Autism Network International (ANI) is an advocacy organization run by and for autistic people. ANI's principles involve the anti-cure perspective, the perspective that there should not be a goal to "cure" people of
autism.
History
ANI was started by
Jim Sinclair, Kathy Grant and Donna Williams in 1992.
The advocacy group is organized by autistic people for autistic people.
ANI started out as a
pen pal
Pen pals (or penpals, pen-pals, penfriends or pen friends) are people who regularly write to each other, particularly via postal mail. Pen pals are usually strangers whose relationship is based primarily, or even solely, on their exchange of let ...
group, but when they first met in person, "they felt a sense of belonging, of being understood, of having the same concepts and sharing a language, of being normal."
Sinclair and the other founders created an online community where participants could discuss issues in the online forum.
ANI began publishing a
newsletter, called ''Our Voice'', which was distributed through the ANI website.
ANI is responsible for
coining the word "neurologically typical". Sinclair used ANI to help focus on the positive benefits of being Autistic, rather than the negatives.
ANI has helped autistic individuals learn "the important lesson of delighting in a shared autistic culture."
Autreat
Autreat is a United States retreat and conference hosted by Autism Network International for autistic people. The first Autreat was in 1996,
and was held at Camp Bristol Hills in
New York.
In 1999, there were 80 attendees, with one woman traveling from as far as Japan.
There has been an Autreat every year between 1999 and 2013, except 2001. The last Autreat was held in 2013.
Autreat is a conference for autistic people "designed by autistic people. It is a contrast to other autism conferences, which ANI believes are typically ''about'' autistic people but are intended ''for'' parents and professionals. Although parents, professionals, and others are welcome, Autreat is specifically designed for autistics, and offers an "
autism friendly" environment, free of sensory bombardment. Common autistic mannerisms, like exceedingly literal conversation and hand-flapping, are to be expected. Common sources of autistic irritation, like casual hugs and fluorescent lighting, are not allowed.
Guests are under no pressure to interact socially. A simple visual code in the form of a colored badge is used to indicate members who wish to interact with anyone and everyone, those who wish not to be approached by strangers, and those who wish not to be approached at all. Autreat helps allow autistic individuals a "place to pursue and enjoy a nonconforming subculture."
Autreat has inspired similar programs in other countries, such as Autscape in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
and Projekt Empowerment in
Sweden.
See also
*
List of disability rights organizations
This is a list of disability organizations, including advocacy groups and charities that provide services to people with disabilities.
Organizations
A
*Action Deaf Youth
* ADAPT
* American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabili ...
References
External links
*
Autreatofficial site for Autreat
{{Pervasive developmental disorders
Autism rights movement
Disability rights organizations
Autism-related organizations in the United States
Health and disability rights organizations in the United States
Organizations established in 1992
Mental health organizations in New York (state)
1992 establishments in the United States