Organizations

“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. We fight for disability rights. We work to make sure autistic people are included in policy-making, so that laws and policies meet our community’s needs. We work to support all forms of self-advocacy and to change the way people think about autism. Our members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators, and friends.”

“Restraint, seclusion, suspension, expulsion, and corporal punishment are harmful discipline approaches commonly used in schools. These punitive disciplinary practices are disproportionately used on disabled, Black, and brown children. Restraint and seclusion are dangerous and can lead to significant trauma and injuries to students, teachers, and staff. Children have even died as a result of the use of restraint and seclusion. Exclusionary discipline can lead children to become disengaged with school and more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system. There are far better ways to support children. Our schools should be moving towards trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches to supporting all students. “

“Our mission is to inform changes in policy and practice to reduce and eliminate the use of punitive discipline and outdated behavioral management approaches and end the school-to-prison pipeline.”

Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) is the evidence-based, trauma-informed, neurodiversity affirming model of care that helps caregivers focus on identifying the problems that are causing concerning behaviors in kids and solving those problems collaboratively and proactively. The model is a departure from approaches emphasizing the use of consequences to modify concerning behaviors. In families, general and special education schools, inpatient psychiatry units, and residential and juvenile detention facilities, the CPS model has a track record of dramatically improving behavior and dramatically reducing or eliminating discipline referrals, detentions, suspensions, restraints, and seclusions. The CPS model is non-punitive, non-exclusionary, trauma-informed, transdiagnostic, and transcultural.

We are a collective of Autistic people responsive to the evolving needs and trajectory of the Autistic community.

By publishing autistic voices, we are cataloguing the intersectional experiences, insights, knowledge, talents, and creative pursuits of Autistics. We follow a unique model of interdependence, leveraging the passions, skills, and specializations of contributors to create a living repository of information cataloging the autistic experience.

We aim for a future that is more accepting, accommodating, and empowering for autistic people. Our organization platforms autistic voices, prioritizing those who are underrepresented in autistic self-advocacy, and our contributors create free, accessible resources for autistic people and non-autistic parents, educators, service providers, partners, and other people who interact with autistic people.

We strive to create a counter-point to messaging about autism that presents the autistic neurotype as a disease or disorder or a checklist of deficits. Our content, written by autistic people who humanize autism by sharing their experiences and perspectives with others, allows readers a glimpse into the inner workings and lived experiences of autistic people.

We believe if people will take the time to learn from autistics, they will take that understanding and apply it to their interactions, unpack their prejudices, unlearn unhealthy approaches, and adopt a better-informed paradigm that sees autistic people as whole, thinking, feeling, empathetic, and autonomous people deserving of the same privileges, rights, and dignities afforded to others.

We are an Australian charity with a global reach, run by and for autistic girls, women, and gender-diverse folks, and their families.

Our team, though small, is mighty and almost entirely autistic-led. We champion the principle of 'nothing about us without us', ensuring our work is always guided by and for our community.

With strong, respected links to the autistic community, we are dedicated to making a tangible, positive impact on the lives we touch.

In our journey, we also collaborate closely with parents, carers, educators, government bodies, and allies.

We are known and trusted in our community because of our strong values, balanced yet brave approach and commitment to always evolving.

Our vision

We envision a world where we are recognised, supported and valued as our authentic and unmasked selves. Our vision is a world that acknowledges and addresses the unique needs of our often-overlooked community. We strive for a society that not only accepts, but celebrates neurodiversity, offering tailored support and opportunities for us to thrive in safe, inclusive environments. In this future, our rights and dignity are at the forefront, ensuring we are no longer unseen but integral, thriving, respected members of the community.

We see a world where the current and future generations of autistic girls, women, and gender-diverse folks are living their best lives.

Our purpose

We want to build a more inclusive world for autistic women, girls and gender diverse folks through exceptional projects, training, events, education and advocacy.

We are guided by our lived experiences and a commitment to neuro-affirming and trauma-informed principals.

We strive to always give a platform to, and shine a light on the vast experiences of our community, with a particular focus on the internalised autistic experience.

We hope to continue making meaningful change across policy, perceptions and people’s lives.