Upcoming Events

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Focus Group on Autism and Ethics

A Focus Group of the Autism Now Center
http://autismnow.org/
Keynote Speaker: Ari Ne’eman, President, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network



The Autism NOW Center is a new initiative of the Arc. It is funded by a grant from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. ASAN is one of the partner organizations which will provide subcontracted services to the Center. The purpose of the Center is to disseminate information and resources about autism via a website, social media, regional summits, and other methods.

The purpose of the focus group/discussion session will be to help identify a set of core ethics and values for the Autism NOW Center. The focus group involves a set of breakout sessions concerning a variety of topics of interest to Autistic individuals and their families, including education, employment, housing, medical and psychiatric issues, and many others. The meeting time and location is as follows:

Saturday June 25, 2011 –Watertown Library, Watertown MA, Watertown Savings Bank Room– 1:30-5PM

Please contact asannewengland AT hotmail DOT com with your name, email, and phone number if you would like more information about this focus group.

Friday, July 16, 2010

July ASAN-NE Meeting

The July 2010 meeting for the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, New England Chapter (ASAN-NE) will take place on Saturday, 24 Jul 2010 from noon-2pm. The meeting will take place in the Watertown Savings Bank room of the Watertown Free Public Library. Please respond to asannewengland AT hotmail DOT com if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

May ASAN-NE Meeting

The May 2010 meeting for the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, New England Chapter (ASAN-NE) will take place on Saturday, 22 May 2010 from noon-2pm in the Raya Stern Trustees room of the Watertown Free Public Library.

This meeting is free and open to the public. So we can get an accurate attendance estimate, please respond to asannewengland AT hotmail DOT com if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.

Monday, May 3, 2010

ASAN Update on Inter-Agency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Appointment of Ari Ne’eman

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network applauds HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' appointment of ASAN President Ari Ne'eman to the Inter-Agency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism. ASAN has given regular public comment at the IACC in the past and looks forward to continuing to be an active part of the IACC process. To learn more about the IACC, go to http://iacc.hhs.gov/.

A news release has been posted on the Health & Human Services website:

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/04/20100430a.html

Be Included in Autism Research

The Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) believes in research WITH autistic adults, not just ABOUT autistic adults.

The AASPIRE Gateway Project is an online gateway to research that fulfills AASPIRE's mission to

* encourage the inclusion of autistic adults in matters which directly affect them;

* include autistic adults as equal partners in research about autism;

* answer research questions that are considered relevant by the autistic community;

* use research findings to effect positive change for people on the autistic spectrum.

The AASPIRE Gateway Project needs your help, whether or not you are on the autistic spectrum.

If you are at least 18 years old and have access to the Internet, you can participate in a series of continuing online research studies that help AASPIRE achieve its mission. Upcoming studies address topics such as healthcare, Internet use, and problem-solving.

To participate in the AASPIRE Gateway Project:

1. Register online for an AASPIRE Gateway account starting at www.aaspire.org/gateway.

2. Take the online AASPIRE Gateway Survey. The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete.

3. You will be notified by email when new studies for which you are eligible become available.

Completing the survey entitles you to a 1 in 25 chance to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

If you would like to learn more about AASPIRE or the AASPIRE the Gateway Project, you can

Go to the Gateway home page at www.aaspire.org/gateway.

Send an email to Dora Raymaker at dora AT aaspireproject DOT org.

Make a telephone call to Dr. Christina Nicolaidis at 1-503-494-9602.


OHSU IRB #3762; UW IRB# SE-2008-0749

Principal Investigators: Christina Nicolaidis, MD, MPH, Oregon Health & Science University

Morton Ann Gernsbacher, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Katherine McDonald, PhD, Portland State University
Dora Raymaker, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

Thursday, March 18, 2010

March 2010 ASAN Meeting

The March 2010 meeting for the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, New England Chapter (ASAN-NE) will take place on Saturday, 27 Mar 2010 from 2-4pm. The meeting will take place in the Watertown Savings Bank room of the Watertown Free Public Library. Please email asannewengland AT hotmail DOT com f you plan on attending or if you have any questions.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Make Your Voice Heard by the Federal Government about Employment!


The US Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL/ODEP) will be holding a Listening Session -- a hearing in which people with disabilities are invited to provide testimony -- at the Sheraton Boston Hotel (near the Hynes/Auditorium stop on the T's Green Line) on Wednesday March 3.

This is a great opportunity for our community to educate Federal policymakers about the issues we face trying to obtain and *maintain* employment, as adults on the spectrum.

The DOL and ODEP need in particular to hear about the issues that folks on the autism spectrum face, that are different from those faced by folks with physical disabilities (about which they are a lot more aware, at present).

We can provide oral testimony in person at the hearing, and/or written testimony at any time from now through March 3, the hearing date.

There will also be an (optional) workshop meeting at AANE's office in Watertown MA, from 12 noon to 2 pm on February 27 (the Saturday preceding the hearing date.)

The February 27th workshop meeting is for us to help one another organize our own individual testimony and make it as effective as it can be, whether oral or written.

To register to attend the hearing on Wed March 3, and/or to provide written testimony, visit
https://www.disabilitylisteningtour.com/register/index.php?cityclicked=Boston

For more information about the hearing (and the others like it that are being held around the country), visit
For more information about the pre-hearing workshop meeting at AANE on Sat Feb 27, email Phil Schwarz,
pschwarz AT ix DOT netcom DOT com

Travel directions:

The Sheraton Boston (where the hearing will be held, on Wednesday March 3) is located at the corner of Dalton St. and Belvidere St. in Boston's Back Bay, a short walk from the Hynes Convention Center station on the MBTA Green Line. From the MBTA station, walk south on Massachusetts Ave., past Boylston St. and the Berklee College of Music on your left, to Belvidere St. Turn left onto Belvidere St. and walk east past the Hilton hotel on your left, to Dalton St. The Sheraton Boston will be across Dalton St. on your left.

AANE's office is at 85 Main St. in Watertown, MA, a short walk from Watertown Square (a destination served by the MBTA's 71-Mount Auburn, 70-Central Square, and 57-Kenmore bus lines). From Watertown Square, head west on Main St. past the Not Your Average Joe's restaurant on your right to Church St. #85 is the office building occupying the next block after Church St. on your right. The pre-hearing meeting at AANE is on a non-business day, so only the back door of the building will be open. Turn right on Church St. and then left into the parking lot behind the building, where you will see the back door of the building on your left. AANE's office is on your left on the ground floor once you enter the building via the back door.