Autism Network International

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.^[1] The advocacy group is organized by autistic people for autistic people.^[2] 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."^[3] Sinclair and the other founders created an online community where participants could discuss issues in the online forum.^[4] ANI began publishing a newsletter, called Our Voice, which was ANI's physical newsletter.^[5]

ANI is responsible for coining the phrase "neurologically typical".^[6] Sinclair used ANI to help focus on the positive benefits of being Autistic, rather than the negatives.^[4] ANI has helped autistic individuals learn "the important lesson of delighting in a shared autistic culture."^[7]

Autreat

Autreat was a United States retreat and conference hosted by Autism Network International for autistic people. The first Autreat was in 1996,^[1] and was held at Camp Bristol Hills in New York.^[2] In 1999, there were 80 attendees, with one woman traveling from as far as Japan.^[4] Autreat was held annually between 1996 and 2013, with the exception of 2001.^[8]

Autreat was a conference for autistic people "designed by autistic people.^[9] 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.^[10]

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.^[11] Autreat helped allow autistic individuals a "place to pursue and enjoy a nonconforming subculture."^[12]

Autreat inspired similar programs such as AutCon in the Western United States, as well as in other countries, such as Autscape in England and Projekt Empowerment in Sweden.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Shapiro, Joseph (26 June 2006). "Autism Movement Seeks Acceptance, Not Cures". NPR. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Silberman, Steve (23 September 2015). "Our Neurodiverse World". Slate. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
^ Cohen, Shirley (2006). Targeting Autism: What We Know, Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (3rd ed.). University of California Press. p. 204. ISBN 9780520933019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Learning to Live With Autism". Syracuse Herald Journal. 16 August 1999. Retrieved 1 March 2016 – via Newspaper Archive.
^ "Autistic Archive - Our Voice". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
^ Brownlow, Charlotte (1 July 2009). "Representations of Autism: Implications for Community Healthcare Practice". Community Practitioner. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
^ Paradiz, Valerie (2 February 2003). "This Is Who My Son Was Born To Be". Cedar Rapids Gazette. Retrieved 1 March 2016 – via Newspaper Archive.
^ "Autreat past presentations". www.autismnetworkinternational.org. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
^ "'NeuroTribes' Examines The History — And Myths — Of The Autism Spectrum". Nashville Public Radio (NPR). 2 September 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
^ Harmon, Amy (2004-12-20). "How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
^ Sinclair, Jim. "History of ANI". Archived from the original on January 26, 2009. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
^ Straus, Joseph (2015). "Autism and Serialism as Cultural Modernism". In Howe, Blake; Jensen-Moulton; Lerner, Neil; Straus, Joseph (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Music and Disability Studies. Oxford University Press. p. 696. ISBN 9780199331444.

External links

Official website
Autreat official site for Autreat

[:0-1] Shapiro, Joseph (26 June 2006). "Autism Movement Seeks Acceptance, Not Cures". NPR. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

[:1-2] Silberman, Steve (23 September 2015). "Our Neurodiverse World". Slate. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

[:2-3] Cohen, Shirley (2006). Targeting Autism: What We Know, Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (3rd ed.). University of California Press. p. 204. ISBN 9780520933019.

[:3-4] "Learning to Live With Autism". Syracuse Herald Journal. 16 August 1999. Retrieved 1 March 2016 – via Newspaper Archive.

[5] "Autistic Archive - Our Voice". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2024-10-10.

[6] Brownlow, Charlotte (1 July 2009). "Representations of Autism: Implications for Community Healthcare Practice". Community Practitioner. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

[7] Paradiz, Valerie (2 February 2003). "This Is Who My Son Was Born To Be". Cedar Rapids Gazette. Retrieved 1 March 2016 – via Newspaper Archive.

[8] "Autreat past presentations". www.autismnetworkinternational.org. Retrieved 2024-10-10.

[9] "'NeuroTribes' Examines The History — And Myths — Of The Autism Spectrum". Nashville Public Radio (NPR). 2 September 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

[10] Harmon, Amy (2004-12-20). "How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-02.

[11] Sinclair, Jim. "History of ANI". Archived from the original on January 26, 2009. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

[12] Straus, Joseph (2015). "Autism and Serialism as Cultural Modernism". In Howe, Blake; Jensen-Moulton; Lerner, Neil; Straus, Joseph (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Music and Disability Studies. Oxford University Press. p. 696. ISBN 9780199331444.

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v t e Autism
Main	Causes Diagnosis Epidemiology Epigenetics Heritability History Memory Pathophysiology Sex and gender Societal and cultural aspects Therapies
Diagnoses	Pervasive developmental disorder Autistic disorder Asperger syndrome Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified Childhood disintegrative disorder High-functioning autism
Associated conditions and phenomena	Alexithymia Autism and LGBTQ identities Autistic burnout Autistic catatonia Autistic masking Autistic meltdown Echolalia Echopraxia Emotional dysregulation Hyperlexia Infodumping Late talker Monotropism Nonverbal autism Pathological demand avoidance Pronoun reversal Savant syndrome Special interests Stimming Sensory overload
Comorbid conditions	Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Anxiety disorder obsessive–compulsive disorder Developmental coordination disorder Epilepsy Intellectual disability Sensory processing disorder Global developmental delay Developmental verbal dyspraxia
Associated syndromes	22q13 deletion syndrome Angelman syndrome CHARGE syndrome Cohen syndrome Cornelia de Lange syndrome DiGeorge syndrome Down syndrome Fetal valproate spectrum disorder Fragile X syndrome MECP2 duplication syndrome Neurofibromatosis type I Noonan syndrome Multiple hamartoma syndrome Rett syndrome Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome Timothy syndrome Tuberous sclerosis Williams syndrome
Related issues	Autism rights movement Critical autism studies Discrimination Double empathy problem Employment Multiple complex developmental disorder Neurodiversity TEACCH program Twice exceptional Violence and autism
Controversies	Facilitated communication Lancet MMR autism fraud MMR vaccine Rapid prompting method Thiomersal Chelation Combating Autism Act Autistic supremacism
Diagnostic scales	Autism Diagnostic Interview Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Childhood Autism Rating Scale Gilliam Asperger's disorder scale
Screening scales	Autism-spectrum quotient Childhood Autism Spectrum Test Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale
Lists	Autism-related topics Fictional characters Schools
Accommodations	Autism-friendly Sensory friendly
Category

History

Autreat

See also

References

External links