Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)

Textured grey background. Text reads: DHS Violence Endangers the Autistic Community. Full Statement on Website. The ASAN logo is at the bottom.

Textured grey background. There's a blue box wtih text that reads: Government agents from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have hurt many people in the last few months. They have killed people too. Government agents from ICE or CBP killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January. Sometimes ICE puts disabled people in detention centers. They often don’t let disabled people get medical care they need while they are in detention centers and disabled people have died there, including Nhon Ngoc Nguyen, Johnny Noviello, and Shiraz Fatehali Sachwani. When ICE and CBP hurt so many people, this puts our autistic and disabled communities in danger. Congress needs to stop ICE and CBP from protecting their agents who threaten and kill people. Congress needs to stop ICE and CBP from terrorizing communities. This has to end.

Government agents from ICE and CBP have hurt and killed many people in the last few months. This puts our autistic and disabled communities in danger. Congress needs to stop ICE and CBP from threatening, killing, and terrorizing communities. This has to end. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/03/dhs-...

Autism Campus Inclusion - Autistic Self Advocacy Network Applications for the 2026 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy are now open. The 2026 program will be held virtually from Monday, July 13 to Sunday, July 19, 2026. There are three ways…

TODAY is the last day to apply for the 2026 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy! ACI prepares autistic students to engage in disability advocacy on their college campuses. Be sure to get your application in by midnight tonight! autisticadvocacy.org/aci

ICE Detention of Seriously Ill Immigrants: Neglect & Death ICE detention endangers seriously ill immigrants, leading to medical neglect and preventable deaths in “ICE Detention of Seriously Ill Immigrants.”

"These outcomes reflect systemic failures in medical care and oversight—not isolated mistakes—and raise serious constitutional, civil rights, and public health concerns."
www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/ice-detentio...

Blue watercolor background with a black and white photo of Judy Heumann – a white woman with glasses talking into a microphone, wearing a sticker that says “Sign 504” – in the bottom right corner. Text at the top reads: Remembering Judy Heumann. In a blue box, white text reads: “Some people say that what I did changed the world. But really, I simply refused to accept what I was told about who I could be. And I was willing to make a fuss about it.” Text below reads: On this day in 2023, we lost Judy Heumann, a pioneering disability rights activist. Her legacy – from the 504 sit-in to her work to pass other legislation like the ADA – is one that we look to and continue to learn from.

On this day in 2023, we lost Judy Heumann, a pioneering disability rights activist. Her legacy is one we look to and continue to learn from.

Autism Campus Inclusion - Autistic Self Advocacy Network Applications for the 2026 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy are now open. The 2026 program will be held virtually from Monday, July 13 to Sunday, July 19, 2026. There are three ways…

What will be your before & after? Apply today! autisticadvocacy.org/aci

"The program gave me a space to reflect on myself and my past experiences and I am now able to use what I learned to guide my current life and advocacy." – 2023 alum

2026 Disability Day of Mourning Virtual Vigil Content Warning: fillicide What is the Day of Mourning? Every year on March 1st, the disability community comes together to remember the victims of filicide – people with disabilities murdered by…

Today is Disability Day of Mourning, when our community remembers disabled people lost to filicide. Our virtual vigil is starting now. Join us here: youtu.be/HeF3LrHTuBM

Dark blue gradient background. There are two illustrated white candles. Text reads: Today, March 1st, is Disability Day of Mourning. Today our community remembers disabled people lost to filicide. Join ASAN for our virtual vigil tonight on our YouTube channel. The ASAN logo is at the bottom.

🕯️Today is Disability Day of Mourning, when our community remembers disabled people lost to filicide. Join us tonight 6pm ET for ASAN’s virtual vigil: youtu.be/HeF3LrHTuBM

#DDoM2026

This month, we’re honoring disabled people lost to filicide, sharing new advocacy resources and tools, and sharing ways you can protect disability rights. Read on to learn what’s happening and how you can take action. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/02/asan...

Orange gradient background with large light orange stripes going across in different directions. There is a light blue diagonal stripe in the top left corner. In large blue text, “New Blog Post!” goes across one of the orange stripes near the top. There’s a quote box that is light blue with rounded corners, inside is the quote, “I am an autistic adult with ADHD (AuDHD), and I am also a nurse practitioner. I have been a patient who felt rushed, talked over, dismissed, misunderstood, and overwhelmed. I have also been the provider who saw how small, intentional changes could dramatically improve care for my patients.” Across a lower orange stripe is the text: Self-Advocacy for Autistic Adults in Medical Settings by Carrie Friedman

New blog post! Carrie Friedman, an autistic nurse practitioner, shares some practical tools to reduce overwhelm for autistic adults in medical settings. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/02/self...

Textured orange background with a banner that says, Action Alert! Text reads: Take Action to Protect Our Right to Vote! The Senate is voting this week on the SAVE Act. If the SAVE Act becomes law, it will make it much harder for some disabled people to vote. We need people to call and email their Senators to tell them to vote NO on the SAVE Act! The ASAN logo is at the bottom.

🗳️ Take action today to protect our right to vote! The SAVE Act would make it much harder for some disabled people to vote. Learn more and take action with our plain language action alert! autisticadvocacy.org/2026/02/save...

Blue textured background. At the bottom, there is a map of the US where the following states are highlighted orange: Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Text reads: SO HOW CAN WE STOP THIS? We need people who live in the 9 states suing to contact your Governor and your State Attorney General and urge them to drop your state out of this case. Texas v Kennedy came from a prior case called Texas v Becerra where 17 states were suing over Section 504; 8 states dropped out because people pressured their Governors and State AGs! Public pressure works! These are the 9 states suing the US government in Texas v Kennedy: Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, and Texas.

If you live in Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, or Texas, we need you to take action to protect disability rights!

If you don’t live in these states, share this post with someone who does!
autisticadvocacy.org/2026/02/take...

Blue textured background. There is a map of the US in the middle where the following states are highlighted orange: Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Text reads: 9 states are suing the US government to threaten disability rights in a case called Texas v Kennedy. Here’s what you need to know and how you can take action!

Blue textured background with a white box with text. Text reads: WHAT IS TEXAS V KENNEDY? Texas v Kennedy is about Section 504 rules. Section 504 is an important law that says groups who get money from the US government cannot discriminate against disabled people. Law and rules are different. The new lawsuit does not want to get rid of the Section 504 law. The Section 504 law says that you can’t discriminate against disabled people if you get money from the United States government. The Section 504 rules explain what disability discrimination is. Texas v Kennedy is only about the Section 504 rules.

Blue textured background. Text reads: WHAT DO THE SECTION 504 RULES DO? The main rule that states are suing over in Texas v Kennedy is called the integration mandate. The integration mandate says that all people with disabilities have a right to live, work, and get services in the community. When we say “the community”, we mean places that are not only for disabled people. The integration mandate means that disabled people cannot be forced to live in institutions if we can live in the community instead.

Blue textured background. Text reads: WHAT DO THE SECTION 504 RULES DO? But the integration mandate isn’t the only rule under threat in Texas v Kennedy. If the states suing have their way, other important rules will go away, including rules that: Protect disabled people from discrimination when we go to the doctor; Stop doctors from making choices about our medical treatment because they have bad opinions about our disabilities; Make sure that medical equipment like exam tables and x-ray machines are accessible to people with disabilities; And much more.

Disability rights are under attack! Check out our plain language action alert to learn about Texas v Kennedy, a lawsuit about Section 504 rules. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/02/take...
@newdisabledsouth.org

DSPs as a Social Determinant of Health of People with IDD - The Council on Quality and Leadership By Carli Friedman, CQL Director of Research Direct support professionals (DSPs) play a vital role in helping promote the health, safety, community integration, and quality of life of people with…

Direct support professionals (DSPs) help with health, safety, being part of the community, and making sure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live the lives we want to live. The DSP crisis means less people have access to support we need. www.c-q-l.org/resources/ar...

ADA Violations: ICE Abuse Against Disabled Immigrants ICE detention often violates disability law, highlighting the serious issue of ICE abuse against disabled immigrants through medical neglect and solitary confinement.

“ICE enforcement and immigration detention routinely harm people with disabilities…by denying effective communication, failing to provide reasonable accommodations, and using isolation or punishment instead of treatment.” www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/ada-violatio...

Autism Campus Inclusion - Autistic Self Advocacy Network Applications for the 2026 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy are now open. The 2026 program will be held virtually from Monday, July 13 to Sunday, July 19, 2026. There are three ways…

Calling all college students! Apply now for our Autism Campus Inclusion summer leadership training! Equip yourself with the tools to engage in disability advocacy on your campuses: autisticadvocacy.org/aci

There’s still time to register for today's webinar about 1115 waivers! us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

This study from Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture is about how peer mentoring can help autistic people. Peer mentoring is a support that many autistic people use in college. scholarworks.gvsu.edu/ought/vol7/i...

Disability Rights Lawyers Threatened With Budget Cuts, Reassignments - KFF Health News The Trump administration wants deep funding cuts for state-based legal services for disabled people, as rights advocates say the Justice Department pushed out many of its lawyers who worked on such…

Most disability rights lawyers work for the Department of Justice or disability rights agencies. The administration wants to cut funding for these lawyers. We have the right to live in the community, but it's hard to protect our rights if we can't find lawyers. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Dark blue gradient background. There are two illustrated white candles. Text reads: March 1st is Disability Day of Mourning. Learn about what Disability Day of Mourning is and make a plan to attend a vigil. The ASAN logo is in the bottom right corner.

Dark blue gradient background. There is an illustrated white candle in the bottom right corner. Text reads: What is Disability Day of Mourning? Disability Day of Mourning is a day when the disability community comes together to remember the victims of filicide. Filicide is when people with disabilities are killed by their family members. Every year, Disability Day of Mourning happens on March 1st. Disability Day of Mourning was started in 2012 by ASAN’s Director of Advocacy, Zoe Gross. Every year, ASAN helps people coordinate Disability Day of Mourning vigils and holds our own virtual vigil.

Dark blue gradient background. Text reads: What does the term “filicide” mean? “Filicide” is the legal term for a parent murdering their child. In the disability community, “filicide” is used when talking about a parent or other relative murdering a child or adult relative with a disability. What happens on Disability Day of Mourning? Members of the disability community hold vigils to remember those in our community who we’ve lost to filicide. At vigils, we read the names of people who’ve died. Vigils have speakers who memorialize the dead and advocate for valuing disabled people as much as non-disabled people.

Dark blue gradient background. There are two illustrated white candles in the bottom right corner. Text inside a grey box reads: How do you find a Disability Day of Mourning vigil? We have a list of vigils at autisticadvocacy.org/ddom2026. ASAN will also be hosting a virtual vigil on our YouTube channel.

🕯️ March 1st is the Disability Day of Mourning, in memory of people with disabilities killed by family members or caregivers. Learn more and make a plan to attend a vigil: autisticadvocacy.org/ddom2026

#DDoM2026

Tomorrow! Register for our “What’s happening to Medicaid?” webinar: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

White background with a light blue textured banner with a wavy edge at the top and bottom of the page. Inside the top banner text reads: Join ASAN for. In the middle area reads: Making the Most of Medicaid: 1115 Waivers and You 1115 waivers are a way that states can make changes to their Medicaid program’s rules. This webinar will go over what 1115 waivers can do and how you can help your state make the most of 1115 waivers. In the bottom left corner, text reads: Tuesday, February 17th, 4pm ET. The ASAN logo is in the bottom right corner.

Next week, we have a webinar about 1115 waivers! Join us to learn what 1115 waivers are, why they’re important, and how you can help make Medicaid programs better in your state. Tuesday, February 17th at 4pm ET. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Disability Day of Mourning 2026 Site Coordinator Sign Up Site coordinators are a vital part of the Disability Day of Mourning. In 2026, we are encouraging site coordinators to hold vigils virtually, if it is not safe to do so in-person. Whether in-person…

Want more information about what organizing a Disability Day of Mourning event in your area would look like? For more info, and how to sign up, check this out: forms.gle/ERKrGWiBquW5...

Massachusetts Historical Society: Remembering Fernald: Uncovering the Hidden History of Disability in Massachusetts Visit Overview

Learn more about disability history with this event on February 12th called “Remembering Fernald: Uncovering the Hidden History of Disability in Massachusetts.” This event focuses on the doctor who ran the first institution of people with IDD. www.masshist.org/events/remem...

White background with a light orange textured banner with a wavy edge at the top and bottom of the page. Inside the top banner text reads: Join ASAN for. In the middle area reads: What’s happening to Medicaid? In 2025, we saw the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. These cuts to Medicaid funding will mean changes for many people’s health care and services through Medicaid. Learn about what these changes mean for getting health care with our webinar. In the bottom left corner, text reads: Thursday, February 12th, 4pm ET. The ASAN logo is in the bottom right corner.

Cuts to Medicaid will impact many people’s access to health care. Join us for a webinar on Thursday, February 12th at pm ET to learn about when these changes will happen and what it means for you. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Tell Congress: No More Tax Dollars for ICE & CBP Urge your representatives to reject more money for ICE detention.

ICE operates without accountability. More funding is a blank check to continue the disastrous and deadly actions we've seen in Minnesota, including reported violence against people with disabilities. Join us in telling the Senate: no more tax dollars for ICE and CBP! act.nilc.org/page/93101

Autism Campus Inclusion - Autistic Self Advocacy Network Applications for the 2026 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy are now open. The 2026 program will be held virtually from Monday, July 13 to Sunday, July 19, 2026. There are three ways…

Apply now to join us at our summer leadership academy! Participants build skills to serve as leaders on and off campus, improve campus accessibility, and create policy change on a local, state, and national level. Apply today: autisticadvocacy.org/aci

Grey textured background. Large blue text reads: ASAN Alarmed By New Anti-Vaccine IACC Roster. Full formal and plain language statement on website. The ASAN logo is at the bottom.

Grey textured background. There’s a blue box with white text that reads: Last Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced 21 new members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Most of the people on the IACC now are anti-vaccine, or support dangerous fake autism “treatments.” This new IACC does not represent our community. We do not trust it. We think no one should trust it. ASAN will keep telling the government what we think. We will keep spreading real science about autism. And we will keep fighting for all autistic people to get respect.

This IACC is illegitimate and does not represent our community. We do not trust it. We think no one should trust it. ASAN will work to hold the government accountable and spread accurate and science-backed information. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/02/asan...

Black textured background. There are stripes of red, yellow, and green paint going across the page. Text reads: ASAN celebrates Black History Month. The ASAN logo is at the bottom.

Black textured background with red, yellow, and green paint stripes in the top right corner. Text reads: What is Black History Month? Black History Month is a time to celebrate the history of Black people in the United States. Black people have many historical achievements that are often less recognized or celebrated. This month is meant to highlight and celebrate these achievements. Black History Month occurs every February. This month is a good time to learn about Black historical figures.

Black textured background with red, yellow, and green paint stripes in the bottom right corner. Text reads: Why is Black History Month important to ASAN? Black History Month is important to everybody. Everyone should learn about and celebrate Black history. Black disabled history is especially important to ASAN. Black disabled leaders have often been erased or ignored. Many disability rights leaders have been Black disabled people. Also, many well known Black historical leaders, such as Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, were disabled. But their disabilities are often not mentioned or remembered.

Black textured background with red, yellow, and green paint stripes in the bottom left corner. Text reads: How do you celebrate Black History Month? Learn about Black history! Look for books, videos, or podcasts that focus on Black history. Spend some time this month learning about it and share what you learn with others! Learn specifically about Black disabled history! Look into Black disabled people who have made big contributions to the disability rights movement. Here are a few disabled Black people to learn more about: Fannie Lou Hamer — a polio survivor with physical disabilities who was a civil rights leader Brad Lomax — a member of the Black Panther Party who was a leader in the 504 sit-ins Lois Curtis — she was part of a landmark Supreme Court case that said disabled people have a right to live in the community Happy Black History Month from ASAN!

Happy Black History Month from ASAN! Take some time this month to learn about Black history, especially Black disabled history that is often erased.

2026 has already brought a mix of joy and grief. While we plan for the year ahead, we also mourn and fight. Our community and so many others continue to face violence and hate. We continue to fight, together, for a better world for all autistic people. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/01/asan...

Orange gradient background with large light orange stripes going across in different directions. There is a light blue diagonal stripe in the top left corner. In large blue text, “New Blog Post!” goes across one of the orange stripes near the top. There’s a quote box that is light blue with rounded corners, inside is the quote, “Being in prison, as a deaf person, our communication access isn’t being provided, so we’re twice as isolated. It’s true. I believe that it’s a prison within a prison for deaf people.” Across a lower orange stripe is the text: Interview with a formerly incarcerated advocate conducted by HEARD, a cross-disability abolitionist organization

New blog post! Thanks to @behearddc.org , a cross-disability abolitionist organization, our blog this month is an interview with a formerly incarcerated advocate. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/01/deaf...