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Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
@autisticadvocacy.org
13K followers 170 following 1.5K posts
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people.
https://autisticadvocacy.org/
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Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) @autisticadvocacy.org · Jul 16
Plain Language is really important to ASAN and our community. Learn about what Plain Language is and why it matters in this post!

We want to make more of our social media Plain Language. It is important for our posts to be accessible to more people!
Textured dark blue background. Large white text reads: What is Plain Language? Inside a light blue box text reads: Plain Language is a way of writing that uses cognitively accessible language. Cognitively accessible language means that anyone can understand your writing easily. For example, people with different intellectual and developmental disabilities. The ASAN logo is at the bottom. Light blue textured background. Large dark blue text reads: Why is Plain Language important? Black text reads: People with disabilities should have equal access to information You can write about any topic in Plain Language. You can even write about topics that are very technical or complex. All writing should be cognitively accessible or have a cognitively accessible version. But most people write in ways that are not cognitively accessible. They might not understand why Plain Language matters. It is important for more people to write in Plain Language. Plain Language writing is really important for topics that affect disabled people! Remember: nothing about us, without us! Light blue textured background. Large dark blue text reads: What does Plain Language look like? Black text reads: These are some of the parts of Plain Language writing: Have shorter sentences & paragraphs. Use simpler words. Define important, complex words. Use examples to help readers understand ideas. Avoid info that isn’t important. Use clear & straightforward language. Use active voice instead of passive voice. For example, “she called her doctor” instead of “the doctor was called.” Textured dark blue background. Inside a light blue box text reads: ASAN makes toolkits and resources in Plain Language. We also write Plain Language Roundups. The Roundups tell people about what’s happening with the government and what people can do. We want to write more things in Plain Language, like posts on our social media! It is important for our posts to be accessible to more people. The ASAN logo is at the bottom.
autisticadvocacy.org
The recent budget bill has cuts to Medicaid funding that will harm rural hospitals. In the bill, there is a Rural Health Transformation Fund that can give up to $50 billion to states. This article explains how this is not enough to offset the cuts in the bill. 80million.substack.com/p/the-rural-...
The Rural Health Transformation Fund: What States and Providers Need to Know (and Do) Now.
States could get substantial funding to support their rural providers. It’s a fraction of what they’ll lose from H.R.1.
80million.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:02 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
December has seen its fair share of fights, and in a year with as many struggles as we have seen in 2025, it’s more important than ever that we continue to grow, fight, and organize together. Read about what we’ve been up to and how you can get involved. autisticadvocacy.org/2025/12/asan...
autisticadvocacy.org
December 31, 2025 at 9:01 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
🎆 Happy New Year from ASAN! The work we’ve done in 2025 would not be possible without the support of our community. If you want to support our work for 2026 and beyond, go to autisticadvocacy.org/donate
Dark blue gradient background with several multicolored fireworks. Text reads: Happy New Year! See you in 2026! The ASAN logo is at the bottom.
December 31, 2025 at 4:03 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Self-advocacy means taking control of our own lives. We want to make sure that autistic people are included in all conversations about autism, whether those conversations are about our own lives or about autistic people as a whole in our society. autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/w...
What We Believe - Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Our Motto: What is “Nothing About Us Without Us”?“Nothing About Us Without Us” means that autistic people need to be involved whenever autism is discussed. When non-autistic people make decisions…
autisticadvocacy.org
December 29, 2025 at 9:01 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Check out this training series from Disability Voices United (DVU) about supported decision-making (SDM), which allows choice and control in the person with disabilities’ lives. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnCD...
SDM Summer Training: Introduction to SDM
Recorded LIVE on: July 22, 2025 This is part one of our four-part summer 2025 training series on supported decision-making (SDM), a new alternative to conservatorship in California law that allows…
www.youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Support community reparations for Autistic People of Color through the Autistic People of Color Fund! autismandrace.com/autistic-peo...
Autistic People of Color Fund – The Autistic People of Color Fund
The Autistic People of Color Fund
autismandrace.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
"..for [many] autistic women, Trump’s words — along with those of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary — felt at once marginalizing and as if they were being blamed." www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Autistic moms livid after Trump and RFK Jr blame Tylenol — and them
Autistic moms tell Eric Garcia that they fear Trump’s outlandish and conspiratorial claims about autism and Tylenol both erase their needs and those of their children
www.independent.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 10:01 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
There are better ways to support our communities than ABA. Learn more in our resource, “Beyond Coercion and Institutionalization: People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Need for Improved Behavior Support Services”: autisticadvocacy.org/2024/05/beyo...
Beyond Coercion and Institutionalization: People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Need for Improved Behavior Support Services - Autistic Self Advocacy Network
What people call “behavior supports” covers a wide variety of services, and not all of these services are truly helpful to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. How can we move…
autisticadvocacy.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Check out our brand new merchandise! Inspired by doodle reflections of this year by ASAN staff, this shirt is an expression of the anger and inspiration we felt over the year. And everything else in between. Order yours in our shop today! autisticadvocacy.threadless.com/designs/asan...
Gradient orange textured background. There’s an illustrated pencil doodling. There’s an illustrated arrow pointing to the right. Text reads: New merch alert! We asked ASAN staff to doodle about the prompt, “how are you feeling at the end of this year?” The result is our brand new merchandise design! Gradient orange textured background. There’s a photo of a dark blue t-shirt in the middle. The shirt has the ASAN logo, but it is made up of doodles. Text reads: From frustration and grief to hope and community. A love/hate letter to 2025. By ASAN staff and for you. Get yours today, and support ASAN’s work in 2026 and beyond! Grey textured background. Pictured is a close-up of the logo from the last slide. Doodles inside the logo include things like trains, masks, dumpsters on fire, snails, clowns, people hugging, and more. Text at the top reads: Also available for merch with a light background!
December 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
autisticadvocacy.org
Congress must act to stop parts of the Department of Education from being moved to other agencies. Help us protect the rights of disabled students. Learn what you can do: autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/tell...
Blue textured background. There's a blue dotted border. Action Alert! is written in white text inside a dark blue banner. Black text reads: Tell Congress: RFK Jr. and HHS Are Bad For Students With Disabilities! Last week, the government said they are moving some parts of the Department of Education to different agencies. This is very bad for students with disabilities. Learn more and take action with the action alert on our website! The ASAN logo is at the bottom.
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Thomas Magnum Jr. was a disability and LGBTQ+ rights activist in Washington, DC. He died on September 17, 2025. This blog talks about his life and his work for disabled people. www.ddinwdc.com/2025/10/the-...
The Passing of a Beloved Friend and Advocate
It seems to me that the most important topic at this time is the passing of Thomas Mangrum ( https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/09/29/obit...
www.ddinwdc.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Many states across the country have been making Medicaid cuts due to budget issues. This is negatively impacting disabled people. And this is happening before Trump’s tax-and-spending law will decrease federal spending on Medicaid over the next decade. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
States Are Cutting Medicaid Provider Payments Long Before Trump Cuts Hit - KFF Health News
North Carolina and Idaho are cutting their Medicaid programs to bridge budget gaps, raising fears that providers will stop taking patients and that hospitals will close even before the brunt of a new…
kffhealthnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 10:01 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Want to get holiday gifts for self-advocates in your life and support autistic advocacy at the same time? Check out our Threadless shop for all this and more! autisticadvocacy.threadless.com
Light blue and purple gradient background with twinkly stars. Text at the top reads: Support ASAN this holiday season! There are various ASAN merchandise including a holiday sweater with flappy, a shirt with the ASAN logo, a pillow that says “Home is where the community-based services are,” a card that says “Flappy Holidays,” a tote with the ASAN logo, and mugs that say “Flappy New Year” and “Flappy Holidays.”
December 10, 2025 at 8:16 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Check out this podcast episode of Ohio DD Talks! This episode talks about StationMD. StationMD is a virtual health platform for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. open.spotify.com/episode/3d18...
Accessing Better Health: StationMD Expands Services for People with IDD (Part 2)
Ohio DD Talks · Episode
open.spotify.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:03 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Hospitals and health clinics have started making cuts or closing due to cuts to Medicaid and ACA funding. Hospital Crisis Watch is resource that is tracking the closures to show the harms on communities. www.protectourcare.org/hospital-cri...
Hospital Crisis Watch — Protect Our Care
We identify providers at risk of closure using rigorous academic analyses from institutions such as the Sheps Center at UNC-Chapel Hill and Brown University, media reports, and statements hospitals…
www.protectourcare.org
December 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
At the recent ACIP meeting, members spread lies about vaccines and autistic people. Vaccines are important. They protect us from diseases, and they let autistic kids grow to become autistic adults. We do not need to be prevented; we need support and respect. autisticadvocacy.org/2025/12/asan...
Blue graphic with white text reading "ASAN condemns dangerous disinformation at ACIP meeting." Full statement on website. The ASAN logo appears below. Orange rectangle over a blue background. Text reads, "For the past two days, the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to talk about vaccines and things related to vaccination. At the meeting, ACIP members spread lies about vaccines. Vaccines are important for protecting the public from dangerous infectious diseases. Vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines let autistic children live long enough to become autistic adults. Autism is not a tragedy to be prevented; it is a way of being deserving of support and respect. ASAN will continue to call out and unequivocally condemn any claims to the contrary."
December 5, 2025 at 10:18 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
ASAN works to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community. On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we are celebrating disability rights movement work worldwide.
There’s an illustration of the globe inside of the ASAN logo. Text above reads: Today is International Day of Person with Disabilities. Text below reads: ASAN works to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community. Today, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we celebrate disabled people worldwide.
December 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
This #GivingTuesday, your support makes a difference. Become a member or make a donation today to support ASAN’s work fighting for everyone in our community! autisticadvocacy.org/donate
Watercolor orange background. There’s a Giving Tuesday logo heart in ASAN colors on the right side. Text reads: Today is Giving Tuesday! This has been a tough year. We have faced an intense increase of threats to our community. At ASAN, we have been working in overdrive to get out information about what we are facing and how we can protect our community. We need your support! Watercolor orange background. As we look forward to 2026, the attacks on our community aren’t going to disappear without a fight. But neither are we. We need more donations, more members, more people getting involved and advocating for themselves and their communities. Your support helps us continue to fight for our community. Thank you for your generosity this #GivingTuesday Watercolor orange background. Text reads: How you can support ASAN today! Inside boxes of various shapes of different colors, text reads: Become a member! autisticadvocacy.org/join Make a one-time donation! autisticadvocacy.org/donate Buy ASAN merch! autisticadvocacy.threadless.com Share this post!
December 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Today is World AIDS Day. People with IDD are often left out of conversations about HIV and AIDS, but they do impact our community. Check out this post with parts of our plain language resource “A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Safer Sex.” Full resource here: autisticadvocacy.org/resources/pr...
Orange and white textured gradient background. There’s an illustration of a red awareness ribbon on the right side. Text reads: Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day. To commemorate World AIDS Day and the impact AIDS has on our communities, this post has some parts of our plain language resource about HIV and AIDS. Orange and white textured gradient background. Text reads: What is HIV? HIV is a germ that makes it hard for your body to fight other germs. HIV kills off the parts of your body that fight off germs. This can make it very easy to get sick. Without treatment, people with HIV often get sick with diseases that people without HIV can fight off easily. Without treatment, people with HIV can easily die of diseases that do not make people without HIV very sick. How can you get HIV? Sex: HIV is an STI. This means you can get HIV through having sex. Sharing needles: by sharing needles, syringes, and other injection supplies with other people who have HIV if you inject drugs. During pregnancy: pregnant people who have HIV can give HIV to their fetus if they are not on HIV medication. While breastfeeding: breastfeeding people who have HIV can give HIV to their babies if they are not on medication. Orange and white textured gradient background. Text reads: What is AIDS? AIDS is a disease caused by HIV. When HIV gets inside your body, the HIV germs kill off certain cells in your body. These cells are called CD4 cells. CD4 cells help your body fight off germs. If a person with HIV does not get proper medication and treatment, the HIV germs will keep killing off CD4 cells. If a person’s CD4 cell count gets too low, the person can get very sick. If a person has HIV and their CD4 cell count gets too low, that person has AIDS. People with AIDS can get very sick. Not everyone with HIV has AIDS. People with HIV can take medication to stop themselves from getting AIDS. The best way to prevent HIV from causing AIDS is to test for HIV. That way, if someone has HIV, they will know they have HIV. Then, they can get medication to stop them from getting AIDS. Orange and white textured gradient background. Text reads: HIV Prevention. Using a condom or other barrier method is a good way to help prevent HIV and other STIs. Both internal and external condoms can help prevent you from getting or giving someone HIV. Dental dams and gloves can also help prevent you from getting or giving someone HIV. PrEP. PrEP is short for “pre-exposure prophylaxis.” “Prophylaxis” means “prevention.” “Pre-exposure” means “before you are exposed” to HIV. PrEP is a medication you take regularly to prevent getting HIV. PrEP can make your chance of getting HIV smaller, even if you do not use condoms. PEP. PEP is short for “post-exposure prophylaxis.” “Prophylaxis” means “prevention.” “Post-exposure” means “after you are exposed” to HIV. PEP can make your chance of getting HIV smaller. You take PEP after you might have been exposed to HIV.
December 1, 2025 at 4:03 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
As we move through November, we’re reflecting on our community’s strength, creativity, and persistence. Read about what we’ve been up to this month, and how you can get involved! autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/asan...
autisticadvocacy.org
November 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Today is the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)! Celebrate this milestone by taking action to fight for IDEA and for the rights of disabled students.
autisticadvocacy.org Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) @autisticadvocacy.org · Nov 24
Congress must act to stop parts of the Department of Education from being moved to other agencies. Help us protect the rights of disabled students. Learn what you can do: autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/tell...
Blue textured background. There's a blue dotted border. Action Alert! is written in white text inside a dark blue banner. Black text reads: Tell Congress: RFK Jr. and HHS Are Bad For Students With Disabilities! Last week, the government said they are moving some parts of the Department of Education to different agencies. This is very bad for students with disabilities. Learn more and take action with the action alert on our website! The ASAN logo is at the bottom.
November 29, 2025 at 6:38 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
We have a chance to make disabled voices heard — share your independent living story using our tool and make sure the Senate Special Committee on Aging knows what HCBS and CILs mean for us. Submit your story by Dec 7! secure.everyaction.com/y2OHTlGLrEer...
Blue text reads: Share Your Independent Living Story! The ASAN logo surrounds the text. The ASAN logo is in the background. Text reads: In December, the Senate Special Committee on Aging is having a hearing. The hearing is about helping people with disabilities be part of their communities. that means getting the services and supports that help disabled people live, work, and go to school alongside people without disabilities. To get ready for the hearing, people who work for Senators on the Committee are collecting stories from people with disabilities. These stories will help Senators understand why services that help us be independent are important. Your story could help Senators make important policy choices. The form will close at 11:59PM ET on December 7th, 2025. That means you can not submit a story for the hearing after that time. The ASAN logo is in the background. Text reads: Your story should be about the programs that help you live, work, and go to school in your community. Your story could also be about someone you care about. You can talk about the help someone else gets so they can be in the community. The Senate Special Committee on Aging wants to hear a lot about how Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) help people with disabilities stay in our communities. The Senate Special Committee on Aging also wants to hear about how Centers for Independent Living (CILs) help people with disabilities. After you submit your story, ASAN will send it to someone who works for the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
November 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
#GivingTuesday is in one week! Your support allows us to continue creating accessible resources, fostering autistic leadership, and making sure everyone can participate in civic engagement. autisticadvocacy.org/donate
Blue watercolor textured background. In the middle, there’s the Giving Tuesday logo heart in ASAN colors. Text reads: Giving Tuesday is in one week! Our work is made possible by the support of our donors, who enable us to fight for our community. On December 2nd, consider making a #GivingTuesday donation to ASAN to help empower self-advocacy and the autistic community!
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Congress must act to stop parts of the Department of Education from being moved to other agencies. Help us protect the rights of disabled students. Learn what you can do: autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/tell...
Blue textured background. There's a blue dotted border. Action Alert! is written in white text inside a dark blue banner. Black text reads: Tell Congress: RFK Jr. and HHS Are Bad For Students With Disabilities! Last week, the government said they are moving some parts of the Department of Education to different agencies. This is very bad for students with disabilities. Learn more and take action with the action alert on our website! The ASAN logo is at the bottom.
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
autisticadvocacy.org
Disabled people have often been marginalized in or excluded from religious spaces. This post explains some of the barriers for disabled people in faith-based communities. thinkequitable.com/faith-and-di...
Barriers to Participation in Faith-Based Communities - The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality
Explore the barriers that prevent disabled folx from participating in faith communities and how to create more inclusive, accessible spaces.
thinkequitable.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM