Next meeting: Monday Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m.

As listed in the previous post of upcoming meetings, we have a meeting tomorrow, October 24, from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be in the Flag Room of the Center for Student Leadership and Service in OSU's Ohio Union.

The Center for Student Leadership and Service is located on the second floor of the southwest side of the Union, right above Sloopy's Diner. When you enter the Center for Student Leadership and Service, the Flag Room should be roughly across from you.

A map of the second floor is available here: http://ohiounion.osu.edu/visit_the_union/building_map/second_floor

Recap: Protest Against Autism Speaks

On Sunday, October 9, ASAN-Central Ohio protested Autism Speaks' Walk Now for Autism on the Ohio State campus. Approximately 15 Autistic individuals and cross-disability allies protested Autism Speaks' lack of family and community support, its high executive pay, its lack of Autistic representation, and its eugenic aims.

Several protesters hold signs at a street corner. Signs variously read SUPPORT LOCAL FAMILIES, SUPPORT NEUROLOGICAL DIVERSITY, and DISABILITY RIGHTS.

Protesters heavily emphasized that Autism Speaks only gives 2% of money raised to families and local communities. Several walkers interacted with the group, some kind and supportive, others not. One such negative encounter involved a walker who screamed at her young daughter, "Don't you dare go near those people!" At other points, walkers cursed, waved the middle finger, and told protesters they should feel ashamed of themselves.

Josh, Corbin, Tiffany and children, Justin, and Jessie hold signs and flyers. Signs variously read DISABILITY RIGHTS = HUMAN RIGHTS, SUPPORT AUTISM ORGS THAT SUPPORT AUTISTIC PEOPLE, and AUTISTIC? TALK 2 US.

Despite the hostility, protesters were able to have productive conversations with walkers. Rep. Ted Celeste stopped by and expressed his appreciation. Additionally, several individuals and families took ASAN flyers and engaged in conversations about why Autism Speaks does not speak for autistic people.

For additional photos, please visit our Flickr page.

Video of the protest (captioned):

Next meeting: Monday Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m.

We have a meeting tomorrow, Monday Oct. 10, from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be in the Presidents Room of the Center for Student Leadership and Service in OSU's Ohio Union.

The Center for Student Leadership and Service is located on the second floor of the southwest side of the Union, right above Sloopy's Diner. When you enter the Center for Student Leadership and Service, the Presidents Room should be roughly across from you.

A map of the second floor is available here: http://ohiounion.osu.edu/visit_the_union/building_map/second_floor

Protesting Autism Speaks, 10/9 @ Ohio State

Tomorrow (Sunday, October 9) is Autism Speaks’ annual Walk for Autism in Columbus. And tomorrow our local chapter of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network will unite in protest against Autism Speaks and their lack of community support, their high rates of executive pay, their lack of autistic representation, and their unethical advertising practices.

ASAN-Central Ohio is so grateful for the outpouring of support that our chapter has received from people across, quite literally, the world. But as we approach tomorrow’s protest, we’d like to ask that as many people as possible (wherever you live) could help us inundate our local press affiliates with emails and phone calls.

Here is the contact information for Columbus-area media affiliates:

• The Lantern, Ohio State’s student newspaper. Email: lanternnewsroom@gmail.com; Phone: 614-292-5721.
• The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus’ major newspaper. Email: Ben Marrison, Newsroom Managing Editor, bmarrison@dispatch.com; News tip phone: 614-461-5200.
• NBC4.  News tips email address, stories@nbc4i.com; Phone: 614-263-4444.
• WBNS-10 TV. Breaking news tips (online form); Newsroom: 614-224-1010.
• WOSU, local PBS & NPR affiliate. Press Inquiries: mediarelations@wosu.org; Phone: 614-292-9678, extension 49730.

What you might say if you call or write (feel free to edit):
Hi! My name is _____ . (If you live in Ohio, you might say so. If you’re active in or support ASAN or another disability-related org, you might mention this as well. If you are Autistic or are related to or work with someone on the spectrum, you might mention this as well.)

I’m calling/writing because I have a story you might be interested in. Autistic advocates and their supporters are protesting the Autism Speaks walk in Columbus on the Ohio State campus on Sunday, October 9, from 8:30am until noon. They’re protesting Autism Speaks’ lack of family support. Only 2% of money raised by Autism Speaks goes to families. Given the severe budget cuts facing us today, this is outrageous. Autism Speaks is taking money from Ohio families in desperate need of support and services.

Autism Speaks doesn’t speak for us!

==
PROTEST DAY & TIME: Sunday, October 9 from 8:30am until noon (Facebook event page)

PROTEST LOCATION: Corner of Fred Taylor and Borror Drive, by the 4H Center, Ohio State campus (campus map)

CONTACT INFO: asan.ohiostate@gmail.com or call Jessie at 740-341-3420.

Upcoming meetings

For the rest of OSU's fall quarter, we will be having two meetings a month, on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

All meetings are in the Center for Student Leadership and Service in OSU's Ohio Union, but the precise room varies between Presidents Room and Flag Room and is listed along with dates below. These rooms are both on the second floor, roughly across from the entrance to the Center for Student Leadership and Service.

Monday, October 10 - Presidents Room

Monday, October 24 - Flag Room

Monday, November 14 - Flag Room

Monday, November 28 - Flag Room

Another attempt at making signs

Not very many people were able to make it to the last meeting, and as a result, we didn't manage to get signs made. We're having a short-notice additional meeting to try again to make signs.

The meeting is tomorrow, Thursday Sept. 29 from 4:00 - 6:30pm in the Center for Student Leadership at the Ohio Union, in the Flag Room (large room on the same floor as the resource room).

Please meet in the lobby of the Center for Student Leadership, as the earliest we could get our room scheduled was 4:15. You can still use the materials in the resource room at that time.

The Center for Student Leadership and Service is located on the second floor of the southwest side of the Union, right above Sloopy's Diner.

A map of the second floor is available here: http://ohiounion.osu.edu/visit_the_union/building_map/second_floor

Next meeting: Monday Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m.

ASAN-Central Ohio/Ohio State will be holding its next meeting on Monday, September 26th, from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be in Stars of Ohio room of the Center for Student Leadership in the Ohio Union at OSU.

The Center for Student Leadership and Service is located on the second floor of the southwest side of the Union, right above Sloopy's Diner. The Stars of Ohio room is located on the top floor of the center, but you have to enter through the second floor entrance.

A map of the second floor is available here: http://ohiounion.osu.edu/visit_the_union/building_map/second_floor

You may need a Buck-ID to get into the Student Leadership center. If you are not a student, contact Whitney (919-622-4892) or Jessica and one of them will let you in.

At the meeting we plan to do more work on making signs.

Sign-making Meeting: Mon. Sept. 19, 6:00 p.m.

ASAN-Central Ohio/Ohio State will be holding a meeting on Monday, September 19 at 6:00 p.m. to make signs for the upcoming protest against Autism Speaks. If you have any sign-making materials, bring them.

The meeting will be in the Cardinal Room inside the Center for Student Leadership and Service on the second floor of the Ohio Union at OSU. This center is located on the second floor of the southwest side of the Union, right above Sloopy's Diner. A map of the second floor of the Ohio Union is available here:
http://ohiounion.osu.edu/visit_the_union/building_map/second_floor

In order to get into the Center for Student Leadership and Service you need a Buck-ID; if you are not an OSU student, give Whitney a call when you get there (919-622-4892) and she will let you in.

Pizza & Planning: Wednesday, June 15, 4-6pm

ASAN members eating pizza

ASAN-Central Ohio/State will be hosting a pizza & planning meeting on Wednesday, June 15, from 4-6pm. We will be meeting in the Nisonger Center, room 309.

Nisonger is located in McCampbell Hall, 1581 Dodd Dr., near where 10th and Cannon intersect. Please click here for driving directions.

Agenda items include inducting new officers, developing a strategic plan for the new year, and preparing for upcoming self-advocacy workshops and protests.

If you'd like to join us for pizza and planning, or if you'd like to know more about our chapter, please RVSP to asan.ohiostate@gmail.com by Tuesday, June 14. All are welcome!

Next meeting: Thursday, 5/12 @ 5:45pm

ASAN-Central Ohio/Ohio State will be holding its next meeting on Thursday, 5/12 at 5:45pm at the campus Barnes & Noble in the coffee shop area (1598 N. High St.).

Among other things, we'll be discussing...

• recruiting and sustainability, 
• spring self-advocacy workshops for autistic teens and youth, 
• creating buttons, stickers, and other items, and
• Autistic Pride Day in June.

Hope to see you there! Please feel free to distribute this message widely.

ASAN celebrates Autism Acceptance Day

On Saturday, April 2, ASAN-OSU/Central Ohio held a literary reading and art showing, titled Autistry, in observance of Autism Acceptance Day. Columbus-area autistic people shared their poetry, prose, and dramatic writing, and performed a dramatic reading of Jim Sinclair's Don't Mourn for Us.

The event took place at Travonna Coffee House during Columbus's Gallery Hop, a monthly art gallery event that attracts thousands of visitors. During the reading, dozens of spectators came in and out to listen to posautive perspectives on autism.

Noranne Kramer interacts with the audience

On a more personal note, our chapter found this to be an extremely rewarding and empowering event, something we hope to do again in the future. We had planned readers (i.e., those who indicated that they would read in advance), as well as open mic time. The coffee house also let us reserve their meeting room in the back, which we designated as a quiet room for anyone who needed it, allowing us to create an autistic-friendly atmosphere.

A view of the coffee house during intermission

Some of us read personal writing, while others recited favorite poems or read their favorite disability rights essays. During intermissions especially, we found ourselves drawn into long and fruitful conversations with coffee house patrons, many of whom just came in off the street. It was a wonderful way to celebrate autistic culture and to talk with people about the disability rights movement.

Justin Rooney reads a poem

To view more photos of the event, please visit our Flickr site.

Autistry: An Autistic Reading

Travonna Coffee House

1195 N. High Street, Columbus

Saturday, April 2

5:30-7:00pm

Autistic Pride buttons

Come join us as we celebrate the diversity of the autism spectrum. Drink some coffee and listen to some pos-autive perspectives on autism. Columbus-area autistic people will be sharing their poetry, prose, and dramatic writing, as well as performing a dramatic reading of Jim Sinclair's Don't Mourn for Us.

Autistry: Let our voices be heard.

Next meeting: Thursday, 2/24 @ 5:45pm

ASAN-Central Ohio/Ohio State will be holding its next meeting tomorrow, Thursday, 2/24 at 5:45pm at the campus Barnes & Noble in the coffee shop area (1598 N. High St.).

Among other things, we'll be discussing and planning for...

• recruiting and sustainability, 
• spring self-advocacy workshops for autistic teens and youth, 
• a spring reading/art show for and by people on the spectrum, and
• Autistic Pride Day in June.

Hope to see you there! Please feel free to distribute this message widely.

Upcoming ASAN meetings

ASAN-Ohio State/Central Ohio will be holding its next meeting this Thursday, January 20 from 5:45pm to 7:00pm. We will be meeting in the campus-area Barnes & Noble, located at 1598 N. High St., in the coffee shop area.

All are welcome! Among other things, we'll discuss plans for spring self-advocacy workshops, button designs, and future guest speakers.

Other upcoming meetings are scheduled for Thursday, February 10 and Thursday, February 24 at 5:45pm at the campus Barnes & Noble.

Ari Ne'eman visits Ohio State

On November 29, Ari Ne'eman delivered a public lecture at Ohio State entitled "Neurodiversity and the College Campus," with over 50 people in attendance. Prior to the talk, an anonymous protester stood outside the conference room and handed out tracts that bore the following slogan: "'NEURODIVERSITY' is treatable with early detection." The author, who refused to name himself, claimed in the flyer that anyone who is autistic, by definition, cannot self-advocate, and additionally maintained that anyone belonging to ASAN is not disabled.

From left to right, top to bottom: Benzion, Noranne, Ari, Rachel, Melanie, and Justin

During his speech, Ari discussed the disability rights movement and the ways in which  autistic self-advocates have been systematically prevented from speaking in the conversations that concern them and their lives. During the Q&A session, the student president from the local Autism Speaks chapter made herself known and claimed that they were "just trying to help people like you." This exchange sparked a lengthy discussion, from autistic self-advocates, parents, and disability service professionals alike. Toward the end of the Q&A, one parent noted how appalled she was that so little funding from popular autism organizations went to quality of life issues.

Ari's talk was generously co-sponsored by the OSU Office of Student Life, the Autism Society of Central Ohio, and Aspirations Ohio. Video footage of the event (captioned) is available here.