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.