recognition from the United Nations and the work continues towards achieving this. AFF was cited by The Guardian as a resource for autism employment assistance.

The usage of the infinity 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 logic, persistence, perseverance, and unity of form.

See also

• List of autism-related topics
• Controversies in autism

References

1. "Autistic Licence". London: Times Online. December 31, 2005. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
2. Trivedi, Bijal (18 June 2005). "Autistic and proud of it". New Scientist (excerpt via archive.org). Retrieved 2007-11-08.
3. Saner, Emine (2007-08-12). "G2: 'It is not a disease, it is a way of life'". The Guardian. p. 12.
4. Harmon, Amy (December 20, 2004). "How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
5. "Declaration From the Autism Community That They Sre a Minority Group" (Press release). PRWeb, Press Release Newswire. November 18, 2004. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
6. "Work: Giving autistic people access to work". The Guardian. 2009-10-17. p. 2.

External links

• Aspies For Freedom
• Proposal for Aspies For Forgiveness campaign, an opposing point of view, advocating what it claims to be "tolerance" over fighting for ones rights.

• Autism-related organizations
• Disability rights organizations
• 2004 establishments