Autism Network International
{{Short description|Advocacy organization run by and for autistic people}}
File:Logo Autism Network International.png
{{Autism rights movement |orgs}}
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.{{Cite news
| url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5488463
| title = Autism Movement Seeks Acceptance, Not Cures
| last = Shapiro
| first = Joseph
| date = 26 June 2006
| work = NPR
| access-date = 29 February 2016
}} The advocacy group is organized by autistic people for autistic people.{{Cite news
| url = http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2015/09/the_neurodiversity_movement_autism_is_a_minority_group_neurotribes_excerpt.html
| title = Our Neurodiverse World
| last = Silberman
| first = Steve
| date = 23 September 2015
| work = Slate
| access-date = 29 February 2016
}} ANI started out as a pen pal 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."{{Cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=kty7nftOLLAC&q=%22autism+network+international%22&pg=PA204
| title = Targeting Autism: What We Know, Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
| last = Cohen
| first = Shirley
| publisher = University of California Press
| year = 2006
| isbn = 9780520933019
| edition = 3rd
| pages = 204
}} Sinclair and the other founders created an online community where participants could discuss issues in the online forum.{{Cite news
| url = https://newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-herald-journal/1999/08-16/page-15?tag=autism+network+international&rtserp=tags/?pep=autism-network-international
| title = Learning to Live With Autism
| date = 16 August 1999
| work = Syracuse Herald Journal
| url-access=subscription
| access-date = 1 March 2016
| via = Newspaper Archive
}} ANI began publishing a newsletter, called Our Voice,{{cite web|url=https://www.autreat.com/joining.html|title=Joining ANI|publisher=Autism Network International|access-date=2025-05-17}} which was ANI's physical newsletter.{{Cite web |title=Autistic Archive - Our Voice |url=https://sites.google.com/view/autistic-archive/topics/our-voice?authuser=0 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=sites.google.com |language=en-US}}
ANI is responsible for coining the phrase "neurologically typical".{{Cite news
| url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1777521561.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160505152712/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1777521561.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 5 May 2016
| title = Representations of Autism: Implications for Community Healthcare Practice
| last = Brownlow
| first = Charlotte
| date = 1 July 2009
| work = Community Practitioner
| access-date = 29 February 2016
}} 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."{{Cite news
| url = https://newspaperarchive.com/us/iowa/cedar-rapids/cedar-rapids-gazette/2003/02-02/page-354?tag=autism+network+international&rtserp=tags/?pep=autism-network-international
| title = This Is Who My Son Was Born To Be
| last = Paradiz
| first = Valerie
| date = 2 February 2003
| work = Cedar Rapids Gazette
| url-access=subscription
| access-date = 1 March 2016
| via = Newspaper Archive
}}
Autreat
Autreat was 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. Autreat was held annually between 1996 and 2013, with the exception of 2001.{{Cite web |title=Autreat past presentations |url=https://www.autismnetworkinternational.org/past-workshops.htm |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=www.autismnetworkinternational.org}}
Autreat was a conference for autistic people "designed by autistic people.{{Cite news
| url = http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/neurotribes-examines-history-and-myths-autism-spectrum
| title = 'NeuroTribes' Examines The History — And Myths — Of The Autism Spectrum
| date = 2 September 2015
| work = Nashville Public Radio (NPR)
| access-date = 29 February 2016
}} It was 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 were welcome, Autreat was 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.{{cite web |author=Harmon, Amy |date=2004-12-20 |title=How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/health/20autism.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029220829/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/health/20autism.html?pagewanted=2 |archive-date=2014-10-29 |access-date=2008-05-02 |work=The New York Times}}
Guests were under no pressure to interact socially. A simple visual code in the form of a colored badge was 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.{{cite web|first=Jim |last=Sinclair |author-link=Jim Sinclair (activist) |url=http://web.syr.edu/~jisincla/History_of_ANI.html |title=History of ANI |access-date=29 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126110607/http://web.syr.edu/~jisincla/History_of_ANI.html |archive-date=January 26, 2009 }} Autreat helped allow autistic individuals a "place to pursue and enjoy a nonconforming subculture."{{Cite book
| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=S7NlCwAAQBAJ&q=autreat&pg=PA696
| title = The Oxford Handbook of Music and Disability Studies
| last = Straus
| first = Joseph
| publisher = Oxford University Press
| year = 2015
| isbn = 9780199331444
| editor-last = Howe
| editor-first = Blake
| pages = 696
| chapter = Autism and Serialism as Cultural Modernism
| editor-last2 = Jensen-Moulton
| editor-last3 = Lerner
| editor-first3 = Neil
| editor-last4 = Straus
| editor-first4 = Joseph
}}
Autreat inspired similar programs such as [https://autcon.org/ AutCon] in the Western United States, as well as in other countries, such as Autscape in England and Projekt Empowerment in Sweden.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.autreat.com }}
- [http://www.autreat.com/autreat.html Autreat] official site for Autreat
{{Autism resources}}
{{Pervasive developmental disorders}}
Category:Autism rights movement
Category:Disability rights organizations
Category:Autism-related organizations based in the United States
Category:Health and disability rights organizations in the United States
Category:Organizations established in 1992
Category:Mental health organizations based in New York (state)